Software Engineering Degree Apprentice Review
at KPMG
Degree Apprenticeship
Finance, Information Technology
London
Review Submitted: May 2021
Overall Rating
4.3 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
4/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
I go to university for 2 days a week and the other three days I go to work. At work, the role can change due to management allowing us to change between roles like data and cloud. When at university, we are expected to keep up with all our modules. Exams are semester-based instead of sitting all exams during the summer.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I am grateful and appreciative of the opportunity I was given as I have been able to grow and improve my skills. The team I am in makes the journey much easier as they understand our university and work-life balance. Although there are stressful periods of juggling revision for exams and coursework, the journey so far has been very enjoyable and rewarding.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
For this year, I learned how to design and code a web application. I was able to learn a new programming language as a result, which was React. Each year I am able to learn new programming languages at work and at uni, as well as being able to improve skills such as teamwork and effective communication.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
I believe the program I am in is well-structured as we are told in advance what all our 5 years will consist of, for example, what modules we will be doing and which year we will be in the industry working full time. Additionally, we are informed when and if there are any changes.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I receive a lot of support from my employer. The team I am currently in understands the university and work-life pressure. If we are stressed and are lagging behind in terms of our university work, then we are encouraged by management to speak to someone so they can help and guide us through our struggles.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
I believe the support from our training provider is good. We are encouraged to speak to any module organisers if we are struggling with keeping up with our university work and they will help guide students to completing work. There are office hours provided when starting each of the modules where students are able to contact lecturers for 1-to-1 support.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
Certain modules have greatly helped in applying the theoretical knowledge taught at university. For example, the software engineering module allowed us to create a web application for our whole team independently. Lectures taught allowed us to set requirements and create our designs, as well as allowing us to learn new skills such as communication and decision making.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
There are a lot of professional networking events. An example is that there are a lot of apprentice networking socials where you can meet other apprentices in various apprentice programs within the company. In addition to this, there are a lot of extra-cirrulcular activities like sports clubs (football), as well as improving public speaking.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend KPMG to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I would recommend KPMG because the environment encouraged within the company really suits what I believe in. This company has allowed me to thrive and grow by offering me a degree as well as gaining 5 years of work experience so that I can apply the theoretical knowledge learned at university.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to KPMG?
I would advise others to be themselves during interviews and practice for each stage of the application process i.e. interviews, assessment centers, etc. You do not need computer science/IT-related experience to enter. During the interview process, you should showcase various applications of skills like communication, teamwork, working as an individual, etc.
