Data Scientist Review
at Home Office
Degree Apprenticeship
Data Analysis
Sheffield
Review Submitted: June 2025
Overall Rating
3.4 /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!
3.5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
2.8/5
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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
Working on complex analysis projects in a small team of data scientists.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
2/5
I do not enjoy the taught aspect of my apprenticeship. York St John is a poor apprenticeship provider. Lectures are poorly taught. Some lecturers and other staff on the course are fantastic, but the overall quality is low.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I joined this job with no previous work experience in Data Science. I now feel confident in working with data from acquisition to presentation, and have learnt a lot about communicating and stakeholder engagement too.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
YSJ have improved over time but are still often disorganised, poor at communicating, and there are constant staff changes making the course feel disconnected and makes it harder to engage with the taught content.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
My employer is excellent. I feel well supported in my learning and work by my manager and wider team.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
1/5
Independent study was significantly more useful than the taught lectures on this course, with modules in a weird order that meant I was often being taught things I'd previously learnt. The supporting staff (work-based learning tutors) on this course are brilliant and provide excellent support. The teaching staff less so.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
1/5
I'll be glad to have a degree at the end of this apprenticeship, but I feel like all the skills I gained in the past 3 years were through working rather than learnt from the training provider and applied at work.
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
Data Science / Analysis / Operational Research related conferences both at department and cross-government level. Colleagues are very sociable.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Home Office to a friend?
Yes
Why?
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What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Home Office?
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