Before and during the placement year
If you undertake a Year in Industry placement as part of your degree at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, you will be:
- Fully supported in securing industrial placements through the provision of high-quality Employability support from professional services and academic staff.
- Given a suite of preparatory sessions to enable you to learn about the placement application process such as how to write a CV and demonstrate your ability during interviews, and Health and Safety considerations within the work environment.
- Provided with placement support materials, including a pre-placement session which will enable you to gain an overview of what you can expect during your Year in Industry placement.
- Provided with information about suitable placement employers through long standing relationships with a host of employers.
- Assigned a placement tutor who will schedule a call with you to discuss your progress.
We also have a team of mentors. They will provide you as a Year in Industry student with pre-placement lectures, to prepare you for work, review and approve CV's and application forms, and provide support throughout the application process.
During the placement year, your mentor will schedule a call with you to ensure you have been through an induction process and have settled into the company. They will also ensure the work programme is appropriate for the placement year, enabling you to derive the maximum benefit from your time in the company.
Year in Industry placements need to be a minimum of 40 weeks in length and involve work that is relevant to your degree programme.
Year in Industry Structure
Preparatory Year
Semester 1
- Job preparation lectures
- Preparing CV’s and cover letters
- Preparing application forms
- Preparing for skills assessments and psychometric tests
- Interview techniques and mock interviews
- Team work skills
- Presentations from companies seeking placement students
- Presentations from students just returning from their industrial placement year
- Discuss job opportunities and questions
- One to one ongoing advice and support
- Placement opportunities list
- Outduction sessions / networking
Semester 2
- Drop in sessions to discuss opportunities and questions
- Company presentations
- Continue with applications/interviews
- Health and Safety lecture before departing for placement
- Mock interviews
Placement Year
Each student will be assigned a Year in Industry Tutor for the duration of their placement who will:
Schedule a call with students undertaking a Year in Industry placement to ensure you:
- Are in a suitable work environment.
- Have been provided with a relevant and achievable work programme.
- Have been adequately inducted within the company.
- Are making progress towards achieving the university portfolio requirements.
- Are following guidance outlined in the handbook.
The Year in Industry Tutor will also:
- Contact the placement student’s line manager or supervisor to discuss the progress that has been made since starting the placement.
- Discuss any questions from the workplace or student.
- Receive standard reports from students, their supervisors and produce a report for the university for each student.
The final part of the placement year will involve submitting a project folder to the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and presenting a poster showcasing highlights from your experience during the annual Year in Industry Poster Presentation event when you return to university.
