Undergraduate Engineer Review

I'm in software stream so I spend most of my day writing code. I work closely with other members of my team to write, test, check and deploy software applications. I have a main project that I am responsible for and also spend time shadowing/assisting more senior developers. I have 3 work days and 2 lecture days in a week although we often have extra study days.

100%! During my rotations I picked up skills in everything from test development to rig building to PCB design and now I'm in a permanent team I've learnt a lot around the software process and what's involved. I'm also working towards an industry-recognised qualification within this team. Being in the workplace means that soft skills get developed from the start and line managers/apprenticeship tutors also support this.

There have definitely been a couple of rotations I haven't been a fan of but that's to be expected until you know what your interests are! In general, I've had really interesting work with supportive teams. Team lunches are a big thing and undergrads are integrated well. It's rare that I don't enjoy a day at work.

It's a new program and, at times, it shows. The core rotations work well but the team selection process going into third year is a bit all over the place. The Institute staff are amazing at thinking on their feet and fixing stuff that goes wrong but it goes wrong more than it would in a more established program. Caveat to that- undergrad feedback can and does bring change so it's improving constantly.

The Institute are brilliant. You can go to them with anything and everything and they get it sorted and give you the support you need. That isn't the case for wider Dyson. Especially recently, employees have felt abandoned by the company and that has knock on effects for undergrads even though we're protected by the 'DIET bubble'.

Going forward the Dyson Institute itself will be awarding degrees so this won't necessarily reflect the experience of future cohorts. WMG academic support can be patchy with Institute staff often having to fill the gaps. Whilst it's improving, support with the apprenticeship has been limited and, across the board, the easiest way of solving a WMG-based problem is to go to the Institute and get them to fix it instead.

If you know what you want to specialise in some of the first and second year can feel irrelevant at times but the majority of the course can be directly applied to rotation work and, if not, build an appreciation of a subject and other skills around it. The second half of the course is more instantly applicable and definitely feels like it's making me a better engineer.

The Institute is a lot close to a university experience than most degree apprenticeships and there's a huge social scene. Pre-COVID there were lots of nights out and social activities so you could have no free nights a week if you wanted. The ski trip is a huge event every year and the Dyson Christmas Party is amazing! There's a lot of online events happening at the moment as well.

Yes

Coming to the Institute was the best decision I ever made. The staff care so much about you succeeding and the support is unparalleled. Dyson has hundreds of brilliant engineers who you work alongside daily and from the beginning you're on live projects that make it out to customers. It's still new so you get the chance to shape the future of a university and make it the best it can be.

If you like building stuff in the garage that's great but it's not the only way to be an engineer. Solving problems is the best prep you can do and that can be in whatever form makes sense to you. Be enthusiastic, share your thoughts and don't be afraid to make mistakes - it's how to improve.