Degree Apprentices Outperform BSc Students in Chemistry, Study Finds
A study at the University of Bradford has revealed that chemistry degree apprenticeship students outperformed their full-time BSc counterparts, despite identical teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic. The findings highlight the potential of degree apprenticeships as a viable training route for the UK's key industries.
The research, conducted at the University of Bradford, compared the performance of chemistry degree apprenticeship students with full-time BSc students. Both programmes had students with similar UCAS points, suggesting that demographic differences may not fully explain the performance variation. Despite this, apprenticeship students consistently outperformed their full-time counterparts, with an overall pass rate of 90% compared to 73%.
The study also found that a higher proportion of part-time apprentices passed module exams on the first attempt compared to full-time BSc students during the pandemic. This was despite both groups receiving nearly identical teaching. The university's part-time laboratory scientist degree apprenticeship, opened in 2018, offers an alternative to the full-time BSc programme. Apprenticeship students applied their chemistry knowledge daily in their jobs and received regular feedback through tripartite meetings.
The study highlights the strategic value of supporting degree apprenticeships due to their high pass rate and return on investment for employers. While there were significant demographic differences between the two programmes, the performance of apprenticeship students suggests that this training route could help support key industries in the UK. If the UK does not train people to work in the chemical industry, key industries may die out more quickly than anticipated.
