The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has a dedicated placements team that works to bridge the gap between academia and industry, enabling students to apply their knowledge to a real work setting, across both public and private sectors.
For many of our placement programmes, we can provide a stress-free and comprehensive service, supporting you at all stages of your placement recruitment. If you would like advice on offering a work placement opportunity, please get in contact via [email protected].
We support a broad range of courses across our Humanities, Social Sciences, Life Sciences and Law schools.
Placements in Humanities
- Short-term undergraduate placements
- Minimum 35-hour work experience for final year English, History, Languages and Translation undergraduate students, between September–December
- This can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses) and can be on a full or part-time basis
- Opportunities suitable for this module are varied, although many students seek experience in education, journalism, languages, marketing, media, public relations, publishing, and the arts/cultural sector
Integrated postgraduate placements
- Minimum 550-hour work placements for postgraduate 'MA Professional Writing’ students across a 12–month period
- Placements are usually in copywriting, editing/publishing, journalism and magazine work
- Placements can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), on a part or full-time basis, beginning in September each year
Placements in Archives, Museums and other cultural institutions
Short-term undergraduate internships
- Minimum 72-hour work experience for final year undergraduate students, between September–April
- This can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), and usually is part-time during term time
- Opportunities suitable for this module are strictly archive and museum related, with most students keen to intern at historical houses, museums and galleries
Short-term postgraduate placements
- Minimum 105-hour work experience for postgraduate students, which is completed between January–August
- This can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), and can be on a full or part-time basis
- Opportunities suitable for this module are varied but most students seek placements in curating, galleries, journalism, media, museums, publishing and cultural organisations
Integrated postgraduate placements
- Minimum 550-hour work placements for postgraduate 'MA Museums, Galleries and Contemporary Culture with Professional Experience' students across a 12–month period
- Placements are usually in museums, galleries and other cultural institutions
- Placements can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), on a part or full-time basis, beginning in September each year
Placements in Criminology
- Minimum 35-hour work experience for final year undergraduate students, between term time September–April
- This can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), and usually is part-time during term time
- Opportunities suitable for this module are varied but most students seek placements in the courts, advice clinics, policing, research, rights and justice, social/youth work, and security intelligence
Placements in Sociology
- Minimum 35-hour work experience for second year undergraduate students, between term time September–April
- This can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), and usually is part-time during term time
- Opportunities suitable for this module are varied and many students take on placements in advice clinics, education, administration, human resources, research, marketing, and other charitable work
Placements in Psychology
Sandwich placements
- Undergraduate students in their penultimate year of study in psychology, psychology and criminology, psychology and counselling, and cognitive and clinical neuroscience, have the option to spend an academic year (30+ weeks) in a work setting related to psychology
- Placements can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), with students working four days per week
- Students seek work placements across clinical, educational, forensic, health and occupational psychology. Examples include working in hospitals, prisons, educational psychology centres, universities, and schools, through to market research companies, and occupational psychology agencies
Work experience
- Undergraduate and postgraduate students have the option to undertake a minimum of 30–35 hours of work experience during term time (September–April). This can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), and is usually on a part-time basis
- Examples of work experience settings include helping individuals with mental health issues, drug or alcohol dependence, supporting parents and children with autism, befriending people with dementia and working in a research or clinical setting
Placements in Politics and International Relations
- Minimum 72-hour work experience for second year undergraduate students, between term time September–April
- This can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), and usually is part-time during term time
- Opportunities suitable for this module are strictly related to politics and international relations. Many students go on to seek placements in think tanks, political charities and embassies
Placements in Law
- Minimum 35-hour work experience for second year undergraduate students, between term time September–April
- This can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), and usually is part-time during term time
Roles suitable for this module are varied. Students will typically seek roles in administration, advice clinics, charities, courts, education, finance, human resources, law, research, rights, and justice, policing, and finance
Placements in Life Sciences
Sandwich placements
- One-year (35–52 weeks), sandwich placement for undergraduate life sciences students in their penultimate year of study
- Sandwich placements are varied. This includes roles in private companies (such as pharmaceuticals, in vitro diagnostics, life sciences industry suppliers), the National Health Service, other government health and science organisations, as well as public or private research institutions
- Placements can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), on a full-time basis, usually beginning in September each year
- Opportunities to engage with students through holding insight sessions, or on-campus talks, are welcomed
Integrated postgraduate placements
- Minimum 500-hour work placements for postgraduate ' MSc Integrative Health and Wellbeing with Professional Experience’ across a 12–month period
- Placements are varied in a professional healthcare, public health or social prescribing environment
- Placements can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), on a part or full-time basis, beginning in September each year