Understand your options
How we'll support you through placement
Your placement options
You have two unique options for your placement year. All placements must be checked and approved by a member of the Careers and Employability Service before it commences:
Industry Placement
- This is our most popular placement option. You'll complete a placement with an employer in your chosen industry. This could be with a business, charity or public sector organisation.
- You can work anywhere in the world for your placement year.
- Placements usually last 9 to 12 months and start after your second year of study.
- You'll apply directly to employers with support and guidance from us. You will not be matched with an employer.
- You also have the option to complete a 3, 6, 9 or 12-month placement after your final year.
Self-Employed Placement
- If you're interested in freelancing or running your own business, the Self-Employed Placement is a great way to test if that's the right path for you.
- You'll get support throughout the year from our Student StartUp team including 1-1 coaching, networking opportunities and access to office space and funding.
- Only available to UK students, after their second year of study.
Timeline of applications
When you apply for placements, there are several milestones throughout the year. Choosing to do a placement year is the first step. Some students may come to the university knowing they want to complete a placement, while others may decide this is the right option later in their second year.
Select the months below to learn more about the stages of applying for a placement year throughout your second year.
- Applications for larger organisations are open (including summer internships).
- Get application feedback and advice from Careers and Employability on where to find appropriate placement opportunities.
- Attend our drop-ins and our weekly Placement Clubs to get support with your placement search and applications, and meet previous placement students.
- Attend the Graduate Recruitment and Placement Fair in October to meet employers who are recruiting for placements.
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You may be invited to online tests, virtual interviews and assessment centres by larger companies with lengthy recruitment processes.
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The first few offers from the earliest advertisements start to be made.
- More placement roles will start to be advertised.
- Attend our weekly Placement Clubs to get support with your placement search and applications, and meet previous placement students.
- Continue to receive 1-1 support from placement officers through appointments.
- Attend employability events and workshops to support your applications and interviews.
- Placement offers will continue to be issued.
- Few placement roles will continue to be advertised.
- Continue to receive 1-1 support from placement officers through appointments.
- Attend employability events and workshops to support your applications and interviews.
- All placement offers should be submitted to the team by 31 July.
Deadline for submitting your placement offer
Following the University's Policy on Optional Placements, optional placements must be approved by the Placement Team following our standard approval process and within the deadlines set out below. Failure to comply with these processes or meet the stated deadlines means your placement will not be approved. We rely on students and placement providers working with us to ensure key approval documents are completed within our stated timeframes.
Undergraduate Students
- Optional Sandwich Placement: End of July in second year
- End of Course Placement (Connected Degrees, Psychology or Sports Courses): End of February in final year.
Postgraduate Students
Only students on specific postgraduate courses with Professional Experience are eligible for a placement.
Eligible courses are:
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MA Business Communication for International Leadership with Professional Experience
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MA Applied Linguistics and TESOL with Professional Experience
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MA Education Studies with Professional Experience
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MSc Education Leadership and Management with Professional Experience
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MBA Global
| Course start date | Deadline to submit your form |
|---|---|
| January | End of January (following year) |
| June | End of April |
| September | End of July |
Fees and funding
The placement year fee is 15% of your usual annual tuition.
Students starting a work placement (sandwich) year can apply for a tuition fee loan and a reduced-rate maintenance loan.
For further advice contact the Student Finance Centre.
Support you'll receive
We’re here to help you before, during and after your placement.
You'll get:
- A dedicated Placement Officer to help with applications, interview preparation and finding roles.
- Ongoing support while you’re on placement.
- Help with any problems that arise.
You’ll remain an enrolled student, so you’ll still have access to:
- Student discounts
- University facilities and services
- Exemption from paying council tax
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