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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Degree or degree apprenticeship?

38 replies

marthamonday · 23/05/2021 21:30

DC is in the very fortunate position of having been offered a degree apprenticeship and holding an unconditional offer for a Uni place. Both at the same Uni, same qualification.

Obviously pros and cons to both; apprenticeship obviously there's no student debt, and earnings for the next four years - but having done the advanced apprenticeship DC knows it's a hard way of doing it, working full time and studying. To go to Uni would mean making friends, societies, being independent - but with a huge debt at the end of 3 years... which might not be paid back.

Obviously added to that is the thought that it might not be a normal Uni experience this year either.

DC spoke to the Head of Faculty for advice, and she agreed it was a fabulous position to be in, but had no advice one way or the other!

What would you do?

OP posts:
PlanDeRaccordement · 23/05/2021 21:34

Since it is the same Uni, so exact same degree I would choose the degree apprenticeship. This is assuming your DC doesn’t have any learning disability? I have a learning disabled DC just finished their first year Uni and there is no way they could have worked and studied at the same time because their disability means they have to put in 3x the estimated hours for tasks.

chopc · 23/05/2021 21:35

Depends on how it is timetabled? For example if you are a medic you have a full schedule almost daily but they will find time to enjoy what's on offer at Uni.

I wouldn't turn down a degree apprenticeship in 2021

Beach11 · 23/05/2021 21:38

Degree apprenticeship all the way. No debt and learning skills whilst training will put them in a better position for employment.

Idolikeanicepieceofcake · 23/05/2021 21:58

Degree apprenticeship vote from me. Not having student debt hanging over your head (and payments being deducted from your paycheck for years and years) would be well worth it IMO

celtiethree · 23/05/2021 22:13

Another vote for degree apprenticeship.

PresentingPercy · 23/05/2021 23:03

It’s not a debt is it? It’s a grad tax. However the apprenticeship means no job to find afterwards so it’s probably the best bet. I’ve worked and studied and it’s hard work. He will make friends. Just different ones!

PresentingPercy · 23/05/2021 23:06

I meant to say, it doesn’t matter if the grad tax doesn’t pay off the loan. Who cares? Is he going to be a high earner? What career is it? What degree at what university? Does he think working is better? Or would he like more freedom to decide his future? The apprenticeship is cheaper for you!

RaininSummer · 23/05/2021 23:16

Another vote for the degree apprenticeship here. Seems a no brainer with no debt and the possibly weirdness of uni still because of Covid

Middersweekly · 24/05/2021 07:24

Definitely degree apprenticeship. Having good working knowledge will likely lead to a decent FT job afterwards.

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 24/05/2021 07:28

Degree apprenticeship.

They’ll have industry work experience on top of their degree and be a much more attractive candidate to employers.

Your DC would most likely have to get a part-time job anyway, unless you’re planning on giving them pocket money while in their twenties! It may as well be in the industry attached to their degree rather than in a bar or Mac Donald’s like all my friends and I did.

stubiff · 25/05/2021 15:28

@PresentingPercy

It’s not a debt is it? It’s a grad tax. However the apprenticeship means no job to find afterwards so it’s probably the best bet. I’ve worked and studied and it’s hard work. He will make friends. Just different ones!
'no job to find' - a job isn't guaranteed after apprenticeship, but, yes, there would be a fair chance you'd be kept on.
idontlikealdi · 25/05/2021 15:29

Absolutely the degree apprenticeship!

orangecinnamon · 25/05/2021 18:32

He can still access student union etc on the apprenticeship...there may even be teaching in a cohort which will enable him to make course friends.

Underbox · 25/05/2021 19:26

100% degree apprenticeship. The hands-on experience and pay significantly outweighs the traditional route, by a country mile.

PresentingPercy · 25/05/2021 19:33

Most employers don’t invest in young people to degree level and then get rid of them. He really should get a job with the company.

BuffySummersReportingforSanity · 25/05/2021 19:36

I would most definitely do the degree apprenticeship. A young person with no responsibilities can manage a job, work release to study and still have plenty of time for fun. They can also tap all the student societies etc and they will be approximately 1000% better off afterwards with salary, no debt, and a wad of quality work experience (and most likely no need to find a job).

Rummikub · 25/05/2021 19:39

What’s the degree/ apprenticeship in?

qualitygirl · 25/05/2021 19:41

Degree apprenticeship. Your DC will make friends and be independent in a different way through an apprenticeship too. The company I work for take on 3-4 apprentices each year so your dc may not be the only one. There will be socialising in a different way through work too.

BuffySummersReportingforSanity · 25/05/2021 19:45

PS. Part of an apprentice contract is getting 20% time off for study/"off the job learning". It's not quite like studying on top of work where it all has to be fitted into weekends and evenings. I'm not going to tell you that there's never going to be weekend/evening work, but the structure of an apprenticeship specifically allows for a good chunk of learning time during "working hours".

PresentingPercy · 25/05/2021 21:39

Well one assumes that 20% might actually be attendance at university. Contact hours?

Cakequeen1988 · 25/05/2021 21:49

@PresentingPercy no the off the job training at 20% is separate from the university attendance hours. This is time to undertake wider study, CPD, research and complete assignments in relation to the degree apprenticeship qualification.

If my child had these 2 choices I would always choose the degree apprenticeship. If for some reason they hated the company though could leave join the university full time however this is unlikely and on the whole degree apprenticeship are treated very well with excellent workplace packages and rewards.

BuffySummersReportingforSanity · 25/05/2021 22:24

Genuinely, there is no reason to do the pure degree other than being dead set on spending studenthood pissing about and drinking. Which is a choice, I guess, and a degree apprenticeship will not enable the same degree of enjoyable fecklessness that some FT degrees do, but as long as they show up for work and do their assignments they can still fit in plenty of being young and stupid, and the rewards for the sacrifice are huge and long lasting.

Pixilicious · 25/05/2021 22:30

@Cakequeen1988 that’s incorrect the 20% includes the university attendance time. I work in degree apprenticeships so I am 100% positive on this.
I would recommend the degree apprenticeship but they are really hard work as you are effectively doing 0.8fte job plus a degree. We deliver our degrees over 4 years which is pretty intense.

bruffin · 25/05/2021 22:33

My DS went to uni and dropped out but has been offered a degree apprenticeship by his current employer.

The apprenticeship is p/t therefore takes 5 years rather than 3 ,

TheLastLotus · 25/05/2021 22:38

Degree apprenticeship!
Companies that offer these are usually serious about staff. The jobs fits around the degree and they will have study days full support etc. Also usually guaranteed a job.

The only reason I’d say to do a degree is if DS is unsure of what he wants to do...

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