Undergraduate Engineer Review

3 days a week in the workplace, 2 days a week are study days. In the workplace we are put into different teams, we learn the necessary skills to be able to participate in the team, and help out. 2 days are dedicated to just studying. Study days can be rather packed with consecutive lectures and then labs, however other weeks can only consist of just lectures allowing more time to get down and do the work needed.

I've learnt to use a breadboard, solder, and program Arduinos for small electronic projects. Learnt multiple programming languages and gained basic workshop skills. Soft skills have been improved by being frequently in the workplace and learning the dynamics of the workplace. Furthermore, well being and professional development days are given to us, which further develops soft skills like how to interact with different types of people.

The academic work is challenging, and the workplace is an exciting environment to be able to apply the knowledge. The institute provides lots of extra outside of work activities to make the time spent here more enjoyable, with the additional bonus of being paid, it makes it easier to have fun.

The course has a good outline for the four years, however as it is the first year there are still a few hiccups. I think over the next few years these will all be smoothened out as the institute responds to feedback well, and adjusted was is possible to make the experience better for the undergrads. Generally speaking, it has a very good structure that is easily understood by students and makes sense.

There is as much support, or as little as you would like at the institute. Should you need any form of support the institute will provide the necessary support. Monthly meetings with a student support advisor are scheduled, and if you need more there are more professional services available for any undergrad to receive support(all funded by the institute).

The institute provides plenty of support, whether that is for the academic qualifications, in the form of academic tutors. Or in the workplace for the apprenticeship, we are given apprenticeship days, dedicated to helping us understand the process to evidence for the endpoint assessment for the apprenticeship. Should anyone need more help, there is a dedicated person to answer your questions.

The training provided although not always directly beneficial for the workplace, it enhances my understanding, and provides a general knowledge to fall back on. As no team works standalone, by being given a general training it allows me to form connections in work to gain a larger viewpoint of what the work is doing. Plus, if anything specific is necessary they will make arrangements so that the specific training is given to us.

The institute has a Undergraduate Experience Committee which provides social events such as day trips, nights out, or different activities, usually subsidised. There are enough undergrads with similar interests that there are a variety of sports clubs like football, volleyball, and on top that the workplace also has sport teams which we can also participate in like touch rugby and basket ball.

Yes

You get a degree debt free, with four years industry experience, whilst getting paid. Although you have less free time than a normal university student, this degree apprenticeship still provides a student experience that most other apprenticeships lacks, but still is an apprenticeship. You gain valuable experience, and get to see different parts of a large company and understand the way a workplace functions, giving you a head start against counterpart uni students.

Just be yourself, academics, although important to have the foundation of knowledge to build upon, is not the only important thing. Show your interest for engineering through things you have done inside and outside of school, and show that you would be able to manage yourself as the course can be challenging.