L7 Medical Statistician Apprentice Review
at AstraZeneca
Degree Apprenticeship
Pharmaceutical
Macclesfield
Review Submitted: April 2025
Overall Rating
3.6 /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
-
Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
3/5
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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:
5/5
We are responsible for the analysis and reporting of clinical trial data, which involves a good amount of programming, working together with medical staff, programmers, and study managers to make sure all decisions about the future of our drugs are supported by data which shows these drugs are safe and effective.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I enjoy my job role thoroughly. The work we do is meaningful and rewarding. In just a short time I began to be trusted with a good level of responsibility to stretch myself while still receiving necessary support. I think the university part of my programme is poor. (Provider will change in future).
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
From the start you receive training on the programming and technical skills required. Every day I develop transferrable professional skills.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
The programme is very well organised and structured. You will rotate between different departments to experience statistics in early and late-phase development as well as post-submission/HTA activities. You will benefit from the wide array of skills sessions and social opportunities available to AZ apprentices. The university part has been poorly structured. (Provider will change in future).
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
All the support you could need will be provided. You receive support to relocate before joining, buddies to help support your learning when you start, a specifically-designated early careers manager to aid your development, and much training.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
1/5
You are supported through progress reviews for how you are performing at work and the degree support can be got through forums and emails. The current provider is unresponsive to feedback, has some unrealistic timelines and the teaching of modules is often poor and lacks depth. (Provider will change in future).
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
1/5
It helps very minimally. The level of one or two early modules is insulting to someone with a BSc in a maths field. The main medical statistics module falls in the middle of year 2 and was the same level as an undergraduate module I had done before, while full of content that you would have had to learn already at work to be even vaguely successful in our job role. (Provider will change in future).
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
The apprentice social events and AZ inspire early careers network are a great way to meet people. I have had the chance to attend events like the PSI conference which was a fantastic professional networking opportunity and experience.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend AstraZeneca to a friend?
Yes
Why?
A role here is meaningful and employees are generally treated well and paid well, although seem a bit expendable. The business is full of good, kind people and there are lots of development opportunities.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to AstraZeneca?
For my role you need to be strong technical knowledge but beyond this its important to take the time to think about you can show you embody the AZ values.
