2026/27 APPRENTICESHIP GUIDES6 min read

Airbus Degree Apprenticeships Guide 2026/27

Here’s what you’ll uncover in this guide:

Want a degree without the tuition fees? With an Airbus Degree Apprenticeship, you’ll earn a salary and work on real aerospace projects alongside Airbus experts while you study.

Practice the relevant Airbus Degree Apprenticeship assessments with our Apprenticeship bundle today!

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Start your practice for the Airbus Degree Apprenticeship tests with our game-based practice.

Here’s what the Airbus Degree Apprenticeships involve.

1. What are the Airbus Degree Apprenticeships?

Airbus designs and builds commercial aircraft, helicopters, and defence and space systems, with UK sites including Broughton, Filton and Stevenage. You’ll typically need five GCSEs at grade 4/C, including maths, English language and a science, plus A-levels or a BTEC. Some of the roles may ask for more, such as A-level Maths.

The Airbus Degree Apprenticeships run at Levels 4 to 6, splitting your time between on-site work and university study. Most last around 3 to 4 years. You can choose from routes such as:

Engineering:

At Broughton or Filton, you’ll rotate through areas such as design, manufacturing, quality and test while working towards a BEng.

Digital and Technology Solutions:

Based in Bristol or Broughton, you’ll build digital and technology skills on live Airbus projects.

Supply Chain and Procurement:

At Bristol or Broughton, you’ll learn how Airbus sources parts and keeps production moving.

Project Management:

Based in Portsmouth or Stevenage, you’ll help plan and deliver programmes.

Customer Service Engineering and HR:

Both are based in Bristol, with HR offered at Level 5.

For the banking schemes, you’ll need at least 5 GCSEs at grade 4/C and BCC across your top three A-levels, or equivalent. You must also have lived in the UK for the past 3 years and have the right to work here.

Interested in graduate or placement roles at Airbus? Read our full Airbus recruitment process guide.

2. Airbus Degree Apprenticeship Online Application

Apply on the Airbus careers site by creating a candidate account, where you can save your application and return to it later. You can apply for several roles, but you’ll only progress through one selection process at a time.

Good to Know: Airbus asks for a CV showing your grades and whether they’re predicted or achieved. Add a cover letter explaining why you want to join Airbus and this apprenticeship, and the skills and experience you bring.

After completing the online application, you will move on to the next stages of the process.

The Airbus Degree Apprenticeship hiring process typically includes the following stages:

  1. Airbus Online Application
  2. Airbus Game Assessments
  3. Airbus Assessment Centre

Good to Know: Airbus may also ask you to complete a technical test or case study for some roles, and typically sends your online assessment within 3 working days of applying.

Let’s check out the Airbus Degree Apprenticeship online tests below.

3. Airbus Degree Apprenticeship Online Tests

Airbus uses an Arctic Shores assessment, which you’ll have 3 days to complete. These game-based assessments measure your personality, memory and problem-solving style through the choices you make. Games may include:

Emotions:

A 3-minute game where you recognise emotions from facial expressions, testing your social awareness and empathy.

Firefly Freedom:

You’ll repeat sequences and release fireflies, showing your memory, attention and approach to risk.

Security Door:

You’ll stop a dial at the right moments to find a passcode within 15 minutes, testing your focus and reaction time.

Want to try Arctic Shores-style games before the real thing? Practice with us!

Airbus Degree Apprenticeship game practice
Airbus Degree Apprenticeship game mobile practice

Read on for top tips on how to pass the online tests for the Airbus Degree Apprenticeships.

7 Top Tips to Pass the Airbus Degree Apprenticeship Online Tests

  1. Practice game-based assessments: Try similar games before you start, so the formats and timings feel familiar. You’ll feel calmer on the day and can focus on playing well rather than working out the rules.
  2. Play naturally: The games measure your personality and problem-solving style through your choices, so respond as you normally would. Guessing what Airbus wants can make your answers inconsistent across games.
  3. Watch your inbox: Airbus usually sends the assessment within 3 working days of applying, and you’ll then have 3 days to finish it. Check your spam folder too, so you don’t lose time.
  4. Read each game’s instructions: Every game works differently, and some, like Security Door, run against the clock. Take a moment to understand what each one asks before you begin, rather than rushing in.
  5. Set up properly: Choose a quiet space and a reliable internet connection where you won’t be interrupted. Games that test focus and reaction time are much harder when you’re distracted or your connection drops.
  6. Learn the Airbus values: Read up on the Airbus values and think about how they apply to your chosen route. You’ll need them again for your cover letter and the assessment centre.
  7. Ask for adjustments early: If you need any reasonable adjustments during the process, email apprentices@airbus.com before you start, so you can complete every stage at your best.

If you pass the online tests, you’ll be invited to the final stage.

4. Airbus Degree Apprenticeship Assessment Centre

The final stage is an interview or assessment centre. For Levels 4 to 6, Airbus runs online assessment centres in March 2027, lasting no more than one day. Each programme is assessed differently, so Airbus will send you specific instructions. If you’re successful, you’ll receive an offer by phone and email.

Good to Know: Airbus states every formal assessment stage must be completed entirely by you, without real-time help from AI. Research Airbus and your chosen route beforehand, so you can clearly explain why you want this apprenticeship.

5. Airbus Degree Apprenticeship FAQs

1 How much do Airbus degree apprentices earn?

Airbus’s 2027 engineering degree apprenticeships at Broughton and Filton pay £23,245 a year for a 35-hour week. Your degree is also funded, so you won’t pay tuition fees.

2When do Airbus Degree Apprenticeship applications open?

Airbus accepts UK apprenticeship applications from October until February. For 2027 starts, most degree roles close on 26 October 2026, while supply chain, customer service, facilities management and quality engineering roles close on 4 January 2027. Roles may close sooner.

3Is a degree apprenticeship better than university?

It depends on how you like to learn. With Airbus, you’ll earn a salary and gain hands-on experience on real projects while working towards a degree, without paying tuition fees.

4How long does the Airbus Degree Apprenticeship process take?

Applications open in October, and online assessment centres run in March 2027, so the process can take several months. Offers based on predicted grades are conditional on your results.

5Does Airbus sponsor visas for its degree apprenticeships?

No. Airbus says its UK apprenticeships don’t meet UK Visas and Immigration sponsorship requirements, so you’ll need the right to work in the UK for the full programme.

Prepare for your Airbus Degree Apprenticeship application with our expert-made tests used by over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe.

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This article was last updated on 19 October 2026. All information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at publication, based on publicly available sources. For the latest details, please verify directly with Airbus.

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