I am studying the BEng Product Design and Development Degree Apprenticeship with BorgWarner and the University of Greenwich. In the facility I work at, I am learning about the diesel fuel systems involved in commercial vehicles and the components that are tested and manufactured at this site.
I chose to complete a degree apprenticeship as I came out of school not really knowing where I wanted to go next. I left school with a set of GCSEs and A levels, and I had offers to study economics at various universities. However, I deferred that year, which is lucky because I found a love of mechanical engineering that summer having purchased a project car and completed lots of work on it.
I worked as a manager in a retail supermarket before and throughout the pandemic whilst looking for engineering apprenticeships and finally came across this one.
Apprenticeship schemes are a great way for potential students to earn a wage whilst studying and gaining experience in the industry they want a future career in.
Earning whilst learning
The idea of an apprenticeship really appealed to me as I wanted to continue earning whilst studying for a degree. I was completing a part-time degree previously whilst working, however the degree and career were polar opposite and didn’t enhance my learning.
At the moment, I have the freedom at work to understand topics covered at university and to really enrich my learning with the engineers around me showing me concepts I’ve studied, helping me put my theory into practice and solidifying my learning. Lastly, the best part of the apprenticeship is that it is fully funded by the company and the government, so I don’t have to pay a penny!
I am coping quite well with the study and work demands I face. I find that I still manage to enjoy myself socially and have enough free time during the week to complete my daily routine considering I commute from my home in Surrey to both my workplace and the university.
I enjoy travelling to the university because the facilities at Medway are ‘class’ and I get to really interact with my lecturers and course leader. The face-to-face contact is extremely welcoming considering the past couple of years being online.
A solid career foundation
For me, completing a degree apprenticeship is a no-brainer when compared to a normal degree.
As an apprenticeship student, you maintain your social life, career and studies, which prepares you well for later life. After completing your degree, you have a solid career foundation already from your work experience.
