Doing a placement year

If you don’t already have placements integrated into your course, you can choose to take an optional placement year between your second and third years of undergraduate study. This means your degree will take four years to complete instead of three.

What is a placement?

A Placement Year is a valuable opportunity to gain real-world work experience by spending a year working for an employer as part of your degree. They typically last a full academic year and are available in a wide range of industries.

You'll apply what you've learned in your course to a professional setting and bring workplace insights back to your studies in your final year. You'll usually earn a salary and get paid for your work, making it a great way to gain experience while supporting yourself financially.

Unlike internships, which are usually shorter and often take place during the summer, a placement year is a longer-term commitment that provides more in-depth experience and responsibility within an organisation. It's also a great way to boost your employability, develop transferable skills, and explore a potential career path to see if it's the right fit for you.

Many students find that a placement year increases their confidence, helps them put theory into practice, and better prepares them for graduate jobs.

Benefits of doing a placement year

A placement year gives you the chance to:

• gain hands-on work experience in your field
• develop professional skills and boost your employability
• build valuable industry connections
• earn a salary while learning
• apply your academic knowledge in a real-world setting

Support with placements

If you’re thinking of completing a placement, you can join the Placement Academy which will offer support and guidance throughout the process, including help with searching for roles, applications and interviews. You will receive support, but it is your responsibility to secure a placement.

Our Derby Talent Team work closely with local, national and international organisations to provide you with exciting placement opportunities. In the past, our students have completed placements with organisations such as:

• Rolls-Royce
• Wincanton
• Lubrizol
• Aldi
• Enterprise Mobility
• PwC
• Network Rail
• A variety of SMEs

Once you’ve secured a placement, you’ll need to register it with us by completing a placement information form.

You will be allocated a Personal Academic Tutor who will stay in contact with you and will visit you in your workplace.

Eligibility

You’re eligible if you’re a full-time undergraduate student in your second year, and your course doesn’t already have a built-in or compulsory placement.

Derby students share their placement experiences

Lydia and Joel, two students at the University of Derby talk about their placement years and the experience they gained from a year in industry.