Aimee built a successful career without a degree but when the opportunity to join the first ever Graduate Apprenticeship in Business Management at RGU presented itself, she knew this was what she was meant to do!
She shares her honest experience juggling full-time work and her studies, and how she has been supported by RGU throughout her journey in this blog.
How I became a Graduate Apprentice
As with most things in my life, I happened upon a Graduate Apprenticeship (GA) at RGU by chance. I was project managing a report that my employer had commissioned with RGU and during a conversation with someone in the project team, they mentioned that the Graduate Apprenticeship programme was being launched later that year.
Not having a degree had never really bothered me and I have got every job I’ve had so far without one, so it wasn’t something that I ever felt held me back. That said, I always just assumed I’d get one. This was a course designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and the practical aspects of employment, so it felt like the universe aligning.
I pushed ahead with the application and before I knew it, I got a place on the first ever Graduate Apprenticeship in Business Management at RGU! One of the main reasons a GA worked for me was that I could stay employed and study at the same time. With bills to pay, this made it an easy yes for me.
I had a supportive employer who was willing to give me not only the time, but the opportunities needed to allow me to take advantage of workplace learning elements of the course. It’s also a fully funded course, paid for by the Scottish Government so for employees and employers – it’s a great option to upskill for a low financial investment.
The reality of juggling full-time work with studying
On day one, myself and the other GAs met at RGU and were introduced to our Course Leader Susan and a range of the other teaching staff who would be guiding us through the journey. It was daunting but it felt like exactly where I needed to be.
Susan talked us through what we could expect from student life and reiterated that although we were on a GA programme, we were RGU students like everyone else. This meant that we had access to all of the support that the University has to offer.
I navigated many life challenges during my four years at RGU and I ended up reaching out to the wellbeing team for help. The team assigned me to a Counsellor, which you have access to free of charge as a student and, honestly, this has changed the trajectory of my entire life. As a student, I relied on this service so much and it was world-class.
I was not a perfect student, if there is such a thing? I quite often left my coursework to the very last minute – even submitting my final piece of work with 90 seconds to spare. During my final year, I was in a very low place mentally and just getting through the day was proving a challenge.
For me, quitting was not an option, and my tutor, Jonny was the most patient man ever. I was open about my struggles, and we had a frank conversation about what my goals were. He asked me, “what are you trying to achieve here?”, and although I had always hoped for a first class degree (I just needed a B in my final project), I said, honestly, at this point, I just need to pass and get to the end of the course.
A success story with many learnings
With all the support both from RGU and my employer, I passed! I got a C in my final project and, in December 2022, I graduated with a 2:1 Honours degree in Business Management. A very proud moment for me. All the hard work was worth it.
As well as all of the learning, my main takeaway from the experience are the friends that I made during the course. On our first day, Susan said to us – “Take a look at the people next to you, these are the people that will support you through this course. They will become your friends and who knows you might even end up going on holidays with them.”
I remember thinking – aye right! Not only did I meet my best friend Hannah on this course but also my study group, affectionately called “RGU Study Group C”, featuring Catherine and Daniel too. Without the support of these people, I would never have made it through the course. We all had very different styles of approaching our assignments, but we were always there for each other, whatever was going on.
I will always be grateful to RGU for the opportunity to study there. My advice to anyone looking to do a GA – it will be harder that you can imagine, but it will be worth it!
Aimee Wallace
Related blog
My experience studying a Business Management Graduate Apprenticeship at RGU
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