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National Audit Office: does its apprentice aca accountancy training scheme sponsor a UK visa?

NoApprentice ACA Accountancy Training Scheme

No. National Audit Office does not sponsor its apprentice aca accountancy training scheme for international students who need a visa. The NAO scheme page says it cannot offer visa sponsorship and that applicants must already have the right to work in the UK for the full length of the scheme. It also says it cannot provide Certificates of Sponsorship.

Sponsors grads?
No
Pay vs threshold
Below the threshold
Opportunity
apprenticeship
Pay
29,188 pounds (London) or 24,178 pounds (Newcastle) starting salary for apprentices
2027 cycle
Not yet open: applications for the 2027 Apprentice Accountancy Scheme open mid-December 2026
Confidence
high

National Audit Office Apprentice ACA Accountancy Training Scheme: at a glance

The National Audit Office's Apprentice ACA Accountancy Training Scheme gives people without a degree hands-on financial audit experience and exposure to government operations on a 4.5-year structured pathway to the ACA qualification. The ACA qualification and ICAEW membership are fully funded, with 25 weeks of paid study leave. The NAO says applications for its 2027 Apprentice Accountancy Scheme open in mid-December 2026. Source

Duration
4.5 yearsSource
Start date
September (induction, college and first exams run from September to November)“No holidays are to be booked between September and November as you will be taking part in your induction programme”Source
Who can apply
Candidates who do not hold an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, with no upper age limit“The Apprenticeship Scheme is for candidates who do not hold an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. There is no upper age limit, you just cannot have a degree.”Source
Locations
London, NewcastleSource
Starting pay
Apprentice salary: London £29,188, Newcastle £24,178 (based on 2026 figures)Source
Degree requirement
5 GCSEs (A-C or 9-4) including Maths and English, 120 UCAS points from top 3 A-Levels excluding General Studies (104 to 119 considered under contextual recruitment), and no degreeSource
Recruitment stages
  1. Online application
  2. Capptivate online assessment with numerical reasoning test
  3. Job simulation
  4. Assessment centre
“Stage 3 - Assessment Centre (involves a role play, group exercise, skills-based interview and reflection exercise)”Source

Every programme and stage at National Audit Office

“However, please note that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this scheme.”
National Audit Office, from its own careers pages
The catch: Apprentice applicants must not already hold a degree, and you can only apply once per school year (1 September to 31 August).
National Audit Office early careersVerify on gov.ukSee the licence record

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What National Audit Office publishes about this programme

Checked against National Audit Office's own careers pages on 2026-10-24. Anything not published is worth asking the early careers team before you apply.

  • Visa sponsorship policy: published
  • Application dates: published
  • Programme description: published
  • Duration and start date: published
  • Who can apply: published
  • Pay: published
  • Locations: published
  • Degree requirement: published
  • Recruitment stages: published

More early careers programmes at National Audit Office

Sources

Verdict last checked 2026-10-24. How we check programme verdicts

Common questions

Does National Audit Office sponsor visas for its apprentice aca accountancy training scheme?

No. National Audit Office does not sponsor its apprentice aca accountancy training scheme for international students who need a visa. The NAO scheme page says it cannot offer visa sponsorship and that applicants must already have the right to work in the UK for the full length of the scheme. It also says it cannot provide Certificates of Sponsorship. Anyone who would need a Skilled Worker visa cannot join this apprenticeship.

What is the National Audit Office apprentice aca accountancy training scheme?

The National Audit Office's Apprentice ACA Accountancy Training Scheme gives people without a degree hands-on financial audit experience and exposure to government operations on a 4.5-year structured pathway to the ACA qualification. The ACA qualification and ICAEW membership are fully funded, with 25 weeks of paid study leave. The NAO says applications for its 2027 Apprentice Accountancy Scheme open in mid-December 2026.

Does the pay clear the UK Skilled Worker salary threshold?

The pay for this scheme sits below the Skilled Worker salary threshold, which is itself a reason sponsorship is not possible.

What is the catch international students miss with National Audit Office?

Apprentice applicants must not already hold a degree, and you can only apply once per school year (1 September to 31 August).

When do applications open for the National Audit Office apprentice aca accountancy training scheme?

Not yet open: applications for the 2027 Apprentice Accountancy Scheme open mid-December 2026. Checked on 2026-10-24 against National Audit Office's own site.

How long is the National Audit Office apprentice aca accountancy training scheme?

4.5 years, according to National Audit Office's own careers information.

When does the National Audit Office apprentice aca accountancy training scheme start?

September (induction, college and first exams run from September to November), according to National Audit Office's own careers information.

Who can apply for the National Audit Office apprentice aca accountancy training scheme?

Candidates who do not hold an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, with no upper age limit, according to National Audit Office's own careers information.

Where is the National Audit Office apprentice aca accountancy training scheme based?

London, Newcastle, according to National Audit Office's own careers information.

What does the National Audit Office apprentice aca accountancy training scheme pay?

Apprentice salary: London £29,188, Newcastle £24,178 (based on 2026 figures), according to National Audit Office's own careers information.

What degree do you need for the National Audit Office apprentice aca accountancy training scheme?

5 GCSEs (A-C or 9-4) including Maths and English, 120 UCAS points from top 3 A-Levels excluding General Studies (104 to 119 considered under contextual recruitment), and no degree, according to National Audit Office's own careers information.

What are the recruitment stages for the National Audit Office apprentice aca accountancy training scheme?

Online application, Capptivate online assessment with numerical reasoning test, Job simulation, Assessment centre, according to National Audit Office's own careers information.

How should I confirm National Audit Office's sponsorship before applying?

Read the specific vacancy on National Audit Office's careers site, ask its early-careers team directly, and check the employer on the gov.uk Register of Licensed Sponsors. Policies and thresholds change, so treat this page as a starting point and confirm for the exact role and cycle.

Related guides

All visa and sponsorship guides

Other public sector schemes

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Sponsorship data: Home Office register + job ad wording. Not immigration advice, verify on gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. How we check this data.