Scientist Review
at Charles River
Degree Apprenticeship
Science
Saffron Walden
Review Submitted: April 2025
Overall Rating
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
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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
My day to day activities are based around screening client compounds in various assay formats. This also includes assay development, analysis of data, and creating slides for client meetings. I also attend journal clubs where we can discuss new papers on a variety of topics.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
The programme has been really useful to develop presenting skills and critical thinking. For those doing the MSc without having done an apprenticeship before, it felt like there was a lack of guidance from employer & University at the start of the course.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
The Msc Apprenticeship develops critical thinking and presenting skills. The intensive week we recently went to was useful to understand statistics, trouble shooting, and ethical considerations of projects.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
Each study day is provided with content for us to learn that week from the University, which is really useful. The company is more hands off but is great at ensuring your study day is taken each week.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
My employer respects the time I I take to study on the programme. Line managers go to the academic tutor meetings with us, to keep updated on our progress. We also have a mentor that we can have regular meetings with, and provide us with contacts that are happy to answer any questions from the course that they might have more experience or knowledge in.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
We have regular meetings with our academic tutor where we can voice any concerns or ask questions, and update them on our progress. The course does feel a little disorganised, but any questions can be emailed to the module convener. The intensive week is great and really useful to get to know everyone on the course the staff.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
The modules and assignments allow us to improve skills such as presenting, critical analysis, and statistics knowledge, all of which is required for my role.
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 are extra-curricular activities such as sports, quizzes, and games evenings. Due to restrictions in budget, there are less opportunities to attend conferences than previously.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Charles River to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It's a friendly work environment with a variety of projects
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Charles River?
Due to the course being distance-based learning, you will need self motivation and discipline. If you will be working in different departments, make the most of this as you will then specialise and the information and connections from each department is really useful!
