Degree apprenticeships
Degree apprenticeships are becoming increasingly popular in England and Wales. They offer an opportunity to work alongside studying for an undergraduate or Master’s degree, with programmes developed by employers and universities, professional associations and the Institute for Apprenticeships. Tuition fees are covered and the apprenticeships are salaried. Entry to apprenticeships can be extremely competitive, with The Times describing a place with a top firm as ‘more competitive than getting into Oxbridge’.
We are delighted therefore that this year two Sevenoaks students have successfully applied for degree apprenticeships.
A Young Professional’s Journey into Cyber Security
We congratulate Jamie Kutchera for securing a highly prestigious degree apprenticeship with Amazon. He recently secured one of the two places available on Cyber Security Apprenticeship (Level 6) from an applicant pool of around 25,000. We are delighted that Jamie will join the Amazon degree apprenticeship in London on a highly competitive salary for 42 months from September. This will involve a combination of work with Amazon and study with Gloucester University. Jamie said, ‘I am delighted to have been offered a degree apprenticeship with such a prestigious company; the focus on completing a degree while working within the industry of my interest is very appealing.’
A Young Professional’s Journey into Tech
We also congratulate Emily Wright for securing a highly prestigious degree apprenticeship with Morgan Stanley. Instead of the conventional university route, Emily looks forward to working three days a week with Morgan Stanley and studying two days a week at Queen Mary University from September.
Over the course of four years, Emily will immerse herself in various areas of the tech and financial world, from cyber security to data analytics, with the opportunity to rotate through different departments, all whilst working towards her undergraduate degree.
With an immediate highly competitive starting salary, annual UK undergraduate home fees of £9250 paid by Morgan Stanley and a career head start, this is a route which appeals to many young people. Competition is intensely fierce, with thousands of applicants competing for coveted spots in top firms and fewer than 20 vacancies at Morgan Stanley. The arduous selection process, including rigorous assessment centres and multiple interviews – akin to the graduate job application process – underscores how sought-after these opportunities are. Remarkably, Emily also had offers for degree apprenticeships with UBS and JP Morgan.
Emily is turning down university offers at Imperial, Bath and Exeter and an offer of a university scholarship that would sponsor her degree at any UK university, in order to join Morgan Stanley in September. We wish her every success!
