It’s an exciting time for you. Your future is just ahead and it is your time to decide what happens next. One of your decisions may involve whether you go to university or does some other career route interest you more, like an apprenticeship.  We totally understand that sometimes making a decision about your future can be scary and you may also feel at times that it is hard to talk to someone who understands exactly where you are coming from. Well do not worry, because we have your back and we get it!

So we pulled together some of the benefits of being a graduate and an apprentice, added some hard facts and compared the options for you.

Qualifications

After completing your undergraduate degree, you will typically receive a Bachelor’s degree, which is widely recognised across industries and classified as a level six qualification. The specific title of your degree will be dependent on the subject that you study, for example, Bachelor of Arts (BA), Science (BSc), Law (LLB), and Engineering (BEng). Courses can range in time length but most commonly will last three or four years if full-time. You can also complete an undergraduate degree part-time, allowing you to work alongside studying but this will increase the number of years required to achieve the qualification. Depending on the course you choose, it can be a challenge managing both work and study. If you are thinking about part-time as an option, we have some top tips for time management when you need it. Be aware that the choice of university can play a role in what job or graduate scheme you may obtain in the future. Do your research and always aim for the best option for you and your career. See our Careers Starter Pack for insights and tips.

The qualifications achieved by completing an apprenticeship are often professional qualifications and specific to a given industry. You will earn your qualification whilst working, meaning that you gain work experience at the same time as studying. Obtaining work experience is vital to the development of your career, so an apprenticeship offers you a head start. Apprentices develop technical skills and knowledge as well as practical and soft skills, and build a professional network at the same time. If you already have an idea of the kind of roles and industries you’d like to work in, then an apprenticeship can be a great first step for your career.

If getting a degree is important to you, you should know that that going university is not your only option. An apprenticeship and degree can go together seamlessly (degree apprenticeship) to provide with both technical and academic qualifications. Whilst this option is growing in popularity, only around 10% of 2016/2017 apprenticeships were at the degree level.

Cost

University can be expensive and it is estimated that a typical university student, completing a three-year course can expect to graduate with between £35,000 - £40,000 worth of student debt. It is important to note that you won’t begin to pay back your student loan until you are earning more than £21,000, which may even rise to £25,000 soon. You will also incur interest on your student loan and this amount is added to your total every month. The amount of this is dependent on your personal circumstance and inflation but historically has been around 6%. The salary you can earn in your first job after university can vary depending on the role and industry you choose. So our top tip is to research the roles you are interested in. We can help you there too.

Apprenticeships are funded by employers so you will receive a salary for a full-time position at no cost to you personally, other than your good work ethic and willingness to learn. The starting salary varies depending on industry, location and company size but a BIS research paper on apprentice pay (2014) showed that the average wage per week for a full-time apprentice was £257, which is around £13,000 per annum. With some companies and industries offering salaries above £20,000, they can compete with formal graduate schemes, where salaries can start as low as £15,000 and go up to £40,000. For 2018, graduate-jobs.com estimates the average starting salary for graduates is £19,000 - £22,000.

Work experience

Some would say that going to university gives you far more life experience than work experience. You do have the option to complete placements years or apply for internships during your term breaks and although this is not essential, graduates with such experience do tend to find roles quicker than those who only have part-time work experience to support their time studying such as retail roles.

An apprenticeship offers you the opportunity to gain full-time work experience straight out of school. With schemes often lasting 12-24 months, it can give you the fantastic opportunity to become a valuable asset to any team to find yourself a permanent position and develop the essential skills for a successful career in your field of choice. It also allows you to start building a professional network.

Personal development

Going to university can be the ultimate independence experience, giving you the opportunity to develop new interests, make new friends and for some, learn to use a washing machine (if you don’t already know how!). It is also a good way to build a wide range of skills and knowledge such as analytical, research and presentations skills, whilst still trying to figure out your best career move. Not everyone knows what they want to do straight away and that’s ok. University can help you figure that out.

Going straight from school to work can give you a huge advantage when it comes to building a routine, many graduates struggle leaving university and getting into a structured 9-5 day. Afternoon naps are unfortunately no longer an option. Being an apprentice also gives you the opportunity to build on your skills and apply your learning on a day-to-day basis, rather than waiting a few years to get into a working environment.

Career development

Ultimately, career development between a graduate and an apprentice can be very similar. Job roles, career paths and salaries are all close in nature after five years post school education. Arguably, the main difference between them is the debt and how quickly you start to build your experience in the workplace. Either way, whichever path you choose, the defining factor is what you want out of your career and the hard work that you are willing to put in.

Remember: it’s your choice and what you decide for you career, and your future matters.

Jasmine Shell
@HonestVoiceUK