Careers & Enterprise

Placement Years A Complete Guide for Students

durham.ac.uk/careers Your Placement Year Guide Your Placement Year Guide

Why do a Placement Year? We strongly encourage undergraduate students to do a Placement Year as part of your degree if you feel it is the right option. We have found that not only will it help you decide what you want to do when you graduate and potentially lead to graduate job offers, but research suggests that those who have completed a placement have a higher degree classification overall. Generally, significantly more people who do a placement get a first than non-placement students. I can’t stress enough how You will develop a number of transferrable skills whilst completing the placement beneficial my year in industry as well as sector specific experience and has been to my personal knowledge which will support you in future job applications upon graduation whether development, commercial or not you choose to stay in your chosen A globally outstanding centre of awareness and career industry or role. teaching and research excellence, • Futureproof Your Career It is very common aspirations. a collegiate community of for employers to use their placement schemes as a pipeline for securing talent Lucy Buckley, Johnson & Johnson extraordinary people, a unique for their graduate schemes. Many of our and historic setting – Durham is students enter final year with a graduate a university like no other. With role secured. • The connections made during your employers increasingly looking Placement Year, as well as the recruitment beyond qualifications and an process, will help expand your network emphasis on practical experience and enable you to secure roles in the future beyond graduation. and transferrable skills within • You will have the opportunity to apply the the recruitment process, a knowledge from your degree in a practical Placement Year from Durham setting and for some decide whether you want to enter the job market or pursue a University could really help you career in research. stand out from the crowd. • Placements will most likely be paid. On average a placement student earns between £15-£25k. Within the third sector, Completing a Placement Year as part NHS and other public sector bodies you of your degree at Durham University can are most likely to encounter unpaid or provide you with an opportunity to apply expenses only placements. It should be your knowledge in a real world environment transparent on the job description whether whilst also gaining the necessary skills and a job falls into the paid or unpaid category expertise to secure that ideal job when but we would advise you ask in advance you graduate. before applying.

Over a third of recruiters state that Top Tip graduates who have had no previous work Placement Years offer you the experience at all are unlikely to be successful chance to trial a future career before during the selection process for their committing to training or further study. graduate programmes (High Fliers Research 2019).

02 – Durham University durham.ac.uk/careers Placement Year Guide – 03 Your Placement Year Guide Your Placement Year Guide Placement Assessment Year Fee The Placement Year is a pass or fail (aside The tuition fee for your Placement Year will from Chemistry). It does not contribute to be reduced to 20% of the standard fee you your overall degree classification however, would normally pay. it will change your degree title to include “with Placement Year”. As you will remain a registered student of Durham University while on placement, you maintain continued Details of the specific assignments that you need to access to the following: undertake will be provided by your faculty or department. In order to pass you will need to successfully complete • Your student loan and financial support from the 40 weeks placement and have passed the Student Finance England or equivalent summative assignments. • Financial advice and support from the Student Funding Office For whatever reason should you not complete the • Academic support for any on-going assessment and Placement Year your degree will revert back to the for dissertation planning for when you return to study original programme title. • Placement support from your placement tutor If you are a student of Modern Languages and Cultures • A face to face visit or a skype call where possible (MLaC) you will have a separate process for approval of work opportunities abroad and a Target Language • Library facilities including all online resources Research Project [TLRP] to complete. The TLRP is not • Online careers resources provided by the credit-bearing, but a mark for each essay will be shown Careers & Enterprise Centre on your degree transcript. For details and support please • IT support through the online helpdesk contact your Year Abroad Administrator for MLaC. • Support services such as; Student Wellbeing, Counselling and Disability • Immigration and visa support • Continued membership to Durham Student Union and your college.

The Placement Year enabled Requirements Once you have decided to Speak to your faculty placement manager me to begin a professional undertake a Placement Year, about accessing the correct Module Handbook for your department. qualification whilst still a of A Placement you should let your department In general, the requirements are that: student which is extremely Year know as soon as possible within • You must pass all Level 2 modules of your your second year so that they programme (achieving the minimum pass valuable and also influenced can inform you of the next steps. mark for your department) • You must have secured an approved my final year module choices placement of no less than 40 weeks (made up from one long placement, or if for university. your department allows up to a maximum Ellie Hardy, EY Durham University is ranked in the Top 50 of three shorter opportunities) • You must have attended globally for employer reputation (QS World a pre-placement briefing. University Rankings 2019), and is in the Top 10 Those students who have entered the UK institutions targeted by leading graduate university on a four year degree including a Placement Year already i.e. Business and Durham also has the highest recruiters (High Fliers 2019). Management with Placement Year (N203) or Chemistry with Industrial Route (F111) will graduate recruitment rate of any UK not need to change the degree title. university (Destinations of Leavers There may be other requirements specific to your department or programme which from Higher Education Longitudinal you should check in the module handbook Survey 2016). before applying.

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How To Find Securing a Placement Year is Student Employability Fund a competitive process whereby Durham University is ranked in the A Placement you need to pro-actively apply The fund is to enable students from low world top 50 for the employability of income households to participate in Year? for a job. employability and recruitment activities, our students by blue-chip companies by supporting with expenses such as travel, clothing and subsistence: world-wide QS World University Advertised Vacancies: durham.ac.uk/study/ug/finance/uk/ Rankings (2020) Thousands of placements will be advertised scholarships/studentemployability/ Sep as vacancies on company websites, jobs sites and the Student Services Portal Oct where you will apply and be assessed

Recruitment Period alongside other candidates in a competitive Nov application process. Application Process: Dec There are a few prominent websites that are useful for identifying Placement Year The application process can vary from Jan opportunities: company to company. Generally the big • ratemyplacement.co.uk multinational organisations will have several Feb stages starting with an online application or • magnet.me CV upload, followed by video or telephone Mar • indeed.co.uk/student-placement-jobs interview and then face to face interviews Apr • milkround.com and/or assessment centres. As well as many International 5. Depending on your nationality, • targetjobs.co.uk/internships online resources available on the Careers you made need to apply for a visa May • linkedin.com/jobs & Enterprise website, there are specific Placements to work in some countries opportunities across the University to • e4s.co.uk/search/internship-jobs 6. For some placements you may need to Jun practise the face to face elements of You have the option to make be proficient in another language, please the recruitment process check the job description before you You can access the Student Services Portal your Placement Year experience here: careers.dur.ac.uk (see pre-placement support). apply. For additional support, The Centre Jul an international one by working for Foreign Language Study offers a For help with making applications visit: variety of language courses which may be Speculative Applications: outside of the UK. Aug durham.ac.uk/careers/students/jobs/ of benefit:durham.ac.uk/cfls applications An alternative source of opportunities can The Careers & Enterprise Centre Sep be found by completing what is known You can practise online tests here: International placements often take longer has resources available to help start to secure as placements of 40+ weeks are as speculative applications. A speculative durham.ac.uk/careers/students/jobs/ your search Oct application means approaching employers less common however a global experience interviews/psychomet durham.ac.uk/careers/students/

Placement Period that you would be interested in working enables you to combine both work Nov careerplanning/research/outsideuk for directly to enquire whether there are You can access interview experience and cultural immersion making Dec any unadvertised vacancies within their stimulation here: it a unique way to spend a year. organisations. The process typically involves durham.ac.uk/careers/password/students/ Things you need to consider: Jan sending a speculative covering letter and a jobs/interviews/interviews/shortlistme CV to organisations and following up with 1. It’s important to have a professional online Feb a phone call. Your faculty or department will have presence as much of your searching will bespoke ways in promoting interesting be done online, make sure you create a Top Tip Mar Networking: placement opportunities that are relevant LinkedIn profile for you such as via social media and 2. International placements are often Going Global is an online Apr Utilising your existing networks to locate newsletters, make sure you make the most secured using speculative applications resource which provides vacancies and opportunities is a very resourceful way of these resources by signing up. and through utilising networks so it may country specific labour market guides. May to secure a placement offer. Consider take longer than a “standard” application Remember the first time you use exploring contacts within any past work (although there is no such thing when it Jun Going Global you will need to create an experience or close family and friends as comes to applying for placements!) account whilst connected to the Durham they may have the leverage you need to 3. You may want to look at larger UK Jul University server. create a role suitable for a Placement Year. Top Tip companies which have international Aug Use LinkedIn or speak to your department offices or focus your search on a For help using Going Global you can about alumni they are in contact with or Join our LinkedIn group for Placement specific region or industry to find access their user guide online: Year support and opportunities at: smaller organisations Sep colleagues who work in the area you are online.goinglobal.com linkedin.com/groups/13678269 interested in. 4. The role should be of a suitable /training/user-guide or for Science: professional level, your day to day online.goinglobal.com For information on networking visit: linkedin.com/groups/12147668 duties will need to reflect this durham.ac.uk/careers/students/jobs/ graduate/networking

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Pre-Placement Support Accepting an offer In addition to the support If you have been offered a offered through the Careers & Placement Year role, you can Enterprise Centre each faculty start the approval process on has a designated Placement PebblePad by visiting: Here are Manager who is available for v3.pebblepad.co.uk/login/durham some ways consultation appointments. to start your These sessions will enable you This allows your Faculty Placement search to explore options for Placement Manager and department to review your Durham offer, organise some additional checks and Practical Year and provide bespoke generate a contract to ensure you have a Considerations One of the main concerns which students support and guidance. fantastic and safe placement experience. have when deciding whether to do a placement is whether to sign for a house The process will involve confirming that Accommodation with their friends during second year. The The Careers & Enterprise Centre run a range the placement: choice is an individual one but there are a Buddy Up of events and fairs which are attended by • Meets the minimum requirements and When applying for a Placement Year one couple of things to consider: a number of employers who are there to of the things you may want to consider learning objectives set out in your Placement • You may want to avoid signing for a house It may be worth recruit, also providing opportunities to Module Handbook before you begin your search is location asking other placement have your CV checked by a member of and accommodation. Many students may as housing contracts can be difficult to get • Offers work of a professional level similar to out of, in most cases you will need to find students if you would like staff. An extensive programme of support choose to relocate for their Placement to “buddy up” and rent a that of a graduate job someone to take your place and employer events are also aimed Year and will find accommodation house or flat together. • Host organisation provides a named at placement students including mock in the same city where they will be • Speak to your college, if you don’t manage supervisor who will support your workplace interviews, mock assessment centres and working. If you have already secured to secure a placement (which is unlikely!) development and liaise with the University then you may be able to sign up for a room skills workshops. accommodation in Durham, it may be that in college for your final year • Provides you with a safe working you will be searching for a placement at an The Placement Showcases take place each environment that complies with the organisation which is commutable • If you have already signed for a house in November and we invite many placement University’s requirements from Durham. Durham, you can still search for placements HR Department providers to attend the event to promote • Host organisation provides reasonable as there are lots of local employers who and discuss opportunities within their adjustments if you have a disability or health could offer opportunities. You can ask the Human organisations. conditions (where necessary) London Resources department • Complies with the requirements of your visa Council Tax of your host organisation When searching for accommodation in if they can connect as set out by the Home Office, if you are London remember that for some parts • As a student you are exempt from paying you with other International student with a Tier 4 visa. Top Tip of the city it can be just as competitive council tax, this is the same for when you placement finding somewhere to live as securing your students. Once you have accepted a Placement Year are on Placement Year. You will need to Your department may offer a range of placement in the first place! opportunity, we would strongly encourage provide evidence of this with a council tax bespoke workshops and events. Look exemption certificate which you can apply you to withdraw your applications from It can often be quite a fast paced process out for them being advertised and sign for online gov.uk/council-tax/discounts-for- other roles to ensure you maintain a with rooms only being advertised 1-2 up early to avoid disappointment full-time-students professional relationship with other months before they are available. This Friends, Family organisations – you never know who you can sometimes feel a bit daunting if you • You may choose to live with other working and Social Media may be seeking employment with in the manage to secure a placement early on in professionals on placement and although you are exempt, they may still expect you Asking friends and family to future! the academic year and want to organise to contribute to the cost of paying for the share posts on Facebook or your accommodation in advance or if you Completing a year placement has been council tax. LinkedIn may also help you have plans to travel before your placement in your search, especially if invaluable, allowing me to gain skills, starts. For this reason it would be a good you are relocating. idea to put aside some time before your improve employability prospects and placement to look around potential homes. Top Tip give me knowledge of the real working Durham Students’ Union Advice and Help Centre has some great Housing Support Did you know that you can book world. This allowed me to come back to resources available online including a an appointment with your Faculty Searching the Web contract checking tool and a Guide to Placement Manager to discuss anything Durham for my final year, prepared and Living Out in the Community. Some of to do with Placement Years via the Here are just a couple of websites which you can these resources specifically refer to private Student Services Portal? use to start your search: more knowledgeable, able to relate renting accommodation in Durham (either as an individual or a group) but the advice • spareroom.co.uk learning to personal experience. also applies to renting more broadly. • gumtree.com • rightmove.co.uk Ellen Gibson, Aldi See: durhamsu.com/advice-and-support/ housing-support • unitestudents.com

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International Travel and Finance Professional Securing accommodation in Transportation and Funding Etiquette another country can seem a If your placement is in London The tax year runs from April to Your placement is a little daunting however a lot of you are able to apply for a April which means it is likely that professional experience that research can be done online Student Oyster card. You will your Placement Year will cut requires professional attitudes, which can help your search when need to apply on the Transport across the two tax years. an eagerness to learn and you relocate. for London website and the appropriate behaviour. University will then be asked If on a paid placement, you will have to • Use Going Global and read the “Country to confirm that your placement pay income tax and national insurance on For the duration of your placement, you are Career Guides” to understand more about any earnings which are above the personal the accommodation market in that country an employee and therefore will be expected is eligible. allowance amount. You should keep all online.goinglobal.com/training/user-guide to behave like all other employees. Whilst of your financial documents during and • Read the Foreign and Commonwealth no one will expect you to know everything, The placement must be for a minimum of after your placement as in some instances Office “Foreign Travel Advice” for the it is important that you meet certain 14 weeks and must be a mandatory part of you may need to make a claim if you have expectations. During your placement, country you will be relocating to. It provides overpaid. This is something you can specific safety advice which relates to your your course (which approved Placement you should try to: do yourself: chosen country and individual regions/ Years are). When you set up your account to apply for the photocard, you will need • Clarify expectations regarding assigned area of cities which you may be considering gov.uk/claim-tax-refund responsibilities and activities moving to gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to select the ‘Coming to London on a work placement?’ option. We encourage all students to undertake • Demonstrate a positive, • Check with your host organisation about a paid placement but acknowledge that enthusiastic attitude suitable locations to live and reputable tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted- in some sectors there will be limited • Meet deadlines companies which advertise suitable travel/18-plus-student-oyster-photocard accommodation. They may also have a opportunities and you may have to • Avoid office politics and gossip undertake an unpaid Placement Year. Relocation Manager/HR representative who Your host organisation may also be able to • Interact professionally with colleagues, Before going on We would encourage all students to think can offer this assistance to you offer employee travel benefits so make sure customers, and supervisors placement these are some you get in touch with them before signing carefully before accepting an unpaid • You may want to book and stay in a • Follow office policies regarding use of of the things you might up for any season tickets for bus, train or placement and to consider the following: hostel for a couple of weeks before your phones, computers, email, etc. need to condider: placement starts so you can physically go tube/Metro. • As a minimum request expenses that will • Dress appropriately as clarified by look at possible flats and houses rather • Do you know your You may have access to a car whilst on cover travel and subsistence supervisors than committing online (it can also be a route to work? placement and choose to use your car for • If you will be working part-time negotiate great way to meet new people). • Exercise wise time management skills. work. In this instance be mindful that this a shorter working week over a longer Do not be late and if you are for any may affect your insurance and you may duration to ensure a better • Who to meet on reason then apologise. Make sure you allow your first day and need to take additional cover for work/life balance yourself ample travel time to avoid delays at what time? business use. • Download an app such as “Spending • Consult regularly with your supervisor Tracker” and plan what your outgoings If undertaking a placement internationally, and/or placement tutor about your will be each month to work out how much • Organise clothes for your placement will have been approved placement experience. It’s good practice the first couple of days money you will need to live off (don’t forget to do as much as you can and have a list and insurance issued using the VIATOR budget for fun things too!) system. If you plan on taking additional of questions ready when you check in. • Your college may have bursaries/ Communicate your progress and follow • Have a pen and paper trips or extending your stay in a foreign scholarships or other financial support instructions so you can take notes country for travelling purposes then we at meetings available to support you through the • Ask for assistance and advice as needed. would advise you to take out additional application process and whilst out on insurance as you will not be covered by placement. Contact your college support You are still a student of Durham University • Student Oyster card the University travel insurance. team for further information. and as such, you must conduct yourself in (if in London) accordance with the policies of Durham • For some unpaid placements you may be University. eligible for “special cases” funding if you are • Lunch arrangements in receipt of support from the Student Loans (bring snacks if Company. For more information download necessary!) Top Tip the Placement Year finance factsheet. Download our Placement Year finance • Make sure you get to Download the Global Risk factsheet here: durham.ac.uk/careers/ work on time for your Manager app from Drum students/jobs/workexperience/placements first day (and every Cussac to your phone and day after that!) keep up to date with the If you are in receipt of a loan from latest travel advice and Student Finance England or equivalent alerts for the country you it is likely that the amount you received are in. on your Placement Year will be different.

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The average Placement Durham University Year salary across the 52% of placement is ranked UK is students who graduated in 2019 achieved a first class honours degree compared 78th £17,574 with 13% for students in the QS World who did not complete a University Rankings Placement Year (Rate my Placement) (2020) (Durham University Business School)

61% Two In 2018 54% of 30 mil Over 2/5 of voluntary sector professionals join graduate hires for the companies have of employers offer workers in 2018 were LinkedIn every Top Undergraduate LinkedIn profiles. placements for employed in workplaces second. Employers comprised undergraduates. with less than 50 of previous placement employees (LinkedIn) students and interns. (High Fliers)

(NCVO)

SMEs account for Durham placement Five years 59% students have worked around from now, over one-third of graduate hires from all over the world, of skills (35%) that are companies in Rate including Europe, Asia My Placement’s Top considered important in and in the USA. 99% Undergraduate Employers of Britain’s 5m today’s workforce will last year were students businesses. have changed. that had completed an internship or Placement (World Economic Forum) (Business Population Year during their degree Estimates)

The North East of England is home to over 67,000 companies, and experienced one of the highest growth rates in company numbers in recent years, second only to London.

(Invest North East)

Students who go abroad Durham remains in the Students who go abroad are 20% top 10 are 19% less likely to be out universities most more likely to get a 1st in of work when they targeted by the largest their degree compared graduate than those number of graduate with those who don’t. who did not. employers. (UUKi’s Go International report) (UUKi’s Go International report) (High Fliers)

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are under no obligation to do so. However Careers & Enterprise to ensure compliance with UK Visas & Useful Whilst you are on placement, Before going on if you do choose to tell them you will be Immigration (UKVI) regulations. you are a registered student placement, please make University protected by the Equality Act 2010. You can access the Careers & Enterprise and, as such are entitled to service throughout your Placement Year The Student Immigration Service has sure you: Disability Support can provide you dedicated Immigration Advisors who contacts make use of the full range of via phone, email, in person or skype. with advice and support in a range of Opening times are 9am-5pm, Monday to are the only official provider of visa and • Complete all relevant professional support services areas, including: Friday all year round including vacation immigration advice in the University and sections on Pebblepad advice should not be taken from any that the university has to offer. • Guidance on obtaining diagnostic evidence times. The Careers website is also a great comprehensive resource, covering a broad other source. • Inform your This includes: • Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) department and range of career related topics including If you are an international student you and other disability funding, such as college charitable trusts career planning, employability skills and CV may be required to extend your visa if writing which you may find useful during undertaking a Placement Year, and we Student Experience and Welfare Support • Advice on how to access support • Share key contact your time away. would advise you to contact the Student • Liaising with other staff about setting up details with the Immigration Office in this case. As a Durham student you’ll find a wide support, including Departmental Disability You can book in with one of the University and family support network available at the University. Representatives (DDR) experienced Careers Advisors for tailored For more information and to contact the For more information please check website • Signposting to other services, including support and guidance during any point of Immigration office please check website • Check your University for details: durham.ac.uk/ those at the University and externally, your Placement Year, or upon your return for details: durham.ac.uk/immigration emails during experience/support such as the NHS, Social Services ahead of preparing for future applications placement departments etc in your final year. Colleges • Advice about what the University can do • Take out health For more information please check website Contact Details to support you for details: insurance For further information on placement Remember to stay in contact with your The Careers & Enterprise website has a (international durham.ac.uk/careers/students/ years, please contact your Faculty college who each have a welfare officer wide range of resources and diversity placements) careerplanning/appointments Placement Manager at: and can be a great source of support guides available to support students here: whilst searching for placements and out on Tel: 0191 334 1437 artsandhumanities.placements • Register for University durham.ac.uk/careers/students/ placement itself should you need it. @durham.ac.uk and pay tuition fees careerplanning/diversity Email: [email protected] business.placements For more information please check the @durham.ac.uk • Get in touch with your Student Funding Office placement tutor after As an intern, I expected relatively low website for details: [email protected] the first two weeks responsibility, however, when there durham.ac.uk/disability.support The Finance department are here to help socialsciences.placements you to keep your financial affairs with the @durham.ac.uk Tel: 0191 334 8115 was work to be done I was the first they University in an order whilst you are out Email: [email protected] on a Placement Year. This could include relied on. For the most part, I was a information on tuition fees, maintenance Counselling Service loans, travel grants and bursaries. There are fully-fledged member of the team. I firmly a range of resources online for you believe they took my opinions to heart Some employers may offer a workplace to access. counselling service which you could access For more information please check website and listened to what I had to say. whilst on placement, you may wish to use for details: this to help manage any difficulties that Takaki Lievre, Healthy Tokyo are impacting your successful engagement durham.ac.uk/treasurer/students within your Placement Year. Disability Support Tel: 0191 334 6292 If this service is not on offer you can If you have a disability, health condition or Email: financialsupport.undergraduate@ contact the University’s counselling service, learning difficultly such as dyslexia, you durham.ac.uk who are a team of trained and experienced may require some reasonable adjustments practitioners available all year round to when applying for a Placement Year or registered students via self-referral. Student Immigration Office whilst you are out on placement. We would encourage you to tell your prospective For more information please check website The Student Immigration Service employer so that these adjustments can be for details: provides advice for international students made. It is understandable that you may looking to enter or extend their leave to durham.ac.uk/counselling.service not wish to talk about the nature of your remain in the UK to study. It works with disability to your employers and you Email: [email protected] departments across the University

14 – Durham University durham.ac.uk/careers Placement Year Guide – 15 Careers & Enteprise Centre Durham University Palatine Centre Stockton Road Durham DH1 3LE Telephone +44 (0)191 334 2000 duram.ac.uk/careers

Careers@Durham University

@careersatdurham @careersatdurham CUR/07/19/093