Laboratory Scientist Degree Apprentice Review
at AstraZeneca
Degree Apprenticeship
Pharmaceutical, Science
Cambridge
Review Submitted: April 2026
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!
4.5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
4.2/5
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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
Despite my title, I am not a traditional lab science apprentice and instead fulfil more of a role as an automation engineer. As a result, much of my day to day work is programming machinery and robotics to automate lab processes, then testing, correcting and deploying those newly programmed methods around the lab.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I really enjoy my programme and my apprenticeship! Ultimately, like any job, it comes with some less desirable facets, including long periods of training and a high volume of meetings which can occasionally be back to back, but these small complaints aside I am enjoying myself immensely, learning a whole host of different skills, techniques, and knowledge domains!
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
In the course of my apprenticeship I have improved or picked up a number of skills, some of which I had already possessed and some that I had no experience with whatsoever. Programming is the single largest skill I've worked upon, starting essentially from scratch, and this has manifested itself through some python and powershell experience, and a large amount of time spent on the proprietary Hamilton Venus software too! Additionally I've had the opportunity to deploy public speaking skills at work, and the university side of my apprenticeship has included lots of research, studying lab techniques and practicing delivering information in written, verbal and visual forms to a variety of audiences.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
The course seems to be structured and organised well, some revisions have been made to it and previous apprentices state it is a significant improvement, but nothing about it seems remarkable. Instead it seems similar to most other university courses, just delivered in a non-traditional manner due to the apprenticeship
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
AstraZeneca have been great, my study-time is well protected, allowances have been made to support me with assignment deadlines, training has been provided for job-role related needs, and generally they've done all they can to support us apprentices.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
Much of the work towards our qualifications is independent, but my study time is protected and I am able to request more as necessary, particularly around assignments and exams periods.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
Much of my job role focuses more on the automation side of things, but the biosciences degree I am studying helps me understand the processes that I am automating and the constraints that we are naturally working around. I also think it will allow me to branch out into more traditional laboratory sciences should I wish to, which is a great relief to me!
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 a number of these things, especially professional networking events and skills workshops, though they are not always advertised well. I have found them helpful and enjoyable though!
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend AstraZeneca to a friend?
Yes
Why?
They've supported me in every way. With personal matters, educational matters, accessibility issues related to my personal circumstances, at every step they have helped as much as they possibly can!
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to AstraZeneca?
Be passionate or at least interested about the work that we do here at AZ. Degree apprenticeships are a very good package deal, and whilst it is perfectly natural for those benefits to be the main attractor, having an interest and knowledge regarding the work of AstraZeneca is a good way to delineate yourself from other candidates and show a true interest in your future job role.
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