Crosswind Careers
October 21, 2026
If you want an aerospace apprenticeship starting in 2027, the hard part is not the application. It is the timing.
Every big employer runs its own window. Some close within days of opening, and the dates on different pages do not always agree with each other. Miss the window and you wait a year.
This guide pulls together what Airbus, BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce say on their own pages as of 21 October 2026, what is still unconfirmed, and how to plan around it. Where an employer's page contradicts itself, we say so.
Airbus says UK applications run from October to February. It gives estimated closing dates and warns that roles may close earlier than listed.
Before 26 October: digital, business, engineering, project management and procurement degree apprenticeships.
By 30 November: Level 3 craft apprenticeships, Bristol/Filton.
By 15 December: Level 3 craft apprenticeships, Broughton.
By 20 December: Level 3 craft apprenticeships, Belfast.
Before 4 January: supply chain, customer services, facilities management and quality engineering degree apprenticeships.
By 30 January: Level 2 craft apprenticeships, Stevenage.
The catch
The same Airbus page also shows some top listings with closing dates in early October 2026, which conflicts with the guidance above. Open the actual vacancy before you plan around any date. If the role you want is in the first group, assume you have days, not weeks.
What you need
Craft and technician roles typically ask for five GCSEs at grade 4/C or equivalent, including maths, English language and a science. Degree roles also ask for A-levels, a BTEC or equivalent. Predicted grades are accepted and offers are conditional on getting the required grades. Assessment centres for Levels 4 to 6 are in March 2027.
You need the right to work in the UK for the full length of the programme. Airbus says these roles do not meet UK Visas and Immigration sponsorship requirements.
Details are on the Airbus UK apprenticeships page.
BAE says its 2026 apprentice roles are closed and that 2027 applications open in January 2027, with early application advised.
The same page also describes a recruitment window running from the beginning of November to the end of February. So treat the exact opening date as unconfirmed, and check back rather than assuming.
The deal
Degree apprentices get a full honours degree. BAE funds the tuition and pays you a salary, which the page says could be up to £26,000 depending on age and role. Disciplines include aerospace engineering, software engineering, project management and nuclear engineering.
Entry in England and Wales
You need to be 16 or over with five GCSEs at grade 4-9 (or equivalent) including maths and English, and a minimum of 240 UCAS points. Some roles also need a science or other technical subject.
The process
An online application, then a virtual assessment with gamified challenges and video questions, then a virtual or face-to-face interview.
Check the security section early
All applicants must meet at least the Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles need higher National Security Vetting, which typically means 5 to 10 years of continuous UK residency. Nationality, previous nationalities and place of birth can limit which roles you can apply for. Find out where you stand before you spend a weekend on an application.
Details are on the BAE Systems degree apprenticeships page.
For 2027, Rolls-Royce has register-your-interest pages for Engineering degree apprenticeships and for Engineering and Manufacturing Level 3 apprenticeships. Applications had not opened when we checked, and no closing date was listed.
The degree apprenticeship listing names sites including Derby, Bristol, Barnoldswick, Coventry, Renfrew, Washington, Nottingham, Winsford, Rotherham and Birmingham.
Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeships last four years and are for people who have completed or are completing GCSEs or National 5s. Higher and degree apprenticeships are for people with A-levels, Highers or equivalent.
Rolls-Royce also says there is no single route in and no upper age limit, with programmes ranging from Year 9 students to people changing careers later in life. If you think you are too old to start, that line is for you.
Register on the Rolls-Royce UK apprenticeships page so you hear when applications open.
Eligibility first. Check residency and right to work before anything else. It decides which roles you can even apply for.
Earliest deadline first. Apply to the role that closes soonest, even though the dates are estimates.
Register interest now. Rolls-Royce will tell you when applications open. That is free and takes a minute.
Keep a date sheet. One simple list with employer, role, estimated close date and status. Recheck each employer page every couple of weeks.
Have your predicted grades ready. Airbus accepts them, and offers are conditional.
Dates change, and employer pages sometimes contradict themselves, as Airbus and BAE both did here. Always confirm on the employer's own page before you act. We will update this guide as windows open.
Go in informed.
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Aerospace engineering student at the University of Hertfordshire, graduating July 2027, with a D*D*D* BTEC in Aviation Operations. On the quadcopter project I led manufacturing and got the frame from 210 g down to 33 g on a £130 budget. Co-founded Crosswind to give people straight answers about getting into aviation and aerospace.
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