Switching from an apprenticeship to a traditional degree?

[dropofgoldensun]

DS is considering a degree apprenticeship. If he starts one, but finds it's not for him, will there be any penalties to deter him from dropping out and switching to a full time degree course instead? (Hopefully that won't happen, but I like to understand the "what if's" 🙂)

You would have to look at the terms and conditions. If its like many other training contracts where you get paid if you dont finish the course or leave within so many years of finishing the qualification you are liable to repay the training costs.

What apprenticeship is he thinking of? They are extremely competitive and harder to get a place on than a traditional degree.

Is he unsure of the course or is he wondering about the lifestyle attached? My DS is taking a degree apprenticeship, just started his second year and on 27k. As much as he has other apprentices on his course and they sometimes go out it’s basically not a student lifestyle like being on a traditional course. It’s a lot of work but he has a guaranteed job at the end, zero debt and a degree.

He's looking at engineering, or maybe computing. He's only in Year 12 so not applying for anything yet. He'll apply for uni and probably also try for any interesting apprenticeships he likes the look of. If he is offered one then he'll have a decision to make, and he may or may not make the right decision. So there are obviously several "what if" steps along the way to the scenario I asked about - that's just me thinking ahead to every eventuality.

Mr DD did exactly this - applied for degree courses and an apprenticeship, and deferred her place on the degree for a year until she was sure about the apprenticeship.

Apprentices are not required to pay back any training costs - I think there has been a recent case about it, so it's quite safe to do.

Although as PP says, the hard part is securing an apprenticeship!

*my DD not Mr obviously!