Over 30,000 undergraduate degrees exist for you to choose from. University is a great learning opportunity where you can pick up useful life-skills like living away from home, attending lectures and creating a social life somewhere completely foreign to you! The variety of courses and universities give students the choice to follow their passions and become experts in their chosen fields. However, not everyone will enjoy university study or university life. Plus there are financial aspects to consider, including lots of potential costs and associated debt in the form of student loans.
Apprenticeships are generally less understood, but can be a great option for many. As you can see only two levels of apprenticeships are eqiuvalent with a university degree – Level 6 and 7. Degree apprenticeships enable a student to gain years of experience in an organisation that sponsors their degree during this time. Not only do they pay for your degree, but they also pay you! Don’t forget that this route is generally more challenging as along with studying, apprentices work at least 32 hours a week as full-time employees within the company.
That being said the experiences and knowledge gained can be hugely valuable. There may still be a perception that apprenticeships are somehow lesser in value than other qualifications, but this is changing. It can be the case that people who do apprenticeships are more likely to be hired due to their hard-earned years of experience and skills.
It's important for young people to make the right decision for them, so exploring all of your options before making such a significant decision about the future is crucial.
Here are some great resources to help you decide:
Read: The pros and cons of university
Watch: Traditional degree or degree apprenticeship
Explore: What can I do next? Get ideas and all the info on your options to help decide the right route for you