Technology Degree Apprentice Review
at PwC
Degree Apprenticeship
Information Technology
Birmingham
Review Submitted: February 2022
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!
4.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
4.2/5
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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
During first year, as PwC Technology Degree Apprentices, I attend university as any other student at the University of Birmingham. During term time, we only have to attend weekly engagement sessions to learn about different business areas within PwC. This means that there is not much PwC related work during the term. In the summer holiday of first year, I will be doing 10 week placement at the office.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I very much enjoy my program. Unlike many other apprenticeship schemes, I am able to enjoy my time as a student to the fullest extent just like any other student. This has allowed me to make new friends and take part in a wide range of activities which I might not have been able to do on other apprenticeship schemes.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have learnt a wide variety of skills so far. On the university side, we have learnt about many new aspects of Computer Science such as data structures and algorithms, object oriented programming and mathematical foundations for Computer Science. In the second semester, we will be taking modules on full stack development, artificial intelligence and theories of computation.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
On the university side, the course is well structured - aiming to give everyone a foundational knowledge in order to progress onto second year and further. There are regular assessments to ensure we understand the content.
On the PwC side, there is a laid out plan of setting you up to take part in your summer placement in first year. From October to December, there are weekly engagement sessions. Within these sessions, staff from the respective lines of service join a call to talk us through the type of work they do.
On the PwC side, there is a laid out plan of setting you up to take part in your summer placement in first year. From October to December, there are weekly engagement sessions. Within these sessions, staff from the respective lines of service join a call to talk us through the type of work they do.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
There a lots of support available from PwC. Our first line of contact is our buddy. A buddy is someone who is on the programme in the year above at the same university. Further from that, there is a team of staff at PwC who run the programme who make themselves known so that anyone is able to reach out and have a discussion about any problems we may be encountering.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
At the University of Birmingham, every student has a personal tutor that they meet with on a weekly basis for one hour. During these meetings, you can ask your tutor anything ranging from problems you have with the content you have learnt to personal issues that you may be facing.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
As I am in first year and yet to go on placement, it is difficult to tell how useful what I am learning will be while working. However, within our object oriented programming module, we learnt how to use Java which is a programming language that is used throughout PwC.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
There have been a number of social events held at the university for people on the PwC. These events have ranged from a social at the student union bar to a fully booked venue for our annual Christmas party. Throughout all these events, food and drinks are paid for by PwC which is a great bonus!
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend PwC to a friend?
Yes
Why?
If you are interested in Computer Science at university, this course is a no-brainer. Your tuition fee is fully funded and you get a salary higher than what you would receive from Student Finance. Another huge advantage over other apprenticeship programmes is that you attend university as normal!
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to PwC?
Something that is very important to PwC, and something that will make you stand out, is to truly understand the values set out by the company and show them when doing your video interview and assessment center. Try and do this by doing, not just stating the values. Action speak louder than words!
