Degree Apprenticeship or University?

Hi there,

I would like to go into the Business and Computing field of work after sixth form and I do not know which route to choose after sixth form.

I am stuck between going to uni and doing a full-time degree or doing a degree apprenticeship whilst gaining work experience and studying towards a degree.

The uni degree is a good option but I only get 1 year work experience for placement and I will have a massive amount of university debt to pay. However, i will have free-time and will live the student life

On the other hand, doing a degree apprenticeship would be great as I would gain work experience, get a salary, study towards a degree and not have any debt to pay after I finish the apprenticeship. The only thing i am worried about is the work/study life and whether the workload will be a huge step up from sixth form

Overall, If i was to pick one of the options I would go for a standard Business Computing degree at Uni or doing a Digital and Technology Solutions degree apprenticeship.

If anyone has experience of doing both of these things or even one of them feel free to leave a message below as I need to know what people think of my situation. Thanks

Reply 1

Chris2892

16

I completed a degree apprenticeship.
You can still join a student union and their societies as a degree apprentice. It doesn’t have to be the uni you’re studying at. My advice would be to apply for both and choose when you’ve got offers.

I’ve answered this question in the below threads:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6608920
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6581370
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6607916

Reply 2

Bigbazza27

OP

4

Original post by Chris2892

I completed a degree apprenticeship.
You can still join a student union and their societies as a degree apprentice. It doesn’t have to be the uni you’re studying at. My advice would be to apply for both and choose when you’ve got offers.

I’ve answered this question in the below threads:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6608920
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6581370
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6607916

thanks for the reply,

what degree apprenticeship did you do? and at what university?

what did you think of the degree apprenticeship?

Reply 3

sea.breeze

4

Hi!

I’ve just started a degree apprenticeship and despite all my friends going onto university, I don’t regret it one bit!

You’ve mentioned the the main benefits and you just have to weigh up how important that ‘university experience’ is to you.

The 2nd and 3rd years on my course say that they definitely have a social life but they just have to organise themselves and work that little bit harder.

As long as you’re completing a degree apprenticeship, you’ll be connected to a uni and have all the same access to societies and benefits that a regular student has.

Personally, I felt that I couldn’t surpass this opportunity for a bit more partying and that ‘uni experience’.

Plus, if you choose this path there will be others in the same position as you, so you’ll be in it together.

Overall, you just have to think about your end goal and where you want to be. Whether that’s uni or an apprenticeship, do what’s best for you and your career.

Reply 4

Chris2892

16

Original post by Bigbazza27

thanks for the reply,

what degree apprenticeship did you do? and at what university?

what did you think of the degree apprenticeship?

Original post by sea.breeze

Hi!

I’ve just started a degree apprenticeship and despite all my friends going onto university, I don’t regret it one bit!

You’ve mentioned the the main benefits and you just have to weigh up how important that ‘university experience’ is to you.

The 2nd and 3rd years on my course say that they definitely have a social life but they just have to organise themselves and work that little bit harder.

As long as you’re completing a degree apprenticeship, you’ll be connected to a uni and have all the same access to societies and benefits that a regular student has.

Personally, I felt that I couldn’t surpass this opportunity for a bit more partying and that ‘uni experience’.

Plus, if you choose this path there will be others in the same position as you, so you’ll be in it together.

Overall, you just have to think about your end goal and where you want to be. Whether that’s uni or an apprenticeship, do what’s best for you and your career.

I did mechanical engineering at Sheffield Hallam, but worked in medical engineering. Loved my work, but didn’t like uni that much. Found it to be lacking in transferable and meaningful work, where most projects were limited to introductory level and inadequate software/facilities.

i didn’t work in Sheffield and commuted one day a week. I joined the student union at the university in my work city and found I didn’t lose out on the “student life”. You can usually join the societies as a guest and do not typically have to be a student there. Definitely helped me take my mind of studies.

Reply 5

LiviLu100

6

Hi!

I actually left university to do a higher apprenticeship (in marketing) and can honestly say it's the best decision I've made. I work 37hrs a week Mon-Fri with Friday being my day dedicated to studying (you still get paid for your study hours). Reasons I love it;
1. No student debt, my employer pays for all my tuition and exam fees
2. I am paid a decent salary and so I actually way more free time as I don't have to spend all my evenings and weekends working to try and make some money
3. I will finish with over 2 years on-the-job experience which is something that university graduates will not have (a shiny 1st class degree is nice, but what employers are really interested in is your experience and how you will use this to benefit their company).

I study with a Cambridge college which specialises in marketing and PR. All my studying is remote but I receive all my materials through an online portal, have my own tutor which I regularly talk to, and have access to communicate with other apprentices studying the same course. Like with university I will have exams at the end of my course which will determine my grade (for me this is a knowledge test, a project report and presentation and a professional discussion.)
My best friend went to university and has racked up over £50,000 in debt and after graduating, has gone onto further education because her degree wasn't specific to get her the job she wanted. She also hated the 'uni life' and came home after the first year because being independent in London and living off student allowance wasn't all it was cracked up to be.
If you can find a degree apprenticeship with a good company, don't pass up that amazing opportunity for the allure of 'student life' (it won't be lots of clubbing with Covid this year anyway!) Many graduates leave and struggle to find work, having the experience of an apprenticeship really will make a huge difference to your employability (plus if you make a good impression, your apprenticeship employer may offer you a permanent position at the end!)

Degree Apprenticeship or University?

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