The Year in Employment is suitable for full-time undergraduate students on eligible programmes. For a list of our eligible programmes, please see our download below. Students on the Year in Employment undertake their placement after their second year of study and this applies to students on both 3 and 4 year degree programmes. In addition, students must pass their year 2 exams at the first attempt to undertake the Year in Employment.
Students fulfilling the above requirements studying on Tier 4 visas can undertake the Year in Employment, however there are significant additional costs associated due to visa requirements. If you are on a Tier 4 visa and are considering the Year in Employment, please speak with the
Visa and Immigration Student Advice Service.
Placement roles also need to be suitable for the Year in Employment. Roles must provide you opportunity to fulfil our Learning Outcomes in the 'Useful Downloads' section. For students to be able to include the "Year in Employment" on their degree transcript, their placement must be 9-12 months of full-time work. You may apply for roles under 9 months but to pass our assessment you must find an additional placement to complete the minimum 9 months of full-time work.
Students are responsible for securing their own placements and you undertake your placement after your second year of study. We support you in finding suitable placements and succeeding in the recruitment process. We recommend that you begin considering where you'd like to complete a placement in the summer before your second year as many placement vacancies open in the autumn of your second year.
We have placement opportunities on MyCareer and you can source your own placements elsewhere.
The process for moving onto the Year in Employment
- Email us if you are interesting in, considering or searching for a placement
- Find and secure a suitable placement. Please ensure that any placements you apply to fulfil our Learning Outcomes. We cannot approve placements that do not offer the opportunity to fulful these requirements and you can check by examining your placement's Job Description. Contact us if you are unsure of a role's suitability
- Notify us at our contact details below
- We ask for your placement details, Job Description, Offer Letter and invite you to our Induction
- We support your completion of a Risk Assessment and confirm Health and Safety information with your placement provider
- Once confirmed, we notify your faculty and change your course to include "with a Year in Employment"
- You begin your placement after your second year semester 2 exams
We support you throughout your placement and for more information see our "Support we offer"
Once you begin your placement, you will need to complete the following in addition to your responsibilities with your placement provider:
- Return an induction checklist to us within your first 2 weeks
- Liaise with the Placements Team and your placement superviser regarding 2 placement check-ins
- Consider completing 6 blogs during your placement
- Inform us if there are any changes to your placement and personal circumstances
- Submit a 3000-3500 word reflective report evidencing your fulfilment of the Learning Outcomes
- Complete our feedback forms upon completion of your placement
We offer support before, during and after your placement:
Before your placement
- Help finding suitable placements
- Support for making successful applications
- Access to our Drop In Service
- Assistance from the Placements Team
- An induction to prepare you for your placement
- Guidance in the administration of your placement
During your placement
- As an enrolled student you will be able to access all University services remotely
- 3 touchpoints throughout your placement with the Placements Team
- Additional contact with the University as required
- Help with your Year in Employment assessment through a Blackboard module
After your placement
- A reflection event to consider your experiences and how to convey them effectively in future
- An invitation to our Employability Excellence Awards to celebrate your achievements
