University of Exeter degree apprenticeships secure three ‘Exceptional’ Ofsted ratings

The University of Exeter has become the first skills provider in England to receive three “Exceptional” judgements under Ofsted’s revised inspection framework following a full inspection of its degree apprenticeship provision.

Ofsted awarded the university its highest judgement for leadership and governance, achievement, and participation and development. Exeter also received “Strong” judgements for curriculum and teaching and inclusion, completing a highly positive inspection outcome across its degree apprenticeship provision.

Inspectors visited the university in May, speaking to apprentices, teaching staff, leaders, employers and professional bodies as part of the full inspection. The resulting report was published on 6 August and makes Exeter the first skills provider nationally to achieve three Exceptional judgements since Ofsted introduced its revised approach.

Ofsted highlighted the impact the programmes are having on apprentices and their employers, describing the educational experiences provided as highly inclusive and frequently transformational. Inspectors particularly recognised the university’s work to identify and remove barriers to learning before they affect apprentices, including support for people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The university was also praised for the wider development opportunities available to apprentices and for the practical impact their learning can have within the workplace. Projects undertaken through the programmes were found to contribute to improvements in areas such as employer efficiency and costs, reflecting the close relationship between academic learning and apprentices’ roles within their organisations.

Exeter has been delivering degree apprenticeships for a decade and has developed the largest portfolio of programmes among Russell Group universities. Its 22 programmes span areas including digital and data, engineering and mining, healthcare, accounting and finance, and leadership and management, with qualifications ranging from Level 4 through to Level 7.

Around 4,200 students were reported to be enrolled on the programmes at the time the inspection result was announced, supported by more than 500 partner organisations. Employers working with the university include major organisations such as JP Morgan, Amazon, BT and IBM, with degree apprentices combining academic study with learning and development in the workplace.

The inspection result follows strong apprenticeship achievement figures for Exeter. Department for Education data highlighted by the university earlier this year showed 1,050 Exeter apprentices graduated in 2025, while 83.8% of those taking higher-level apprenticeships completed their training and assessment on time. The university said this was the highest achievement rate among providers with more than 1,000 graduates and above the Government target of 67%.

Professor Lisa Roberts, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter, said the Ofsted recognition reflected both the quality of the university’s educational provision and its work with employers to understand and respond to workforce needs. She also credited employer partners with helping to create programmes that support professional development while responding to real skills requirements.

The result provides further recognition for a route into higher education that has expanded significantly over the past decade, allowing apprentices to work towards university-level qualifications while remaining in employment. For Exeter, the three Exceptional judgements also mark a significant milestone after ten years of developing its degree apprenticeship offer and place its provision at the forefront of the new Ofsted inspection system.

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