Degree Apprenticeship Vs St Andrews ?

Apprenticeship. Easy.
You can always go to university later and the lack of debt will do wonders later on in your career.

Thank for the reply! I wouldn't be in debt either way, I can afford accommodation through working and I won't have to pay tuition. I was thinking I could possibly do a masters once my apprenticeship is over, but I'm not sure if going from construction to politics is a very common route.

I don't think it is a common route. If there's a lack of debt then university seems to be more promising however I would still consider going for the apprenticeship just because of the job security associated with completing the apprenticeship compared to the unpredictability of the degree course.

The apprenticeship has every practical advantage, I'm just worried about choosing wrong and ending up miserable! I'm in two minds but I'm pretty sure I have to choose the apprenticeship.

If you take the university route and end up miserable, you no longer have the option of doing the apprenticeship. If you take the apprenticeship route and end up miserable then you can always quit the apprenticeship and go to university later.
Therefore, do the apprenticeship, hope this helps.

It has helped! Thank you for the advice x

Hi!
I'm 21, I have been working since I left school and only recently decided to apply to uni.
I decided to apply to both degree apprenticeships and put in a UCAS application; I have been accepted onto a quantity surveying degree apprenticeship through BAM, and also to study international relations at St Andrews.
If the job market were no concern, I reckon I would choose St Andrews; however, I am worried about my job prospects afterwards.
I am looking for advice on which path to take.
I have enjoyed working since leaving school, so working a full time job is not a turn off for me, but the jobs related to international relations all seem so much more interesting than construction. My biggest dilemma is whether or not I will be able to get a job after uni.
Everything I have read about international relations jobs says you have to either have lots of money or connections, neither of which I possess.
If anyone has any advice to offer, please let me know - brutal honesty would be best!
Thanks for reading!

Hi!
I'm 21, I have been working since I left school and only recently decided to apply to uni.
I decided to apply to both degree apprenticeships and put in a UCAS application; I have been accepted onto a quantity surveying degree apprenticeship through BAM, and also to study international relations at St Andrews.
If the job market were no concern, I reckon I would choose St Andrews; however, I am worried about my job prospects afterwards.
I am looking for advice on which path to take.
I have enjoyed working since leaving school, so working a full time job is not a turn off for me, but the jobs related to international relations all seem so much more interesting than construction. My biggest dilemma is whether or not I will be able to get a job after uni.
Everything I have read about international relations jobs says you have to either have lots of money or connections, neither of which I possess.
If anyone has any advice to offer, please let me know - brutal honesty would be best!
Thanks for reading!

I would choose the uni path, as you will have 4 years to study, show yourself and create new links/connections through the network of teachers, students, and even through work experience during the course.
Can l ask you please about your grades/subjects? I am also interested in studying IR at St Andrews, so this information would help me. Thank you!

It depends what you want in life, but if you are looking at a career that involves overseas travel, global horizons etc, then Quantity Surveying. IR at St Andrews is a top course, but the competition in IR careers is very high, because it's open to a global market. Whereas put the same effort in to QS and there are global opportunities with a much smaller pool of candidates.

I would choose the uni path, as you will have 4 years to study, show yourself and create new links/connections through the network of teachers, students, and even through work experience during the course.
Can l ask you please about your grades/subjects? I am also interested in studying IR at St Andrews, so this information would help me. Thank you!

I would choose the uni path, as you will have 4 years to study, show yourself and create new links/connections through the network of teachers, students, and even through work experience during the course.
Can l ask you please about your grades/subjects? I am also interested in studying IR at St Andrews, so this information would help me. Thank you!

Hi! St Andrews looks lovely and I've heard great things about it so I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
My grades were as follows:
Higher English - A
Higher Art - A
Higher Environmental science - B
Higher Maths - B
Higher Physics - B
Higher Music - B
Advanced higher English - A
Advanced higher Music - A
Advanced higher Biology - B
In English qualifications the advanced highers would be A-levels with A*A*A grades.
A great personal statement it apparently really important, I used this page as a bit of inspiration:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/university/personal-statements/international-relations/
Hope this helps!

The one caution to consider around apprenticeships - the drop out rates are between 40-50%. If you’re used to working full time then that’s good but make sure you are happy with the employer and your likely managers/team.

How exactly is this the case? Is this people deciding to do other paths or different apprenticeships altogether? You got a source for it?

I would still argue that OP should do the apprenticeship because they might not have the opportunity to do it again whereas they will always have the opportunity to do the degree curse again if the apprenticeship does not go to plan.

https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships/2024-25
The National Achievement Rate Tables section has the proportion of starters who qualified. For degree and postgraduate apprenticeships it’s gone from 52% to 61% in the last few years so it’s improving (but compared to degree completion rates of 85%+ it’s not great).
There’s no research into why the rates are so poor. Presumably it’s because learners need to be happy staying with both their employer and learning provider…and the employer has to be happy with the employee. That’s a big ask for most young people to stay with 1 employer for 3+ years.