Clare Marchant, chief executive of Ucas, said the opportunity for youngsters to earn while they learn on the job could become more attractive than in previous years.
Hundreds of thousands of students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive their A-level results on Thursday.
Asked whether cost-of-living pressures could lead to more choosing an apprenticeship rather than a traditional degree, Ms Marchant said: “I think it’s definitely more acute. The cohort that have come to Ucas – who want to apply for an undergraduate course – it is not something that’s deterring them from that.
“The question is, when the chips are down come August 17, do we see a cohort then switch to apprenticeships if they don’t get their first choice? Potentially.
“The earn while you learn versus going to university might seem an even more attractive option than it has in the past.”
Ucas has seen interest in apprenticeships increase “year on year” through its Career Finder website which allows people to search for apprenticeship opportunities, Ms Marchant said.
If students do not secure a university place on A-level results day, the higher education admissions service will signpost them to Career Finder as well as to clearing, which matches applicants to university slots yet to be filled.
Ms Marchant said: “There’ll be a number of different things they’ll be signposted to in terms of what their next step might be.
“If you look at the apprenticeships options, pretty much every big national employer has got apprenticeships up there. You know, from Coca-Cola to Virgin to Deloitte to BA to Jaguar Land Rover, they’re all there. Of course they’re highly competitive as well.
“We talk to lots and lots of employers who see the summer as a time that they can get some real talent.”
From this autumn, school leavers will be able to explore apprenticeship opportunities alongside undergraduate courses through the Ucas website.
Prospective students will be able to apply for apprenticeships through Ucas as well as an undergraduate degree application from autumn 2024.
It comes as students whose A-level results were graded by their teachers during the pandemic are dropping out of university in record numbers. Close to 30 percent are said to be quitting some degree courses.
This A-level results day is expected to show lower grades after Covid-19 led to an increase in 2020 and 2021, based on teacher assessments instead of exams.
Gillian Keegan wrote: “During the pandemic, results were higher because of the way grades were assessed – now grades will be lower than last year and more similar to 2019. Pupils and parents might wonder why.
“It is vital that qualifications hold value so that universities and employers understand the distinction between grades when recruiting, and pupils get the opportunities they deserve.”
It is thought many students who were awarded more generous A-level grades during the pandemic have struggled to cope at university.
