Earn your degree in
the real world

You don't have to take the traditional uni route to start an incredible career at Kainos

Limitless possibilities 

Join our team in Belfast, where you will hit the books one day a week over four years to become fully qualified in computing systems with our Earn as You Learn (EAYL) programme.

The rest of the time you will work with industry leaders on game-changing projects. And the best part? You will recieve full pay and have your university fees covered as you level up your skills - it's a no brainer. 


But that's just the beginning! From day one, you'll have a mentor by your side, providing guidance and support as you navigate this exciting journey. Your four-year apprenticeship begins with full training to help you find your feet and continues with two placements in different projects.

Whether your passion lies in Software Engineering, Test Engineering, Support Engineering, or the dynamic realm of Workday as a Product Developer, Extend Engineer or Integrations Engineer - the possibilities are endless! 

And it doesn't stop there, our apprentices are often amazed by how quickly they can dive into hands-on experience. Before they know it, they're not only mentoring others but also actively participating in outreach initiatives and engaging with our employee-led networking groups. 

So, get ready to embrace hands on learning and build a future with limitless possibilities!

Our people, their EAYL stories

Why EAYL?

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Uni fees fully covered

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Competitive full-time salary

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Permanent role from day one

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Comprehensive training

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Exciting career opportunities

Should I apply?

Absolutely! Our EAYL programme is designed to give all kinds of people a different way into a career in tech, whether you're a school leaver or looking to change careers.


As our EAYL programme is an alternative route to university so if you have already obtained an undergraduate degree (or higher) qualification in an IT/Computing subject, please apply for one of our graduate opportunities instead.

When can I apply?

We typically launch our EAYL roles in February, so stay connected with us on our social media channels to be the first to know. 

What's next? 

Once applications close, our Talent Acquisition team will start reviewing the submissions.

We receive a high volume of applications, so this can take some time - so please be patient as we carefully consider each one!

We aim to let you know if you've been successful within two weeks of the applications closing. 

What about the interview and assessment process?

If you're successful, you will be invited to complete an interview and assessment with some of our technical leads and some current EAYL apprentices.


This will give you the chance to show your passion and technical skills and ask any burning questions you might have! 

Successful candidates will be contracted in April, and we'll keep in touch with you over the summer to make sure you're ready to kick off in August!

Our people, their stories

Image of a person with text: winning at my job more ways than one
"To win Apprentice of the Year was a such big deal for me. And thanks to the support and guidance of Kainos, I’ve been able to discover my true calling in Cyber Security. Now I get to pass on what I’ve learnt to others who may be considering the same career. Who knows, I may even influence a future Apprentice of the Year! Wouldn’t that be something?"
James Matchett, Lead Cyber Security Engineer, Belfast
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"At Kainos, I get to work on amazing projects. Developing new software and using the latest tech means no two days are the same. I’m always learning and getting to put a fresh new spin on things. Just like when I play my favourite sport, Ultimate Frisbee…mind your heads!"
Likkan Chung, Software Engineer, Birmingham
image of a person with the text with every opportunity I go from strength the strength
"Going straight from university into my first job could have been really daunting. But Kainos gave me all the support and learning opportunities I needed to get to where I am now. And as Kainos grows, my career powers up with it (which is pretty fitting for a keen powerlifter!)."
Hannah Smith, Senior Platform Engineer, London
Image of a person with the text so far my kainos story has been a real page turner
"Stories, storytelling and mentoring are my thing. So, I feel a perfect fit for Kainos and the culture we have here. Even better, I now get to spread the word and tell those stories all over the world, helping to create awareness about who we are, what we do and the people we help."
Maddy McTigue, Workday Change and User Adoption Consultant, Indianapolis
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