12-month industrial placement
You may already be enrolled on a course with a year in industry and this is a fantastic way to move forward with your career and to gain the knowledge, experience and skills that will make you employable.
Many graduate employers use the placement schemes as a year-long interview and if you do well, there is a very high chance you will be employed by that organisation. Even if you are not enrolled on a course with a year in industry you can normally switch to this option in your second year, spending a year on placement following completion of your second year.
I completed a placement with Double Eleven as a Placement Software Engineer, and it was a fantastic experience. I had the opportunity to work on one of the most popular game IPs Minecraft Dungeons. Throughout my time there, I got to work on different areas of the project and since the start, I was given a lot of responsibility and trust. I was surrounded by experienced and supportive co-workers who helped me learn and improve. Looking back at the skills I had before doing the placement to now is immense. I got to learn tons of new things that not only improved my technical skills, but also improved my soft skills.
What is a work placement?
A 12-month industrial placement takes place between the second and final year of study on an undergraduate course. It can also take place in the third year of a four-year Master’s degree.
Should the placement be paid?
A placement student should receive at least minimum wage (age dependant). We do not advocate voluntary 12-month placements, however please talk to us at placements@tees.ac.uk if you are wanting to undertake a voluntary opportunity.
What is the benefit of a placement?
Students who have completed an industrial placement, increase their employability skills and as a result have a higher chance of gaining employment following graduation.
What if I am not ready for a placement? I don’t know enough!
As a placement student you are there to learn. You are not expected to know how to do everything, but there to learn how to do so. It’s a great opportunity to put your theory into practice. Your School and Student Futures are here to help you, we offer drop-in support at the Student Life Building and a range of workshops, employer talks and appointments. In addition to this once you have secured a placement, the Work Experience Team offer pre-placement training and provide pastoral support throughout your placement. In addition to this, your School provide an Academic Supervisor who will support you throughout your placement.
How do I find a placement?
There are lots of websites available for placements such as Gradcracker, Target Jobs, Milkround UK. The University also advertises a number of placement roles on their Student Futures Portal. In addition to this Student Futures can offer advice and support on how to research roles and companies.
Can I approach companies direct for a placement?
Absolutely! If you find a company that is interested in offering you a placement, please send the details to your Work Experience Officer once this is confirmed.
What support is there for applying for placements?
You can book an appointment with anyone from the Student Futures team to review your CV and help with a cover letter/ application.
There is also a suite of workshops and presentations ranging from CV’s and cover letters to LinkedIn. Have a look at the events section on the Student Futures portal.
When should I start looking for a placement?
You should start applying for a placement in your second year of study. Placements are generally advertised from September onwards for the following year.
When can I start the placement?
You can start from the end of your semester in May until the end of August and it should run for 12 months. You should be completed and ready to return to University for your final year of study in September of the following year.
What are the fees for me whilst on placement?
Can I still get my maintenance loan whilst on placement?
We suggest you contact Student Finance England for any loan queries.
My course is full time, not sandwich. How do I get that sorted?
You need to ensure the relevant Work Experience Officer is aware of your placement and they will arrange to have your record updated by the School. Your placement module will then be added to your student record.
Which Work Experience Officers work in which school?
Contact the placement team at placements@tees.ac.uk
- Claire Reeve – School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies (Computing, Games & Animation)
- Kareen Prow – School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies (Engineering)
- Kathryn Peters – School of Health & Life Sciences/School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law
- Lorraine Steel – Teesside University International Business School
- Emily Hopwood – School of Arts & Creative Industries
My course has an industrial placement included in the title, but I haven’t found one, what should I do?
Contact your Work Experience Officer and they will arrange for your student record to be updated to reflect the changes.
