Industrial placement year

Student working at a computer

An industrial placement year is a great way to help you decide what kind of career you might like when you graduate. As well as giving you the opportunity to develop your skills, you’ll gain a real insight into working life in a particular company or sector.

Our Natural Sciences course allows you to undertake a placement year either between years 2 and 3 of your course or between years 3 and 4. Your industrial placement extends the length of your degree by a year. You have up until the beginning of your second year to decide whether or not you would like to do a year in industry.

Our Employability Team will provide you with a comprehensive work placement support service whilst you’re looking for a placement, which includes placement information and preparation sessions and one-to-one CV appointments. Our team successfully places students with a range of employers. Recent examples include Unilever, Lubrizol and Diversey.

Whichever organisation you join for your placement year, you’ll gain valuable experience relevant to your degree. This will allow you to apply your learning in an industrial context while you develop both personally and professionally. An academic tutor will visit you during your industrial placement. This tutor will meet with you and your line manager, offer support and guidance, and discuss your re-integration into studies.