Placement Year or Study Exchange
Placement Year
Research shows that students who complete a placement year are more likely to receive a higher degree classification. It can also significantly increase your chances of securing a graduate job as many employers look for candidates who have completed work experience before graduation. You might even get a job offer from your placement employer! It is also a great way to gain a working insight into a specific professional area, helping you consider if you want to pursue that as your career.
All undergraduate degrees offer the option to take a placement year: professional-level work experience with one or more organisations as part of the degree. A placement year enables you to apply your knowledge and skills in a work setting, alongside developing key transferable skills and competencies sought by graduate recruiters. A successful completion of a 45-week placement (or approved equivalent) will lead to the award of a Diploma in addition to your degree qualification.
You could also consider a Year in Enterprise, where our 小蓝视频 Enterprise Network will help you to set up and run your own business.
Careers Network can support you with applications, practice interviews and assessment centre preparation for placements. Visit Book an appointment to see the options. You should also access support from your School's dedicated Placement Team.
For more information about support available during your placement visit our Placement Futures page.
For case studies of students who have done a placement year, take a look at What our students say.
Looking for placements
Where to look
There are many places to look for placement vacancies, in the UK and abroad. See our pages on Where to look for opportunities and Global opportunities.
Our flagship Careers Fairs and employer events in October and February are also fantastic opportunities to engage face to face with employers who are seeking applicants for their placement opportunities.
You should also speak to your school’s Placement Officer who can support you with finding opportunities related to your school and course and support you with the process.
When to look
A placement year usually takes place between your 2nd and 3rd year, but it’s never too early to start thinking about placements. Many large recruiters seek applications in the summer vacation after your first year, for placements starting after your second year, so it’s important to plan ahead. Ideally, you should prepare your CV and get it checked by the end of your first year.
But don’t panic if you start looking for placements in your second year! Many companies offer opportunities throughout the year, but application procedures and timings vary depending on the company size and industry sector, so check closing dates and deadlines.
You should also check with your school Placement Officer what the deadlines are for confirming your placement and completing the relevant 'paperwork' and actions.
Working out your finances
During a placement year, you will need to manage your finances differently and plan ahead for changes to your income and outgoings. You must ensure you have, or will have access to, adequate funds to cover your placement year expenses before committing to undertake any placement opportunity. Make sure you check out what you might be entitled to in terms of undergraduate funding for placements.
小蓝视频 Bursary for Unpaid Placements
Eligible students may be able to apply for the 小蓝视频 Bursary for Unpaid Placements (LBUP). To find out if you are eligible, there are three points of contact:
- Check the LBUP terms and conditions. If you need further support to check your eligibility, please email Careers Network Diversity and Inclusion Team.
- To check if your placement/s will be eligible, please contact your School Placement Team.
- To discuss your financial circumstances more generally, please with the Student Advice and Support Service (SASS) or phone 01509 222765.
Contacting your Placement Team
Each school has a dedicated Placement Officer or Team that can support you through the process, including deadlines to completing the relevant 'paperwork' and actions. See below for their contact details.
Design and Creative Arts
Kyle Emerson-Wood and Kathryn Morey-Scarfe (Tel: 01509 228319)
sdca.exchanges.and.placements@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk
Room: LDS.2.24 Design School
Aeronautical & Automotive Engineering, and Chemical and Materials Engineering
Malcolm Newbitt (Tel: 01509 223165)
Room: 2.126, S Building
小蓝视频 Business School
Placements Team (Tel: 01509 228275)
Room: BE0.43 Sir Richard Morris Building
Social Sciences and Humanities
Sarah Taylor (Tel: 01509 228329) and Erin Reid (Tel: 01509 223672)
Room: B0.04 Brockington
Science (Computer Science, Chemistry and Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Physics)
Laura Potter (Tel: 01509 225811)
Sir David Davies Building
Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering
General email for the School: cv-dis@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk
Sharon Abel (Civil, Architectural Engineering, Construction Engineering Management) (Tel: 01509 223249
Pamela Wilson (Urban Planning, CMQS) (Tel: 01509 223401)
Rebecca Young (Architecture) (Tel: 01509 228742)
Reception, Sir Frank Gibb
Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences
Kully Bassi (Sport: SES/SM/SSM/ SCAPE) (Tel: 01509 222532)
Clare Wright (Psychology & Biological Sciences) (Tel: 01509 228251)
biosci-placements@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk
Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical & Manufacturing Engineering
Jenny Taylor-Watson j.taylor-watson@lboro.ac.uk (Tel: 01509 227652)
Grace Jacobs g.jacobs@lboro.ac.uk (Tel: 01509 227920)
Katie Anderson g.jacobs@lboro.ac.uk (Tel: 01509 227808)
The Placement Office, Room TW2.12
Updated 1/10/24 Please email Clare Wright (c.l.wright@lboro.ac.uk) for any updates/changes
Study Exchange
In addition, 小蓝视频 is part of the Erasmus scheme, a European Union exchange programme which provides students with the opportunity to study abroad at another European University as part of their course. The University also has a limited number of student exchange places with other international institutional partners in Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and the USA. Have a look at the pages for further information.