Apprenticeship and OU Degree

Rainhands

Hi guys,

I was planning on doing an Open University degree in September to help with my job prospects. Then last month I had a call from an apprenticeship to attend an interview. I won't know the outcome until the end of the month. The apprenticeship is level 3, and I still want a level 4 qualification in case I decide to change careers later on.

Right now this is all speculation, however I would like to know; Is it possible to complete a part time degree while doing an apprenticeship? I know that you can do both, my question pertains more to the quality of education I achieve. I don't want to study both and fail both, or one or the other. Would I have time to study part time and work full time on top of doing extra work for my apprenticeship qualification? Is it realistic? I have no wife and kids if that helps.

ben_m_g

What apprenticeship? What degree?

Engineering and hairdressing apprenticeship are two completely different things.

Rainhands

The apprenticeship would be a media/journalism one. And the degree would be Businesses Management.

bell123321

Can't help with your exact question but if you did the OU course first you would then not be able to do the apprenticeship (Found this out for OH who wanted a career change).

ben_m_g

I did something similar in engineering, it did not work well.
My "day job" was split between college and working, I took night classes to earn a degree level qualification.

It is possible, but at a massive cost to personal and family life, take a look at the recommended reading for the course and work out if you can afford the time on top of a job/learning.

yenool

If the apprenticeship leads to a decent well paid career at the end of it I would go down that route personally.

I think experience > degree these days and doing an apprenticeship you will get experience and a qualification.

Rainhands

yenool wrote: »

If the apprenticeship leads to a decent well paid career at the end of it I would go down that route personally.

I think experience > degree these days and doing an apprenticeship you will get experience and a qualification.

Yes I agree with this statement. The company I would do the apprenticeship with is big and pays well from what I gather. However sometimes not having a degree can work against you further down the line if you want to move up the ladder. Certain positions require degrees, it doesn't matter what subject, they just want someone with a degree to fill it.

I have heard this in apprenticeships like Engineering and Law, that eventually you will have to get your degree or the people with degrees that came after you will eventually go past you.

yenool

You can always get a degree later on after the apprenticeship, or even a masters qualification as often you can do those without a degree if you have sufficient experience in industry.

I admit I'm incredibly cynical about what a degree offers. I've tried twice to get a degree as a mature student, once with a brick university and once with the Open university. I couldn't stick them out as I found essays, lectures and endless reading are not the best the way to learn (though I was getting very good grades). I came to the conclusion that you are paying them 9k a year fees for the privilege of sitting badly organized exams that prove nothing other than the fact you know how to revise for an exam.

Maybe if I had seen it through, got the bit of paper and walked into an amazing career I would feel differently..... But there is no guarantee of anything at the end of it (with the exception of doing something like Nursing or Medicine).

Going back 6 or 7 years now I had the chance to take up an apprenticeship (electrical engineering) offered to me on a plate by an associate of my parents, but I thought it was more important to go to college and then Uni to get a degree. With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight I should have ripped their arm off at the offer, earned while learning and then I would have a qualification and experience by now.

GothicStirling

Personally, I think the Business degree is going to do more for your job prospects. Journalism/media is one of those areas that a lot of people fantasize about, but in truth those jobs are hard to come by, low-pay, and 99% are based in London. A business degree could lead to an internship with some of the world's most successful companies.


http://www.prospects.ac.uk/newspaper_journalist_job_description.htm


http://www.prospects.ac.uk/business_consulting_and_management_sector_getting_a_graduate_job.htm