Associate Review

The degree apprenticeship is structured like a normal university degree, but with office placements in the summers of years 1 and 2, and a full year's placement in year 3. So far the experience has been mostly the same as being a normal Computer Science student at the University of Birmingham. Every month or so we'll complete an online lecture training us for our summer placement. The online lectures are really useful and have covered topics like professional conduct, and the use of emergent technologies at PwC. This spring I volunteered to give presentations about the placement to applicants interviewing for this year's intake of students onto the program. There are lots opportunities like this that help you know your fellow students better. The summer placement has been a valuable experience. I've been treated like any other employee and have felt welcomed into my team. I've worked working on a variety of different tasks; evidence management, document review, and coding VBA macros. I've had the opportunity to travel around the country to work with employees at different PwC offices.

The opportunity to give presentations and answer questions for new applicants has developed my public speaking skills and my general confidence. The course in general has given me a deeper knowledge of Computer Science that has helped on the placement when I'm interacting with clients. The summer placement has made me more resilient, open to trying to new things, and has improved my interpersonal and problem-solving skills. I've improved my skills in the VBA programming language, document review platform Relativity, and forensic imaging software EnCase.

I've really enjoyed my program so far. I've met great people that I wouldn't have met otherwise, and have enjoyed my placement working with them. The placement isn't time-intensive during term-time, so it complements lectures and assignments nicely to give more-or-less a 'normal university experience.'

I'm part of the first group of students that has been admitted to this placement. It's still new, so PwC staff are still constructing and tweaking the contents of the summer placement. I see this as a good thing now. I prefer having student feedback shape my experience than a rigid structure that is set at the beginning and based on guesswork.

PwC provides lots of contact points that students can go to for support or to provide feedback. In addition to the University's support network of personal tutors and wellbeing staff, PwC provides each student with a 'buddy' at the company. A buddy is a current employee at PwC who can answer any questions about the company. The first time I met my buddy was when he invited a group of us for a tour around PwC's Birmingham offices. It was good to get a feel for what it would be like to work there during my summer placement. PwC has provided even more support once placements start, like Career Coaches, a buddy, and managers in my department.

I receive the usual academic support from the university (not PwC), since I'm studying for my qualifications in term-time and not during my placement.

Studying towards a Computer Science BSc means I'm more confident talking technology to clients on my placement, and am more comfortable finding my way around the different technologies and programs I'm tasked to work with.

PwC has diversity & inclusion groups, sports groups, social issue groups, social department groups etc. They mostly communicate through Google+. My department has regular social events and dinners. This made me get to know the team and become comfortable working with them very quickly.

Yes

The apprenticeship is fully-funded, giving you more time to study at university rather than having to get a job. The placements give you valuable experience of working in the technology industry; this will help immensely once you leave university.

Be open-minded, friendly, and ask questions when you're not sure how to do something.