Degree Apprenticeship (Digital Technology Solutions Bsc) or University (Computer Science Bsc)

[E12345]

Hi all,

I'm currently in year 13 and have submitted my UCAS application to universities. As a backup, I applied to many different degree apprenticeship programs in Digital and Technology Solutions. I have applied for a Computer Science Bsc at each of the universities, one such university being UCL. I've read through the thread on here from 2015 but as that was 9 years ago, I was wondering whether things may have changed. I'm 99% sure I want to have a future in Tech.

I have received one offer from a company which has a partnership with Exeter University. I've been unsure whether to go down the degree apprenticeship path or the traditional university route. Here are what I think are some of the advantages of either:

Advantages of a Degree Apprenticeship
No student debt (not too big of a problem for me as parents said they will pay but still nice)
A good salary
4 years work experience
A Russell Group degree
A potential job at the end of the 4 years
Good employer name on CV

Advantages of University + Comp Sci Degree
A better degree
Wider career options (as it is not specialised. Also many jobs may prefer someone with a Comp Sci degree?)
Better Uni name on CV
Better social life
Jobs overseas? (I know this is far fetched but some countries value degrees very highly)


The main thing I am worried about is whether not having a Comp Sci degree will limit the available jobs and salary in the long run. I'd really appreicate any advice and opinions! Please let me know if there is any information missing. Thanks!

 

[E12345]

I did a CS degree decades ago; why do you want to do one? I was mad keen on computers at the time but in retrospect I would have been better off doing something else and working computers in.

I really enjoy learning about computers and also the Comp Sci course for universities like UCL seem really interesting. However, i'm conflicted because i've done work experience at a tech firm before and I really enjoyed being able to use theory and my programming skills in the real world.

 

[E12345]

My view, after working somewhere that ran a popular degree apprenticeship program (who coincidently used Exeter uni, and for the same degree the OP mentions), is I’d go down that route nowadays.

After the degree apprenticeship period is up, you’ll have a degree with zero debt and 4 years industry experience.

The actual degree and where it’s from will matter far less than the experience gained, and if you stay at the company you did the apprenticeship at you’ll gain even more years of experience making the details of the degree even more irrelevant.

Had a few of the degree apprentices in our team over the years, and interviewed candidates as well.

All did well out of it, either by staying after their apprenticeship was up, or by leaving for a role elsewhere as an experienced professional.

Could you tell me how the apprentices compared with the graduates at the end of their apprenticeship (e.g their skills, working with them, were apprentices missing any fundamental computer science knowledge)?

 

[E12345]

AFAIK, the point of a degree apprenticeship is that you still get a degree but it's a different pathway to get it. You're (typically, I think) doing what would normally be a 3 year degree as a part time 4 year course alongside structured work based learning.

There's still a discussion over whether a Comp Sci degree would be better than a 'Digital and Technology Solutions' degree but either route still results in you having a BSc at the end of it, not some weird forgotten qualification that no one will understand in 20 years time.

Yeah I think the fact that it's still a Bsc degree is a big plus. I've looked at a bunch of job listings online in the UK and for abroad, and many of them say they want some sort of Bsc in computer science or a related field so I think Digital and Technology solutions would pass but im not entirely sure.