If you’ve clicked this module, you have probably hit a crossroad; University vs Apprenticeship. This is a very valid question, and in this module we will explore the pros and cons of each option. However, before we do that that it is important for you to fully understand what either apprenticeships or universities can offer you.
What is an apprenticeship? #
According to apprencieships.gov.uk, an apprenticeship is a paid job where the employee learns and
gains valuable experiences. Apprentices spend at least 20% of their working hours completing classroom-based learning with a college, university or training provider which leads to a nationally recognised qualification. What people often don’t realise is that there are different apprenticeship levels.
Here is a chart showing the different levels of apprenticeship and their equivalent educational level.
Foundation degree means it is equivalent to two-thirds of a bachelor’s degree. For reference, when
you go to university you generally get a bachelor’s degree which is usually 3 years, then some people
go on to do Master’s degrees and a smaller number go on to do PHDs.
Level 6 and Level 7 apprenticeships are called degree apprenticeships because you work with an
employer but study at a university at the same time, and once you complete it you receive an
apprenticeship qualification and a degree, so it’s like two birds one stone. The degree is paid for so
you don’t get any student loan debt, you receive a full time salary. The average salary for a degree
apprentice is £22k which is a lot of money for an 18 year old straight out of sixth form and the salary
tends to go up each year.
As expected, degree apprenticeships are more competitive for that reason and have a much harsher
application process. If you’re in sixth-form or college, you’ll start applying for these degree
apprenticeships early year 13 as they tend to follow the academic calendar.
The typical application for a degree apprenticeship looks like this:
- Apply Online with your CV
- Telephone Interview
- Online tests – psychometric testing
- Video Interview
- Assessment centre and/or Final Interview
Bear in mind the process will vary for each company so it may not be exactly like that but It should
be roughly similar. Also, bear in mind this is the process for L6 and L7. I am not familiar with the
application process for L5 and below, but I reckon it will be slightly easier. Do take initiative and do
some further research.
Things to consider when going to university #
Now we sure most of you reading this will be familiar with university, so we don’t think we need to
explain what university is. However, when choosing your university, there are some crucial things to consider.
Often, we see students think about university rankings and prestige, but there are some very other important
factors to consider.
- Location
- Course Content – Every university has a different curriculum for their degree. Two people
can have the same degree and learn completely different content. - Graduate Prospects
- Cultural Diversity
- Scholarships/Grants/Bursaries for low-income students
- How good the department you’re applying to is – say you’re applying to do statistics at as
specific university, you need to know how good their Mathematics department is. A
university might be ranked very high, but a specific department may not be as good. - Social Life & Extra-Curricular and Sport Societies
- Academic Reputation
- Career societies.
These make securing a high paying job a lot easier if you’ve got a strong
community. For example, our Founder, Tosin Toba, studied at University of Nottingham, and they have an extremely
strong Economics and Finance Society. He received a lot of support from them with making applications to top companies and the students in the years above already had their jobs at top companies in competitive fields like Investment Banking, Technology, Consulting, Asset Management etc. so getting mentorship was a smooth process. - Accommodation
And much more! That’s why you can’t just focus on prestige. To gain a holistic understand of how a university may be like, go to the open days!! This is something our Founder wishes he did but thought it wasn’t very important. Now we know we have been saying don’t solely focus on prestige, but it would be disingenuous for us to not highlight the importance of trying to go to the highest rank university if you choose this option.
Going to a high rank university will place you in an environment with individuals who are striving for
the best which will propel your life trajectory. You’ll make good quality friends and great connections for your career, the quality of your degree and course will generally be better and students from higher rank unis make significantly more money than students from lower rank unis, even if they study the same degree.
Lastly, for highly competitive fields, firms discriminate based on what university you go to. Tosin Toba did a technology internship at an investment bank and all the students were from Russell Group Universities (They are known the be the top universities in the UK; “The Russell Group’s 24 members are world-class, research-intensive universities”) so there’s definitely a strong correlation between those who get the top jobs and what university they go to. There are some universities that are not part of the Russel Group but they are top unis such as University of Bath.
** Just note that it isn’t the end of the world if you don’t go to a to a Russell Group university, you can
still excel. It just may take a bit more work. That’s why we implore you to do well in your GCSES and A
levels so you can go to a top academic institute if you choose to go down this route.
Okay, so which should I choose? #
There are multiple factors to consider when deciding whether you want to do an apprenticeship or
go to university. Here are some key factors.
Pros of apprenticeships:
- No university debt since university is paid by the employer
- Earn while you learn
- Full time income at a young age
- Gain hands on experience
- Gain Industry Connections
Cons of apprenticeships:
- Specific long-term commitment – if you’re unsure what you want field you want to work in
apprenticeships may not be a good option for you - You’re working full time and learning at the same time which can be intense for some
- Limited Flexibility – apprenticeships have a very structured format
- Limited Choice of Employers – not every company offers an apprenticeship
Pros of university
- Ideal for those who enjoy academia
- Ideal for those who don’t know what they want to do as you figure out over time
- Flexible – You won’t be working a full-time job everyday.
- Social Experience / University Experience
- Wider Career Options
- University is seen as more “prestigious” than apprenticeships however the stigma is
changing over time - Extra-Curricular Activities
Cons of university:
- Expensive – student loans and living expenses
- Very theoretical and not much practical work
- Competitive Job Market – going to university will not guarantee a job
Overall, there is no right or wrong answer. Depending on who you are and your needs, one option
may be more suitable for you. You’ll need to way up the options and work it out!
Good luck!