Do you find it overwhelming trying to balance a full-time job on top of studying for a degree and would you say that the potential stress is worth it in the long run?

Honestly, It all goes down to how you manage it - it will be stressful at times and overwhelming but so will anything you do. If you keep on top of your studies you will be less stressed than if you fall behind. I have to emphasise communication is key! If you get a degree apprenticeship and you need an extra day to catch up on uni work then take the extra day! If you need an extension, take it. Mental health support? Take it. Take as much as you can get, especially when you need it. It is 100% worth it but that’s all down to what you want to get out of it.

At first, I found it a bit challenging, balancing a full-time job with university studies isn't easy. However, it's quite different from a traditional university experience. In my course, for example, I only have one day of lectures per week, and during my first year, there were just five formal assignments, such as reports and presentations, with a mix of individual and group work with no exams at all. This setup can vary depending on the apprenticeship, but I found that dedicating a couple of hours on the weekend to uni work now and then kept things manageable and not too stressful. It can become tough when both work and university get busy at the same time, but most employers are understanding and may offer study leave for major assignments or exams. Overall, I genuinely believe choosing an apprenticeship was the best career decision I could have made. It’s taught me how to adapt and manage my time more effectively.

In the first few months it was definitely tough getting my head around balancing both the work and university, and if good time management isn't set in place then it can catch up to you. However, your employer is always there to support and can set up additional support if needed. It's a matter of making the most of your dedicated study day and being aware of the upcoming deadlines and prepping in advance for it. In the long run, compared to university, it's about weighing the pros and cons. University route would leave you with more free time however the apprenticeship route will push you ahead in terms of practicality, connections and emotional maturity considering that you would be working with and learning from professionals older than you. The free degree also helps!