Degree Apprenticeships - Science?

[CornishGem1975]

Looking at this as an option for my DD but really struggling to find any suitable apprenticeships that are science-based, they all seem to be more business or engineering. I've looked at all the usual places, but are there any hidden gems i might be missing?

Ask your daughter to see if her school or college have an apprenticeship department. Get her to also ask on forums like the Student Room.

I know someone who did one in IT. They are like hens teeth to get an offer and the student needs to be really independent and passionate about it to stand out.

So make sure its your daughter doing the majority of the work for this as it will pay off if she gets to the assessment centre stage when she really will be on her own.

The person I know then had to arrange and pay for, their own accommodation, move away from home on their own, and actually had to.live in a hotel for a week as the accommodation date didn't tie up. Then they had to work and study at the same time, leaving very little time for going out (like real life). It's all very different from going to uni, so make sure she's the right personality for it and it's what she would want.

Obviously it comes with fantastic opportunities for the right person.

It maybe it is that she is passionate about this choice - but your post reads like it's you driving it.

Degree apprenticeships are a comparatively recent development (12 years or so in the uk). Because firms fund them they are immediately tied to jobs rather than academic subjects - so Accountancy or Engineering. And there aren't many of them. Look on the UCAS website, but it's possible there aren't any in pure Science

There's a lab tech one, but only level 5 I think. But other than computing and engineering I can't think of any others. Remember apprenticeships are training for specific jobs, so 'something in science' isn't really vocational.

If she wants to work in science the traditional degree, maybe postgrad, possibly followed by PhD is the route.

@Ohmylovejune Nope, simply asking if anyone has seen any science related ones as so far we've drawn blanks.

Thanks @titchy. I've discovered there are som lab based ones for people like GSK.

It's looking likely that university is not going to be an option. DD will only qualify for the minimum maintenance loan and unfortunately I'm not in a position to top up, which pretty much closes the door for her.

The other option I guess is that she takes a year out and works for a year to save up.

Could she get a job in a hospital lab, then do something like this:

https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/bsc-hons-applied-biomedical-science-degree-apprenticeship

Unilever
NHS

Or work whilst at uni.

What sort of science? Bio/chem?

Why does it close the door? I didn’t get any help and the minimum loan which didn’t cover my accommodation for the first three years of my four year degree. I worked at Asda and then in a hotel, like loads of other people!

Oh she would work - she has a job now, so she's happy to work, but I just can't imagine she'll earn anywhere near enough what she is going to need? Or maybe I have wildly over-estimated the costs.

@Rummikub Biology/biosciences

Thanks @Lougle That's an interesting idea and probably one she's not thought of. I'll send her that link for her to have a look at.

She would get the minimum based on household income? But you can’t top up at all?

Accommodation is expensive but there are cheaper places to live. She could live at home and wouldn’t incur these costs. She could opt for foundation degree/HND for two years.

Could she live at home and get to a university daily?

Sciences tend to be quite full on courses though so would only work if the commute isn't too long.

What kind of science? There could be apprenticeships in the energy sector.

When I’ve researched for students there aren’t that many in life sciences. Mainly in engineering.

She could see if there are level 4/5 apprenticeships in an organisation she likes then look at options for them to fund degree apprenticeship.

Also consider food or brewery companies.

@CornishGem1975 I managed to earn enough to pay for everything plus run my car which was a requirement of our degree. I also look out a student overdraft of £2,000 which I paid back after I graduated. I also worked full time in any holidays doing all sorts of things - binding calendars, processing benefit forms, tenancy referencing. Obviously harder work than if your parents are finding the whole thing but it certainly isn’t impossible.

So you have a household income of over £65k but aren't going to look into costs Wow.

Ok thanks @fyn that's really good to hear actually. I mean it's not outside the realms of possibility that will be able to contribute something just not the full whack so it's good to hear that it is possible. In holidays (if she came home I know lots don't) she'd still have her job here.

DS is doing a degree apprenticeship in pharmaceutical sciences. He works for a pharmaceutical company as a technician . He is at uni one day a week for 5years

https://www.gre.ac.uk/undergraduate-courses/engsci/pharmaceutical-sciences-bsc-hons-degree-apprenticeship

What sort of grades is she predicted?

Somewhere like Essex uni still has relatively cheap uni accommodation. Or if high grades are predicted, Lancaster uni gives a scholarship to students in the first year if they achieve their high grades.

It's difficult to work term time when studying on a course with high contact hours but not impossible. My DD does some online maths tutoring each week which is easy to fit in.

My DC is doing a degree apprenticeship in Food Science, they work full time then have 4 block weeks a year at University.

Oh Nestle do one in Confectionary. Degree based at York.

Nestle's is in management not food or confectionary.

Apologies just seen they also do food tech!

They certainly used to. As I’ve had emails about it previously.

https://www.nestle.co.uk/en-gb/media/newsfeatures/nestle-confectionery-apprentice-in-cosmopolitan-and-department-for-education-series

They’re also running a packaging one (sustainability)

L&D specialist here.

There are 46 apprenticeships at level 4 or above in the UK with Science in the title. A lot more than previous posters have suggested!

Of those there are 16 degree apprenticeship frameworks that include Science:

https://findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses?keyword=Science&orderby=Relevance&levels=6

If you click on the link above each framework will show you the providers in the UK.

Hope this helps!