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The University of Southampton
Psychology

Psychology students choose year in employment opportunities to improve employability and get ahead in the market place

Published: 26 June 2020
Jenny Boggins
Jenny Boggins, BSc Psychology, final year

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

Students on the BSc Psychology programme 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.

Psychology students can choose from a wide range of placement opportunities, with previous students working in a variety of organisations including:

  • The NHS
  • Southampton University Hospitals’ NHS Foundation Trust
  • Microsoft
  • Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
  • GlaxoSmithKline
  • Great Ormond Street Hospital
  • West London NHS Trust
  • Priory Group
  • Cancer Research UK
  • Jigsaw Trust
  • UK Tax and Accounting Limited


Tom Randell, Psychology Employability Officer, said: “The Year in Employment provides a fantastic opportunity for our students to gain experience of working in professional contexts ranging from industry to clinical practice. Students are able to apply the psychological knowledge they have already gained during their studies and also to pick up a wide range of practical skills and experience that are of very real benefit during their final year at University and beyond.”

Jenny Boggins is a final year BSc Psychology student who spent her 12-month placement as an honorary Assistant
Psychologist in one of Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust’s mental health teams. She said: "My Year in Employment has given me a clear career path, working towards a goal I’m really passionate about, in a career that will make a difference. Clinical psychology is really competitive, and the skills and experience I have gained will help me stand out from the crowd and increase my chances of being successful at interviews.”

 

Final year BSc Psychology student Cameron Hughes spent a year as a Technical Account Manager and Digital Advisor at Microsoft. He said: “The Year in Employment gave me an amazing introduction to working life and helped me understand what I would like to do in my career. It has given me a platform to kickstart my career. I am going back to Microsoft after I graduate on their Aspire Experience Graduate Scheme and will be able to use the skills I learnt from Psychology and my internship to really hit the ground running. It is definitely the most valuable experience I have had at University.”

Cameron Hughes
Cameron Hughes, BSc Psychology, final year

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 Psychology 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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