Tech Degree Apprentice Review

On a day to day basis, we are doing our Computer Science Degree full time, so we go to lectures every day like normal students. We are set assignments and exercises to further our learning from the lectures. In summer this changes and we will be working full time in the office.

I have learned a new programming language, which is Java, as part of two of my modules. I have further developed my general programming and problem solving abilities through the set assignments. I have also learned about topics unrelated to Computer Science such as finance which is good to know in general life.

I have greatly enjoyed the Computer Science aspects of the course because they have contained very interesting problem solving opportunities, which are engaging. However the Business aspect of the course has been very boring at times or simply unnecessary because this was chosen for us. Given the choice I wouldn't have picked the Business modules.

I think the structure definitely could have been improved because in the first term we had lots of 2h lectures which were very hard to focus in. In the second term we had 1h lectures which I found a lot more engaging and enjoyable. The hardest module was also in the first term which was a bit of a shock into university life.

We receive a lot of support from our employer mainly through emails. If we need anything a simple email is usually quickly answered to resolve the matter. We have also had face to face meetings with buddies from the firm, who are happy to help with anything related to the firm and our university tutors are happy to help with academic matters.

We are generally left alone to answer assignments and exercises, however if we need help then professors have office hours in which we can go to see them for help. Alternatively we can email our lecturers if there is an issue with anything and they generally reply with an email to all students if the issue will help everyone with the exercise.

For now we are still attending university, but soon we will be starting our work placement and based on the team I have been placed in I can imagine that the skills we have learnt on our course will come in handy to carrying out our job at the firm.

I am not sure exactly what activities there are because we have not yet started working. However from what I have heard and been told there are sports teams we can be part of and we can get involved in charity work. Individual teams also hold social events so that everyone on the team can get to know each other better.

Yes

PwC was organised during the application process and now when we need anything it is quite easy to sort it out with the firm too. PwC puts in a lot of effort to make sure that we feel like we are part of the firm and not just the apprenticeship students.

I would advise for them to do the necessary research around what kind of work PwC do and what are their values and goals. I would also advise for them to be confident because a lot of work at PwC involves clients so you need to be able to speak to people confidently.