Considering dropping out of third level and learning a trade (/higher apprenticeship)

TheBiz

I'm a first year commerce student of NUI Galway.
I like the course but I feel like there's more I want to do.

I was considering learning a trade before I went to college, in particular an IT/Business related Higher Apprenticeship in the U.K.

I know it would be a big move to drop out and move to England to enroll with a company but it's something I'm strongly considering. I have also toyed with the idea of learning a trade such as Welding.

I know the Uni sounds like a safe bet but after the high apprenticeship I would have a couple of years experience and market knowledge which is important to me as I want to own my own business one day, and I see learning the ropes through a trade as my best bet.

quietsailor

I don't know how practical a working life you want but I studied Marine Engineering in the NMCI (National MAritime College of Ireland), it, and it's accompanying degrees - Nautical Science and Marine Electrotechnology all set you up to work in the Marine industry -- working on large cargo ships, container ships, oil tankers, cruise ships* etc. Link to NMCI courses

They are 3 yr degrees and are very hands on, much more so than other college degrees so if you need to be working with your hands take a look at them.

The Marine Engineering and Marine Electrotechnology are better if you see yourself wanting to come home and retire off the ships in years to come, Nautical Science is more specialised as it's ship navigation but the NMCI has a conversion course into logistics now for the deck lads.

Iwon't turn this into an essay, just click on the link above and have a read. PM me or post on here if you want some more details


The best of luck whatever you decide

* = it won't directly get you into the Irish Navy but it would help later in your career if they have what's called a direct entry competition.

TheBiz

quietsailor wrote: »

I don't know how practical a working life you want but I studied Marine Engineering in the NMCI (National MAritime College of Ireland), it, and it's accompanying degrees - Nautical Science and Marine Electrotechnology all set you up to work in the Marine industry -- working on large cargo ships, container ships, oil tankers, cruise ships* etc. Link to NMCI courses

They are 3 yr degrees and are very hands on, much more so than other college degrees so if you need to be working with your hands take a look at them.

The Marine Engineering and Marine Electrotechnology are better if you see yourself wanting to come home and retire off the ships in years to come, Nautical Science is more specialised as it's ship navigation but the NMCI has a conversion course into logistics now for the deck lads.

Iwon't turn this into an essay, just click on the link above and have a read. PM me or post on here if you want some more details


The best of luck whatever you decide

* = it won't directly get you into the Irish Navy but it would help later in your career if they have what's called a direct entry competition.

Not what I was looking for, I'm considering between a higher apprenticeship in the field of IT, BIS or Industrial engineering with the long term objective being entrepreneurship.

Musicman2000

Probably one of the best decisions you will ever make. You are getting experience and a good qualification probably equivalent to a degree. I would highly recommend it. This country is a shambles when it comes to non standard apprenticeships.

TheBiz

Musicman2000 wrote: »

Probably one of the best decisions you will ever make. You are getting experience and a good qualification probably equivalent to a degree. I would highly recommend it. This country is a shambles when it comes to non standard apprenticeships.

But is it worth dropping of a relatively well regarded degree for?

Mrs OBumble

TheBiz wrote: »

.... with the long term objective being entrepreneurship.

Ahh, which would be more useful for the long term: knowing how to run a business, or knowing how to work the electronics (or whatever) that a business might sell.

I'm a big fan of apprenticeships for people who want practically based careers. But most of the folks who move on from being a registered tradesperson to running a business in the trade end up doing a business qualification somewhere along the line.

I know nothing about the UK scheme - maybe it really does address the gap. But for any sort of professional IT career, anyways, I'd not see an apprenticeship as appropriate.

TheBiz

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Ahh, which would be more useful for the long term: knowing how to run a business, or knowing how to work the electronics (or whatever) that a business might sell.

I'm a big fan of apprenticeships for people who want practically based careers. But most of the folks who move on from being a registered tradesperson to running a business in the trade end up doing a business qualification somewhere along the line.

I know nothing about the UK scheme - maybe it really does address the gap. But for any sort of professional IT career, anyways, I'd not see an apprenticeship as appropriate.

A business degree does not teach you how to run a business it teaches you to fulfill a roll of employment. Be that in whatever specialisation you choose.

A higher apprenticeship wouldn't be the same as a regular trades apprenticeship.

Personally I see the most important thing for an entrepreneur is experience, or more particular, experience in the field they hope to open a business in.

That being said I don't know which is better in my personal situation

Tom Dunne

TheBiz wrote: »

That being said I don't know which is better in my personal situation

The one piece of advice I always give is to do what makes you happy. You say you like the course in NUIG, therefore I would be inclined to stick with it and get that behind you. It's only three years (isn't it?).

Is there any reason you can't do the apprenticeship afterwards? Or, can you get a job in that area after you graduate? Can you, or more likely would you be willing to, do a postgrad at night-time while you work in industry during the day, thereby getting the experience while engaging in further study.

Musicman2000

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Ahh, which would be more useful for the long term: knowing how to run a business, or knowing how to work the electronics (or whatever) that a business might sell.

I'm a big fan of apprenticeships for people who want practically based careers. But most of the folks who move on from being a registered tradesperson to running a business in the trade end up doing a business qualification somewhere along the line.

I know nothing about the UK scheme - maybe it really does address the gap. But for any sort of professional IT career, anyways, I'd not see an apprenticeship as appropriate.

A lot of the IT apprenticeships are better than any degree . Reason why, practical hands on experience in the real world with a good professional qualification at the end of it .They are done over 3 - 4 years.