Help choosing a Level 3 Fitter Apprenticeship or a 4 Year university year in industry course.
TL;DR - Want to be come mechanical engineer. Weighing up study at Swansea, or working up from Level 3 General Dynamics Apprenticeship
Hi!
I currently just finished college and am looking to become a mechanical engineer. I have 2 options to choose from but I'm really not too sure on which to choose.
Option 1:
Level 3 (A-level equivalent) BTEC Engineering apprenticeship with General Dynamics (3 year apprenticeship)
This one speaks out to me as the most sensible option - getting paid, getting experience and a foothold into a tier 1 defense company - I want to eventually progress onto them sponsoring me for my Mechanical Engineering degree, although I'm not too sure how guaranteed it is, and whether or not its worth the 3 years in the fitter apprentice, then approx. 5 years in the degree apprentice.
Option 2:
Level 6 Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering with year in industry in Swansea University.
This one also speaks to me as it guarantees me everything I'll hypothetically need to get hired within a year or finishing University. As well as the year in industry provides me potential to make ties with a company before I finish my course. Although student debt is a problem, god knows I'm never paying that back in full.
Normally I would go with option 1 straight away, although I've heard from a friend of a friend that they got a position for a Level 6 design apprenticeship at GD, and for 6 months they had no academic or department work for them, and had to get dropped into a random department for 6 months. Which puts doubt in my mind obviously.
I want to hear it come from a community more apprentice-leaning as I've spoken to many uni friends and they dont regret it one bit.
Thanks :):):)