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The University of Southampton
Biological Sciences

Biological Sciences students enhance employability and get ahead in the market place

Published: 26 June 2020

Biological Sciences students can enhance their employability by developing their workplace skills, with a Year in Employment.

All undergraduate Biological Sciences students can choose to extend their studies by 12 months, by taking on a year-long industry placement.

They gain hands-on experiences which helps them to stand out to future employers. The scheme also gives them an advantage when it comes to enriching their degree and being distinctive when they apply for jobs, ensuring they are as prepared as possible to move into the world of work.

Previously, Biological Sciences students have taken up placements in a range of settings across the pharmaceutical industry, in biotechnology, healthcare and in organisations focused on wildlife conservation including:

AstraZeneca
GlaxoSmithKline
Pfizer
Sanofi
Public Health England
The NHS
Cancer Research UK
Roche
Kew Gardens
The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust

David Tumbarello, Biological Sciences’ Employability Lead, said: “Our Year in Employment opportunities provide a significant boost to students’ CVs, making them competitive for future graduate positions, and helping them come away with real experience and clarity on their career path.”

Natalia Burova
Natalia Burova, third year BSc Biochemistry

Final year BSc Biochemistry with a Year in Employment student Natalia Burova spent a year as a Microbiologist at GlaxoSmithKline. She said: “It was an exciting opportunity to work for a large company and gain many transferrable skills, as well as find out more about careers in the pharmaceutical sector and the career path I want to take.”

Poppy Taylor photo
Poppy Taylor, third year BSc Biochemistry

Colleague Poppy Taylor, a third year BSc Biochemistry with a Year in Employment student, spent a year as a Student Clinical Project Assistant at Sanofi. She added: “I gained invaluable skills and experience for my future career. It was an amazing year in which I developed personally and professionally, and I now have an enhanced understanding of the pharmaceutical industry, particularly clinical studies.”

Participants spend a minimum of 30 weeks – between their second and third years – in an organisation of their choice. They are thoroughly supported by dedicated Biological Sciences staff and the University Careers and Employability Team, who will guide them through applying for and confirming placements, keep in regular contact during the year, and provide networking and support opportunities when they return to study.

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