Degree apprenticeship vs university

When deciding between a degree apprenticeship and a full-time university education in STEM, you face an important choice. Both paths lead to a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree but offer different experiences and benefits. Your decision should reflect your individual goals, learning preferences, and career ambitions.

A degree apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn, combining practical work experience with academic study to give you direct industry exposure. Alternatively, a traditional university education provides an academic-focused environment where you can gain in-depth theoretical knowledge and enjoy a wide range of social and academic opportunities.

In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of degree apprenticeships and university, considering key factors like cost, learning style, work experience, and career progression. By examining these aspects, you will be better prepared to choose the path that best aligns with your STEM career aspirations.

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1. Cost

One of the major benefits of degree apprenticeships is that you won’t need to pay tuition fees – your employer generally covers these costs entirely. Degree apprentices, however, aren’t eligible for student loans, so they are responsible for covering their own living expenses. These costs are offset by a wage – at least the National Minimum Wage for apprentices.

In contrast, pursuing a traditional university bachelor’s degree involves paying tuition fees of up to £9,250 per year. Most university students take out tuition loans to help cover these fees, as well as maintenance loans, which are weighted by household income and location of study. These loans will need to be repaid after graduation once your income exceeds the repayment threshold of £25,000 for a bachelor’s and £21,000 for a masters. The more you earn above this threshold, the more you’ll repay.

If you prefer a traditional university experience but are considering degree apprenticeships for their financial benefits, a sponsored degree might be a better fit.

2. Learning style

Degree apprenticeships involve a blend of 80% on-the-job training and 20% academic study at university, whereas traditional university degrees are typically entirely focused on academic study, with the exception of industrial placement years.

University degrees tend to provide a broader understanding, with a strong emphasis on theory-based learning to develop you into a subject expert. This theoretical foundation is built through lectures, seminars, workshops and labs, depending on your degree programme. Whether you’re studying a traditional or a vocational subject, the goal is to gain a deep, comprehensive understanding of your field.

In contrast, degree apprenticeships offer a more practical approach to learning. They are designed to train you for a specific career, with a focus on gaining hands-on experience in your chosen field. The university component of a degree apprenticeship complements this practical training by providing a solid theoretical foundation to back up your skills.

3. Work-life balance

In a degree apprenticeship, you will need to balance a full-time job with your studies, which requires strong time management.

On the other hand, university students focus primarily on academic study, managing their time between lectures, independent study, and possibly part-time work or extracurriculars. They also have much longer holidays than degree apprentices. The challenge is maintaining a balance between academic deadlines and personal life.

University students typically spend their days surrounded by their peers, with ample opportunities to join societies and fully immerse themselves in university life. In contrast, degree apprentices balance their time between work and university, often returning to a separate home life. However, it’s important to note that many degree apprentices actively socialise with their cohort and colleagues and may even live together, making their experience more connected and integrated than it might initially seem.

4. Employability

Employability varies greatly across different STEM courses and degree apprenticeship programmes. It’s important to speak with specific providers and employers in your field of interest to determine if a particular career path aligns with your goals, and you can even enquire about their graduate employability statistics.

After earning a degree, university graduates often have access to numerous graduate programmes and jobs that can fast-track their careers, with universities typically offering support in job placement. Most degree apprentices, on the other hand, transition directly into employment, with many staying with the same employer after completing their apprenticeship.

Additionally, university programmes often provide a broader education in a subject, making it easier to switch between professions in the future, compared to the more specialised training typically offered in degree apprenticeships. Note that conversion courses are sometimes an option if you wish to switch specialism in the future.

5. Earning potential

As with employability, earning potential can vary significantly depending on the specific university and apprenticeship programmes, their reputability, and demand for the given subject.

Oxbridge and Russell Group degree holders remain the highest average lifetime earners. Apprenticeships at level 5 and above (including degree apprenticeships) result in greater average lifetime earnings than undergraduate degree holders from non-Russell Group universities. It should be noted that as degree apprenticeships become more widely recognised, these figures may change.

6. Personal development and networking

Degree apprenticeships are geared towards building a strong professional network. As you work alongside industry professionals, you are able to network, gaining valuable contacts and insights that can directly impact your career trajectory. This hands-on experience not only develops your professional skills, but also places you within a network of colleagues and mentors who can support your growth and future opportunities.

In contrast, university degrees offer broader opportunities for personal development through social and academic networks. University life allows you to connect with a diverse group of peers, engage in extracurricular activities, and participate in academic communities. These experiences help build lifelong friendships, enhance your communication and leadership skills, and connect you with a wider alumni network that can be beneficial throughout your career.

7. Student satisfaction

Degree apprentices tend to be less satisfied with the overall quality of their courses compared to university students. This dissatisfaction is particularly noticeable in areas of organisation and management. This could be due to the split between employers and universities in delivering training, which may lead to inconsistencies in the educational experience.

However, degree apprentices reported higher satisfaction with the assessment process, with more apprentices feeling that their assessments were “fair” compared to their university counterparts.

Are degree apprenticeships better than university?

Whether degree apprenticeships are better than university ultimately depends on your personal goals, learning style, and career aspirations. Degree apprenticeships offer a debt-free way to earn a degree while gaining practical experience and building a professional network. However, they come with challenges in balancing work and study, as well as potential issues in course management.

On the other hand, traditional university degrees provide a broader academic education, greater flexibility in career paths, and access to social, academic, and alumni networks, albeit with the burden of student loans and lack of work experience.

To help you decide, we’ve compiled a table that compares the key features covered in this article. Review this summary and consider which factors are most important to you.

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Now that you have considered the pros and cons of a traditional university degree and a degree apprenticeship, we’d love to hear from you – which do you think is better for a career in your STEM field? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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