Looking for a placement

It’s never too early to start thinking about placements or developing your employability skills. Many large recruiters seek applications for Part I placements in the summer vacation after Part A, so it’s important to plan ahead.  Ideally, you should prepare your CV and get it checked by the end of Part A.

Don’t panic if you only 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.

Your School will also give you deadlines for confirming that you have a placement and to complete the necessary documentation (e.g. health and safety forms).  It’s really important that you meet these deadlines too, so your placement can be approved and insurance cover provided.

• To remove an optional placement year and progress to the next Part of study (submit route transfer request): end of Week 1, Semester 1
• To declare a placement to the University (Student visa holders): end of Week 4, Semester 1
• To declare a placement to the University (all other students): end of Week 6, Semester 1
• To start a placement (Student visa holders): 60 days from the start of the academic year

Where to look for placements

There are many places to look for vacancies in the UK and abroad.  The Careers Network has lots of useful information on its webpages and also organises careers fairs and employer events in October and February.  These are fantastic opportunities to engage face-to-face with employers who are seeking applicants for their placement opportunities.

Your School will provide briefings on the placement year process and will support you with finding opportunities related to your programme. They may also run careers events with sector-specific employers.  Contact details for your designated Placement Officer can be found on the Placements Support page.