going to university

9

i am currently in year 12 and i really want to go to university but i know how cooked the job market is and a lot of people say to do degree apprenticeships but i don’t know anything about them or how to find them or how they work. ideally, i want to study politics at uni, as i want to work in civil service or do something related to policy advising but there aren’t a lot of degree apprenticeships in that field so should i just go uni instead?
how can i also find internships and work experience if i do go to university, in order to make my CV stand out to employers once i graduate. would a placement year be worth it? i do want to start researching now and also applying so i can be more prepare and so i am able to be employed as soon as I graduate.
sorry if these are a lot of questions
thank you for reading!

Reply 1

Emma:-)

Entertainment Forum Helper, Careers Forum Helper

19

Original post

by s00300

i am currently in year 12 and i really want to go to university but i know how cooked the job market is and a lot of people say to do degree apprenticeships but i don’t know anything about them or how to find them or how they work. ideally, i want to study politics at uni, as i want to work in civil service or do something related to policy advising but there aren’t a lot of degree apprenticeships in that field so should i just go uni instead?
how can i also find internships and work experience if i do go to university, in order to make my CV stand out to employers once i graduate. would a placement year be worth it? i do want to start researching now and also applying so i can be more prepare and so i am able to be employed as soon as I graduate.
sorry if these are a lot of questions
thank you for reading!

If you can, an apprenticeship might be better. There will be none of the student debt. And you can learn while you are earning.
Look at the website below for vacancies.
Find an apprenticeship - GOV.UK

Also could you not do an open uni course? Then work and do work experience whilst doing that.

Reply 2

s00300

OP

9

Original post

by Emma:-)

If you can, an apprenticeship might be better. There will be none of the student debt. And you can learn while you are earning.
Look at the website below for vacancies.
Find an apprenticeship - GOV.UK
Also could you not do an open uni course? Then work and do work experience whilst doing that.

An apprenticeship in what though?

Reply 3

TheUniofLawStaff

Official Rep

11

Original post

by s00300

i am currently in year 12 and i really want to go to university but i know how cooked the job market is and a lot of people say to do degree apprenticeships but i don’t know anything about them or how to find them or how they work. ideally, i want to study politics at uni, as i want to work in civil service or do something related to policy advising but there aren’t a lot of degree apprenticeships in that field so should i just go uni instead?
how can i also find internships and work experience if i do go to university, in order to make my CV stand out to employers once i graduate. would a placement year be worth it? i do want to start researching now and also applying so i can be more prepare and so i am able to be employed as soon as I graduate.
sorry if these are a lot of questions
thank you for reading!

These are really good questions, and it’s great that you’re already thinking ahead about your future. Planning early puts you at a big advantage.

Uni vs Degree Apprenticeships
You’re right that the job market can feel unpredictable and lots of people recommend degree apprenticeships because they combine paid work with studying. But it’s also true that degree apprenticeships in politics, public policy, or the civil service are very limited. Most apprenticeship routes are in areas like business, tech, engineering, finance, healthcare, or digital roles.
If your goal is to work in:

•

Civil Service

•

policy advising

•

government departments

then a university degree in Politics, International Relations, Public Policy is the far more common route.

The Civil Service Fast Stream, policy roles, and graduate schemes all typically expect a university degree (fro what i can see in my research).

Finding Internships & Work Experience at Uni
Work experience is a huge advantage and you’re smart to think about it now. Here’s some things to look into
1. University Careers Service
Every university has a careers team that helps with:

•

CV building

•

Applying for internships

•

Finding part‑time work or volunteering

•

Connecting you with employers

You get access as soon as you enrol.

2. Civil Service Opportunities
You can apply to:

•

Civil Service Summer Diversity Internship Programme (for undergraduates)

•

Civil Service Fast Stream (after graduation)

3. Think Tanks & NGOs
Many offer:

•

Summer internships

•

Research assistant roles

•

Volunteering or virtual experience

Examples for you to look into: Institute for Government, Policy Exchange, Fabian Society, Resolution Foundation, etc.

4. Student societies
Joining or leading societies like:

•

Politics Society

•

Debate Society

•

Model UN

helps your CV massively and builds leadership skills.

Think about a Placement Year
For careers in policy/the civil service a placement year can be valuable.
Benefits:

•

One full year of real experience

•

Stronger CV

•

Better understanding of the sector

Things to do now:

1.

Look at universities offering Politics degrees — compare modules and placement options.

2.

Explore the Civil Service career pathways to understand what roles require.

3.

Create a simple CV now so you can build it over time.

4.

Start following think tanks, government departments, and universities on LinkedIn.

5.

Look for Year 12 programmes, such as Sutton Trust summer schools or university outreach events.

I hope that helps,
Mandi - The University of Law🎓️

Reply 4

Emma:-)

Entertainment Forum Helper, Careers Forum Helper

19

Original post

by s00300

An apprenticeship in what though?

What career area do you want to work in? Look to see if there are apprenticeships in the career area you want. Even if it isnt the exact job you want, you can switch jobs/do training as you go along etc.

going to university

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