Durham vs KPMG Apprenticeship?

I am in year 13 currently and have an offer from Durham (plus other unis but I will likely firm Durham) for Accounting and Finance +placement year and an Audit L7 Apprenticeship with KPMG where I will be ACA qualified after 5 years.

I am currently very stuck on what to decide and keep changing my mind!

I would move out for Durham but KPMG is very close to home and it would be far more economically viable to commute however I do want to move out (I am considering maybe moving after a year or 2 if i go with KPMG)

Any advice or ideas is very much appreciated, thank you!!

Reply 1

Hodders68

Ok - as I see it there are 3 areas to look at:
1) Financial - no contest. One you end up with a loan, the second you end up with a salary. This may be a big factor - I don't know your situation.
2) Experience - Uni is in no small part about moving out, learning to live away from home and making life-long friends. An apprenticeship will be much more like work - especially if you are living at home. Uni is a great experience and something you will look back on for the rest of your life.
3) Qualifications - a L7 apprenticeship is apparently equivalent to a Masters. But have a detailed look at the modules on teh Durham course and ask KPMG for the apprenticeship curriculum. How do they compare? Are there modules Durham offer that you really want to do that KPMG can't match?

In 10 years time your professional experience will start to matter far more than anything else - so have a good think. Different paths, but both with great destinations.

Reply 2

Mamaagirlbehindu

Honestly depends on your priorities and the kind of life you want to live. If career progression is more important to you than than having a chill uni experience then pick KPMG.
You won’t get to experience being a fresher, going clubbing, making friends, living by yourself etc, but academically speaking KPMG is superior. So if you want to work hard, and focus on your career and becoming independent, choose the degree apprenticeship.

If you want the classic uni experience and you’re fine putting off a career for a bit, pick Durham