A sponsored degree scheme is a type of school leaver programme, designed to offer another option for school leavers who may not want to simply go into higher or further education full-time. Instead, sponsored degree courses offer a nice balance of academic study and professional employment, whereby your time will be split up into periods at university and days working for a company. This way you get to come out at the end with a degree qualification and great practical work experience to boot.
How do sponsored degree programmes work?
Degree programmes like this can work in a few different ways. For example, your average week might be split up into some days spent studying at university and others spent working at the company's offices. However, in some cases you may be asked to participate in distance learning, so rather than actually attending university to study, you may be able to do it remotely from home or your employer's office. Then again, some employer sponsored degrees ask that you actually attend university on a full-time basis, in which case you may spend holidays (e.g. the summer holidays) working for the company, or undertake paid work placements. As you can see, sponsored degrees vary from business to business, so don't just assume they all follow the same format or you may get a shock!
What companies offer sponsored degree programmes in the UK?
Sponsored degree programmes in the UK seem to be particularly popular with employers, supported by the fact that a lot of leading businesses offer sponsored degree schemes to young people. However, you may have no choice over which university you attend and you may be taught at separate times of the year to 'ordinary' undergraduates. Below you'll find just a few of the major organisations that run sponsored degree programmes:
Barclays degree programme: your chance to work for the leading bank and gain an insight into management and leadership at Anglia Ruskin University
Morrisons sponsored degree programme: the nationwide retailer offers a great chance to learn about the sector while studying towards a management and business qualification in partnership with Bradford University
Experian sponsored degree programme: the company allows you to work in several different roles to aid your development, while sponsoring your studies in business or management- based modules at Nottingham Trent University
Capgemini sponsored degree programme: if a career in technology interests you, this scheme combines computing and IT practice studies with work on live client software development projects
PwC flying start degree programme: PwC's degree programme lets you study towards becoming an ICAEW-qualified chartered accountant (either at the University of Reading, Newcastle University or Nottingham University Business School) while undertaking paid work placements with the company
What industries are popular for sponsored degrees?
As you can probably guess from the above list of top UK companies that run these programmes, many of these schemes are business-oriented. Many of these initiatives revolve around schemes like the following:
Sponsored degrees in business management
Sponsored degrees in business and IT
Business-sponsored degrees
Sponsored business degrees
Why should I be interested in a sponsored degree scheme?
The chance to study towards a recognised university degree qualification, which you can refer to throughout the rest of your working life
The chance to earn a degree without paying all those fees that other undergraduates have to pay (and avoiding thousands of pounds worth of student debt)
The chance to take home a salary having only just left school!
The chance to gain meaningful employment within a major company and develop professional skills at a young age
The likelihood that once your sponsored degree programme reaches its conclusion, you'll be offered a role with the company – a luxury most other students don't get!
Instead, sponsored degree courses offer a nice balance of academic study and professional employment, whereby your time will be split up into periods at university and days working for a company.
This way you get to come out at the end with a degree qualification and great practical work experience to boot.
How do sponsored degree programmes work?
Degree programmes like this can work in a few different ways.For example, your average week might be split up into some days spent studying at university and others spent working at the company's offices.
However, in some cases you may be asked to participate in distance learning, so rather than actually attending university to study, you may be able to do it remotely from home or your employer's office.
Then again, some employer sponsored degrees ask that you actually attend university on a full-time basis, in which case you may spend holidays (e.g. the summer holidays) working for the company, or undertake paid work placements.
As you can see, sponsored degrees vary from business to business, so don't just assume they all follow the same format or you may get a shock!
What companies offer sponsored degree programmes in the UK?
Sponsored degree programmes in the UK seem to be particularly popular with employers, supported by the fact that a lot of leading businesses offer sponsored degree schemes to young people. However, you may have no choice over which university you attend and you may be taught at separate times of the year to 'ordinary' undergraduates.Below you'll find just a few of the major organisations that run sponsored degree programmes:
What industries are popular for sponsored degrees?
As you can probably guess from the above list of top UK companies that run these programmes, many of these schemes are business-oriented. Many of these initiatives revolve around schemes like the following:Why should I be interested in a sponsored degree scheme?