This paper aims at highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the Apprenticeship, in particular of the Higher Education and Research Apprenticeship for young university students: the goal is to promote the educational aspects that have always characterized this kind of contract since its origin. Over the last few years, we have seen many regulatory interventions on the Apprenticeship, aimed at promoting this kind of contract as the main input channel for the youth to enter the labour market. However, the Apprenticeship, particularly the Higher Education and Research one, seems to be barely used by the national productive system, that prefers, instead, to opt for other available forms of work cooperation. After a summary of the main regulatory interventions that have distinguished the Apprenticeship contract up to the Law 92/2012, this research intends to report its actual use as an input channel to enter the labour market, through data from Isfol and from the Mandatory Communications, with particular reference to the case of "La Sapienza", University of Rome’s graduates. Finally, the research proposes a reflection about the inherent educational potentialities of the Apprenticeship contract: if properly used by Universities and enterprises, in fact, the contract could represent a real opportunity for the apprentices in terms of on-the-job training. On the other end, it could be a chance of growth and innovation for enterprises, through the investment on the skills gained by young graduates during their university studies.