Student returns for its landmark 20-year run on Thursday, 29 January 2026, at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Here’s how to watch Student 2026 anywhere with a VPN – including free options in the UK and the best way to stream abroad.
This season, 20 candidates compete for a £250,000 investment and a 50/50 business partnership with Lord Sugar.
For the first time, the boardroom moves to Hong Kong for the opening episode, and to celebrate the 20th series, the number of candidates has increased to 20, the most since 2014.
Lord Sugar is joined by his long-time aides, Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell MBE. Tom Allen has left his companion show, which is now called The Apprentice: Unfinished Business and is hosted by Angela Scanlon.
Read on to find out how to watch Student 2026 online anywhere, including UK dates and where you can catch episodes for free.
How to watch The Apprentice Season 20 for free
How to watch The Apprentice season 20 anywhere
For those who are away from home and want to watch Studentyou will not be able to stream the show as usual due to regional restrictions. Fortunately, there is an easy solution.
Downloading a VPN allows you to stream geo-restricted services online, no matter where you are. It’s a simple little piece of software that changes your IP address, meaning you can access the content you want or live TV as if you were at home. What we like is that NordVPN.
Use one of the the best VPNs you will watch Student season 20 either:
How to watch The Apprentice online for FREE in the UK
As mentioned above, Student season 20 will be broadcast on BBC One every Thursday night at 9pm GMT for 12 weeks.
BBC iPlayer will also give you access to on-demand streaming available as soon as a program goes live on a linear channel.
Outside the UK? Access BBC iPlayer with NordVPN.
Can I watch The Apprentice season 20 online in the US, Canada and Australia?
Unfortunately, we have no word on when Student season 20 will arrive in the US, Canada and Australia. If that changes we will let you know on this page.
UK viewer overseas? Anyone from the UK traveling overseas who wants to watch can stream as usual using a VPN.
What you need to know about The Apprentice season 20
The Apprentice Season 20 Trailer
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Apprentice Season 20 contestants
To mark Series 20, the cast has increased to 20, the highest number since 2014. This list includes entrepreneurs from many different industries.
Examples the BBC leans on include a former RAF gunner who runs a pet cremation business, and a real estate agent who lists Kim Kardashian as her business model.
Listed nominees include:
- Andrea Cooper
- Levi Hague
- Dan Miller
- Karishma Vijay
- Lawrence Rosenberg
- Nikki Jetha
- Tanmay Hingorani
- Georgina Newton
- Marcus Donkoh
- Pascha Myhill
- Carrington Saunders
- Conor Galvin
- Harry Clough
- Kieran McCartney
- Megan Ruiter
- Priyesh Bathia
- Rajan Gill
- Rothna Akhtar
- Roxanne Hamedi
- Vanessa Tetteh-Squire
The Apprentice Season 20 FAQ’s
What is the prize for the winner? The winner gets a £250,000 investment and a 50/50 business partnership with Lord Sugar.
Who are Lord Sugar’s assistants in this series? Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell MBE both return as Lord Sugar’s ‘eyes and ears’.
Where was the series filmed? Filming takes place in 2025 in locations including Hong Kong, London, Isle of Wight, and Egypt (Red Sea).
Do I need a TV License to watch it on BBC iPlayer? Yes. You must have a valid UK TV License to watch live on any channel or use BBC iPlayer.
How many episodes are in Series 20? There are 12 episodes, which air every Thursday.
Is there a companion show after the main episode? Yes. The Apprentice: Unfinished Business airs at 10:05pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, hosted by Angela Scanlon.
Will There Be Any Celebrities Still Studying In 2026? Yes. A full-length series of Celebrity Apprentice is confirmed for later in 2026, following the festive specials which aired in December 2025.
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