Drug Discovery Apprentice Review
at AstraZeneca
Degree Apprenticeship
Science
Cambridge
Review Submitted: April 2025
Overall Rating
4.4 /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
-
Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
4.2/5
-
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
In my role I carry out routine cell culture in order to produce recombinant proteins, which can be purified and then used for downstream purposes
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I enjoy the work that I do and the team that I work with. Balancing university work with lab work can be challenging at times, which can make it quite stressful.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have learned how to culture different types of cells and the aseptic technique, as well as how to use many of the machines necessary to carry out my role.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
The programme is well structured, with the university plan being provided for the full duration of the apprenticeship from the start.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I receive a lot of support from my employer. My manager is happy for me to work on my university assignments in any spare time I have in the office, which really helps with reducing the stress of deadlines
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
The university lecturers are always contactable by email and have office hours which we can drop into if we need any additional support.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
The content that we learn is encouraged to be applied to what we do while on the job, although some of the content isn't directly relevant to my role due to the wide variety of content we cover.
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
While I usually don't attend any, there is are a variety of social events internally and externally which I could go to.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend AstraZeneca to a friend?
Yes
Why?
The team that I work with is amazing and I really enjoy the work that I do.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to AstraZeneca?
Be open to trying new things! There is a lot to learn.
