Technician Scientist Apprentice Review
at AstraZeneca
Degree Apprenticeship
Science
Cambridge
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
-
Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
3.4/5
-
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
I help design and optimise potency assays (methods to test the biological activity of a drug). Day-to-day, this involves various different activities including cell culture, cell engineering, imaging, flow cytometry, automation etc. Lots of freedom to focus on the areas that interest me most.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I have really enjoyed my apprenticeship so far. AstraZeneca is a great employer and offers several apprentice/early career events to boost networking among the apprentice community and inform about other areas of the business, as well as social events. Everyone is really friendly and always willing to explain anything I don't understand. However, I have been somewhat disappointed with the quality of training provided by my University.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Yes, loads! My communication/presentation skills, practical lab skills, critical thinking, problem solving, data interpretation and general scientific knowledge have all improved significantly throughout this apprenticeship. The 'learning on-the-job' approach offers a great balance of theoretical learning and real-world practical application.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
My programme has been pretty well organised/structured on the AZ side - I know my responsibilities and what is expected of me. I have reviews with my manager and an apprenticeship advisor from the university every few months - these are very useful for highlighting any issues or giving feedback. However, outside of these reviews, it is sometimes difficult to get in contact with the academics (they can take several days to respond) - not ideal as the assignment briefs are sometimes very unclear/confusing.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
AstraZeneca have provided great support throughout my apprenticeship. There is always someone to ask if unsure about anything and everyone is more than happy to help! My department has one 'development day' each month where no meetings are scheduled - for learning new skills or further developing current skills. My manager has also been great at managing my workload when I've needed extra time for Uni assignments.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
Support from my training provider has been acceptable. I have reviews with my manager and an apprenticeship advisor from the university every few months - these are very useful for highlighting any issues or giving feedback. However, outside of these reviews, it is sometimes difficult to get in contact with the academics (they can take several days to respond via email) - which can make arranging study days challenging.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
Generally speaking, the degree content relates pretty well to my role, and the module topics are usually fairly interesting/engaging. The way this information is presented, however, is usually not great - most of the content seems to be recycled from previous years, with occasional spelling mistakes, grammatical errors and paragraphs pasted halfway through a sentence. The level of content also seems quite variable, with some modules containing only basic information and others that cover highly complex topics in incredible detail.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
Loads - ranging from apprentice social events and teams (e.g. football), to apprentice-specific or apprentice and early careers networking events.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend AstraZeneca to a friend?
Yes
Why?
AstraZeneca is a great employer. I really enjoy the work I do, and am able to focus on the aspects that interest me most. My colleagues/manager have been excellent at supporting the transition from 6th form into industry, and there are loads of opportunities for personal development and growth. I have found the apprenticeship 'learning on-the-job' approach an excellent balance of theoretical learnings and real-world applications, and would highly recommend the apprenticeship scheme.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to AstraZeneca?
Be confident and be yourself! Doing some background research into AstraZeneca therapy areas and core company values would likely come across well.
