Why work with one employer, when you can work with a wide range of industry, community, and sector employers?
We’ll tell you why.
Apprenticeships have their place. They’re the right choice for you if you’re looking to work for, and hopefully secure a long-term role in a specific company. What they’re not, is the only option available for those looking to become career-ready, and employable.
Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said 'give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime'.
Ok, so the context might be different, but the same principle applies; work with one employer and help find a solution to their specific problem. Work with many employers, from multiple industries, and gain an in-depth and multi-faceted understanding of problems, how they happen, and how to deliver solutions.
That’s what an integrated engineer at NMITE does. Alongside academics, they work directly with a wide range of employers, on real challenges, considering context, ethics, economics, sustainability… the list goes on. Our engineers are taught to be problem solvers who ask the right questions, aiming to deliver the best solutions. An integrated engineer might even wonder, did the man ask for a fish in the first place?
However, this isn’t a case of pitting an apprenticeship up against a degree, as we said earlier, they both have their place – but it is about making an informed choice. And when it comes to an NMITE degree, the right information is very important. Historically, a ‘traditional’ university degree might not have always made sense as a viable option for someone looking to become career-ready, when compared to an apprenticeship. We’re here to change that narrative. Let’s challenge some misconceptions, shall we?
Both apprenticeships and degrees will see me obtain industry recognised qualifications. Correct. With NMITE, you’ll also be given exposure to a multi-employer portfolio and an unbeatable network of industry and community contacts.
I’ll complete an apprenticeship faster than I will a degree. Not necessarily. Apprenticeships can take anywhere from 1-5 years. An NMITE degree can be completed in as little as 28 months – and you’ll be career ready too.
An apprenticeship will give me ‘on the job’ training. That’s correct. However, at NMITE you’ll delve into the world of project management, and get hands-on with real, employer driven challenges, throughout every module. With opportunities for work experience too. It’s all about building that multi-employer portfolio early on, so you get a much greater idea of various industries, how they work, and where you can go in your career.
An apprenticeship will allow me to build practical skills. That’s right. But hear us out. Although ‘traditional’ degrees might not provide you with as many hands-on opportunities, NMITE will. You’ll develop practical skills consistently throughout every module, but better still, you’ll know how to apply them to different problems. The worlds multi-faceted – you need to be too!
I don’t need to pay tuition fees to do an apprenticeship. Correct. But they can come with hidden costs and pay can vary substantially, so you still need to consider affordability. Tuition fees may seem intimidating, but student loans exist with pay back thresholds and different plans are available dependant on your circumstances. With NMITE’s accelerated degrees, you’ll save on cost compared to studying at many other universities. Not to mention, we’re always adding to our range of generous scholarships and bursaries.
It’s irrelevant as I don’t have the right qualifications for a degree anyway. We hear you. And historically that may have been the case. But here is the good bit – you don’t need Maths or Physics at A-level to study an NMITE degree (we’ll teach you what you need to know, and how to apply it!), and we also consider prior relevant work experience, and offer Foundation year options on all our degrees.
There you have it. Hopefully we’ve managed to clear a few things up for you, and if you’re looking to discover more about the NMITE difference, click below!
