Apprenticeship students outperformed those taking a traditional chemistry degree at the University of Bradford

A larger proportion of chemistry students on the University of Bradford’s part-time laboratory scientist degree apprenticeship passed their module exams on the first attempt than those on its full-time BSc course – despite both groups receiving nearly identical teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic. While both courses at the university have since closed due to financial pressures and low student numbers, the researchers behind the analysis say the results illustrates how vocational routes can support strong academic outcomes for chemical scientists.