Submitting a university application? Why not opt for a degree apprenticeship at the University of Portsmouth instead?

By Wednesday January 15, 2020 students from across the UK must submit their applications to meet the deadline at The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). This submission is the first step in their journey to get a university place for September 2020.

However, this is not the only option for people who want to get a degree. There is also the government-backed degree apprenticeship.

At the University of Portsmouth people who have a job can opt to study for either a bachelor’s or master’s degree without paying tuition fees. The average graduate in the UK carries more than £50,000 of debt from a three-year degree.

Degree apprenticeships allow students to work as an employee while they study part-time. They combine academic study for a traditional university degree with practical on-the-job experience and employment skills needed for a successful career.

Programme Director for Degree Apprenticeships in Business, Becky Quew-Jones, said: ‘Our courses are work-based focused, allowing our apprentices to transfer their academic knowledge to the workplace straight away - providing their employers with an immediate benefit.

‘The high calibre apprentices from many industry sectors bring a vibrant mix of experience, which allows fast-paced learning and development on this professionally-valued degree apprenticeship programme.’

Current degree apprentices studying at the Faculty of Business and Law are from a wide variety of sectors and businesses including BAE, Hampshire County Council, South Western Railway, the Army, National Air Traffic Services, Lockheed Martin and Prysmian.

A degree apprenticeship course is beneficial to an employer because it is an inexpensive way for a business to attract and retain talented employees, develop its workforce, fill skills gaps and improve performance.

Degree apprenticeships are valuable to employees because they combine the skills gained from academic study alongside the practical application of being in employment.

The Faculty of Business and Law’s degree apprenticeship courses are BA (Hons) Business Leadership and Management (Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship), BSc (Hons) Project Management (Project Manager Degree Apprenticeship), MBA Strategic Leadership (Senior Leader Degree Apprenticeship) and MSc Risk and Safety Leadership (Risk and Safety Management Professional Degree Apprenticeship).

Liz Sharples is Senior Teaching Fellow (Course Leader Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeships).

For more, go to www.port.ac.uk/degree-apprenticeships or e-mail [email protected].

Innovation Connect can help with co-working space

Did you know that the University of Portsmouth has a number of co-working spaces for student enterprises, small to medium businesses and start-ups located around the city?

Our Innovation Connect team look after our co-working and office space at Halpern House, Cell Block Studios and Portsmouth Technopole, which are home to over 80 such businesses.

To find out more, please visit www.innovationconnect.co.uk

Want to hear the confessions of a heterodox economist?

When Professor Andrew Wood first encountered economics, the discipline was dominated by a highly abstract and theoretical approach that aped a ‘scientific method’.

In response, he adopted a more sceptical approach to understanding economic phenomena. Join Andrew on Wednesday February 19, 2020 at 6pm to hear how his approach has evolved and how the mainstream has also transformed.

Visit www.port.ac.uk/events to book your place.