Laboratory Science Apprentice Review
at AstraZeneca
Degree Apprenticeship
Pharmaceutical, Research, Science
Cambridge
Review Submitted: February 2026
Overall Rating
3.5 /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
-
Skills Development
2.8/5
-
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
I make use of laboratory techniques to carry out a wide variety experiments for establishing new methods for target validation. On a typical day I start go through my emails and plan my day. I often have a couple meetings per day and spend some time in the lab.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I really enjoy my apprenticeship. The ability to use cutting edge techniques and equipment has enriched my learning and allowed me to develop a diverse skill set. My degree has also taught me a variety of skills, the most valuable of which are transferable such as academic writing.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have learned many skills and developed them throughout my apprenticeship. This includes technical skills and soft/transferable skills.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
My working life is well structured. My degree has a very rigid structure, with well defined sections and deadlines. However the proximity of deadlines puts a lot of continuous pressure on learners and as courses are so short, topic depth can be limited.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
In terms of my line manager and supervisor, I have received incredible support constantly through my apprenticeship. However, in terms of support outside of my team, I have felt that we don't have adequate support in areas such as offboarding.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
My two primary lectures are very responsive and accessible for support when needed. However, advice from other staff about balancing workloads is largely unhelpful.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
My degree has taught me things which benefit my work. However, they often aren't in enough depth to really enhance my understanding of topics. Additionally we have had courses which help develop skills on presenting and making scientific posters - however these have almost always happened after I've done this in the workplace, making them feel redundant.
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 is a very wide variety of activities and groups to make use of in AstraZeneca.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend AstraZeneca to a friend?
Yes
Why?
AstraZeneca provides you the opportunity to develop diverse skill sets and to make use of cutting edge equipment that is not accessible everywhere.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to AstraZeneca?
Look at the AZ values and consider how your experiences link to them, regardless of how small they seem. This will show critical thinking and will highlight to your interviewers the value of your experiences, potentially strengthening your application.
