University or Degree Apprenticeship?

[Itsmomnotmum64]

Hi, I’m just looking for a bit of advice please.

My DS is 18 and doing A-levels at 6th Form, he’s predicted A star/A star/A. He’s already applied to Universities and received an offers from 3 very good Russell Group universities.

My older son went to one of these Universities, and was my younger son’s ambition to go there too. He was delighted to get an offer.

However, he has now seen a Degree Apprenticeship opportunity. The Degree will be a BA in a subject very similar to the one he wants to study at University. The Degree will be totally funded, any residential that he has to attend will be paid for, and he’s guaranteed a Graduate job at the end of it.

So what would you advise your sons to do?

The University experience, at a slightly “better” university - and a student debt of about £90k (which my older son has).

Or virtually the same Degree, debt free with a job at the end.

His long term goal is to work in Politics- the apprenticeship is a Civil Service role.

So as not to drip feed, he has high functioning autism, and moderate social anxiety.

Thank you

Apprenticeship degree if it was me.

Absolutely 100%
Its a great opportunity and very sought after

Degree Apprenticeship by a mile.
If he gets one, he'll do better, have relevant work experience and zero debt.

He will miss out on uni life though, but that's all really odd if he's with a group of apprentices though, they'll have fun together.

Definitely the Apprenticeship, but I’d apply for both to keep options open in case he doesn’t get it.

If he has high functioning autism and moderate social anxiety, then do you think he would really enjoy the university “experience” anyway? I know I didn’t (although you wouldn’t have known that to look at me, I masked hard).

If not really, then the apprenticeship is the obvious choice.

Applying for a degree apprenticeship is exactly the same as applying for a job, with the same chance of success. He should apply and make a choice if/ when he gets it.

Apprenticeship 100%. No one wants student loan repayments unless they really have to

Encourage him to apply.

Degree apprenticeship 💯

Absolutely, the apprenticeship.

I believe they are really really competitive due to the appeal of having no debt, but he should definitely give it a go!

The degree apprenticeship is the clear winner.

What degree is he doing to get £90,000 of debt? That seems excessive unless it's medicine or perhaps veterinary medicine.

Degree apprenticeships are brilliant. We have them in the NHS and they basically get a free degree and lots of great experience. However, they are very competitive to get onto and where I work you have to already be working in the profession as a support worker to get the opportunity.

I'm a teacher, lifelong university advocate within my job, and have 2 children currently studying at RG universities. However, the mixed experiences of my own children coupled with the amazing apprenticeship opportunities available now, has made me rethink my previous stance. One has loved uni life and it was absolutely the right decision for him to go. Where the other has got very little from their uni experience and I have real concerns about their job prospects when they leave. Whereas their friends completing apprenticeships are flourishing and have a guaranteed jobs lined-up. It depends on the child, but if they are not hugely bothered about experiencing uni life, I would advise looking seriously at the apprenticeship.

The degree apprenticeship will set him up well (if he can get it they’re very popular) having the work experience that comes with an apprenticeship is what will set him apart much better for future jobs in the politics sphere and the guaranteed job is such a good thing.

The degree apprentiship will give much more structure to his life. A lot of people find they drift a bit at university if it's a subject with not many lectures.

I would say that the application process is quite intense though. If you aren't used to interviews and thinking what you can bring to a role and jumping through lots of stages. They are so competitive. But someone has to succeed.

Hi Dragons - 90k is the debt my older son is left with, he did a 4/5 yr integrated Masters, so it was a bit higher than the usual debt

I work in Higher Apprenticeships for a university and would really recommend it, but as others say they are very competitive to get. It's not easy balancing the demands of work and study, but the apprentices come out of it so well prepared to be qualified and with such a wealth of experience.

In our course's case they're still getting the same level and quality of education too, attending lectures and workshops on campus like the undergrads do. But they're being paid for that day of studying as well, no student debt and have all the work experience alongside it.

Thanks everyone, you’ve all confirmed what I was thinking.

I advised him to apply for the apprenticeship, and if he doesn’t get it, to go back to the original University plan.

He’s done the application tests, now needs to work on his personal statement.

The apprenticeship. I work with young job seekers and have graduates on the books with little or no relevant work experience who are consequently struggling to find decent jobs.

My older son was lucky, he did a year in industry during his degree, which gave him the experience he needed to get a graduate position, although he’s had to move from Birmingham, where we live, to Manchester.

I also have a younger son who left school this year.
He’s doing an Advanced apprenticeship in a trade, and he’s loving it.

My son didn’t want to go to Uni as he worries about money/debt and the big loan scared him.

He applied for four degree apprenticeships and was very lucky to get offered two and chose the favourite. His A level results were BBC. Two years of college and three years at Uni one day per week.

He was given a company car immediately and gets all his private mileage fuel paid too. He’s been all around the country working from different areas staying in hotels and is loving it. Studying whilst working is definitely doable as they give him time off to study. DS is on 29K

I really do think it’s the way to go, as several of my friend’s DC’s just cannot get work. All the knowledge, but no experience of work.

The degree apprenticeship, 100%.

My DS is doing a normal degree.
I work in apprenticeships and I think they are better because: less time wasted, more engaged students, less debt, real world experience and ability to make links between academic work and 'work' work. Also ability to make professional connections whilst at uni.

I will definitely encourage DS 2 to do a degree apprenticeship.
I think we need loads more of them in more sectors. The one you describe sounds great!

I’ve just shown my son this thread, and he absolutely convinced that the Apprenticeship is the way to go.

He’s looking for others to apply for too, as there is so much competition.

Thanks All

Apprenticeship. Seems like no brainer to me. Civil service pension is excellent too and he can start that early!