Disadvantages of degree apprenticeships? Why do the majority of DC choose uni over degree apprenticeships?

[hmmm12]

Tell me about the disadvantages of degree apprenticeships please.
Would your dc consider doing a degree apprenticeship? And if not why not?

Mine did an accountancy apprenticeship so a professional qualification, rather than degree (but still higher level).

I guess the biggest disadvantage is no ‘uni experience’. However, he moved away from home, lived with other school leavers etc .

Disadvantages - a lot of self study, he didn’t really gave many college days throughout the course,

Ds did have an uni place, but deferred it for a year, to see how the apprenticeship would pan out. Is this an option?

I also think more school leavers choose uni because that’s the agenda schools push. When my dc applied six years ago, there weren’t that many higher apprenticeships around and he investigated independently of school.

Now there are alot more and people are more aware of them. Unfortunately, due to cost of uni fees, and cost of living etc, there is greater demand as people don’t want to come out of uni with debt and people regard them as a viable option.

Degree apprenticeships are very very competitive and so most won't get one. So go to Uni instead.

I mean it’s a tough question. Work or a three year party…. Who knows why they pick uni

Because of the minimal number of opportunities, because kids want the ‘proper’ university experience / rites of passage, and because some ‘keeping up with the Jones’s’ parents want them to go to university because it’s the ‘right thing’ to do, even though they may be entirely unsuited to being an undergraduate student.

@TizerorFizz they’re not the same but doing the course I can see the list at Exeter. There’s not many but some bcs. Not sure re BAs. The nhs is partnered with the uni.

DS has offers from 5 good unis, but he really wants to do degree apprenticeship, learn on the job and earn money.

Getting uni offers was a doddle compared to the application process for a degree apprenticeship, it's so stressful! He's done lengthy applications and online assessments, assessment days, interviews, presentations. All while trying to keep up with his A level revision. Still no offers for a degree apprenticeship, think he's applied for at least 10.

Unless they wat to go into something actually unrelated to their A Levels , there aren't any.

That's why 'do a degree apprentice chip' isn't a straightforward bit of advice! They tend to be STEM or business. I think the Civil Service may have introduced some so that may suit MFL.

Young people know the routine of “school” the hierarchy the pattern, it’s familiar. The transition to uni appears safer.
Regarding apprenticeships if for any reason (medical comes to mind) you need a year off what would happen? How transferable is the degree? Will the program have the necessary breadth vs depth of subject matter?

As others have said, degree apprenticeships are much more competitive. There isn’t the university experience and they take longer to complete. If there is a degree apprenticeship route available when the time comes, I would prefer my ds to do this.

Law apprenticeships don’t require Stem. Nor do some management type ones, eg HR. The humanities student is disadvantaged though, in my view. No employer will give you an apprenticeship in history. You must know what job you want.

Can you list the advantages please ?

No student debt.
If you manage to live at home as well a large amount of savings i.e for house deposit.
Normally a job at the end.
Learning how to do a job not just learning theory.

No student loans
Working with experienced people in the field from day 1
Some have good pay during the apprenticeship (not all) and start a pension. He has a 40 percent deposit saved for a house aged 26 and he is looking to buy now he knows exactly where he wants to be located.
No party scene is an advantage for some (not all)
A CV at the end of a degree that includes experience of work
Use of work benefits - perhaps gyms/travel and placements etc (depends entirely on the employer)
Some young people want to prioritise work at 18 but, equally, appreciate the need to continue to train and gain qualifications
Living with adults (although I don't know if this is universal for all) offers a very different lifestyle to a student one. Some may see this as a disadvantage, others advantage.

As a parent we were quite prepared to pay for my son's accommodation for university as we did his sister. He paid all of this from day 1 from his not ungenerous pay. Saved us a fortune.

My DH did one in his 50s. He already had a degree and masters in unrelated subjects, this is part of a career change for him.

The apprenticeship was only offeretoto established employees who didn't have the professional qualifications to move to next level, so all were older than usual student age.

Because degree apprentices are as rare as hens teeth.

DS is year 12 so his college has started to cover this and the popular apprenticeships will have 2k applications for a couple of places.

@presidentofthefashionclub The majority of degree apprenticeships go to existing adult employees. Not that they are not worthy people but the 18 year olds are being sold short. Many think apprenticeships are a real alternatives to degrees, until they try to get one.

Apologies, I have not read the whole thread but as other people have said, you don't choose a DA in the same way as you choose a degree.

Employers recruit employees into roles which include a degree apprenticeship. This could be aimed at anyone from school leavers to 50+ year olds. The availability of DAs is linked to the availability of jobs, not university placements.

University places, not placements.

You need to know exactly what you want to do for a degree apprenticeship - they seem quite specific and therefore a narrower path, and you're tied to that employer / role for a number of years.

One of my kids knows he wants to work in a business /corporate world, but the thought of joining a business and then being locked in feels quite restrictive....

I thought your husband had to be a mason for your kid to get a degree apprenticeship? <sarc/ - not really>

1. Degree Apprenticeships just don’t exist in the subject DD wanted to study.
2. whilst DD knows what she wants to study for now, longer term career uncertain
3. money or the cost isn’t the deciding factor as we put into a CTF for 18 years
4. the economy and technology is moving so fast that deciding a career at 17 or 18 seems a tough call
5. one of DD’s friend’s brother’s at a top superselective grammsr got an engineering degree apprenticeship, hated it on a number of levels and dropped out and started a year later doing a degree with a student loan.

My DS was keen except his friend was on the same apprenticeship degree scheme but a year a head. The degree did not start in year one and now they have kicked forward 3 more years. My DS is studying a vocational degree and will be in the field in a few years with the degree. He has no regrets

Also the Uni experience has been beneficial in terms of confidence and widening life experience.

It's a lot easier to get onto a standard degree course than a degree apprenticeship.

For those who want a degree apprenticeship, most end up going to university instead or getting a regular job because there are far fewer apprenticeships than those who want them.

I also think it’s wrong to talk about the “uni experience” in a disparaging way. It’s not all boozing and partying that dc who go to uni want. It’s the whole learning experience too.

Some DC would not be mature enough to cope with an apprenticeship or even go through the processes to get one at 17/18. Interviews might feel daunting and these dc need their experience at uni to mature. They will be better placed to find a job than they were at 18. Many change their minds about work whilst at university and have the time to do it. Thats valuable and is better than getting it wrong at 18.