Guaranteed work experience - University of Staffordshire

Graduates who've secured relevant work experience alongside their study are more likely to get the job they want. That’s why we guarantee the opportunity of work experience for all on-campus, full time undergraduate students.

Work experience may be closely linked to your course, or you could choose a broader experience outside of your studies to develop your employability skills.

With jobs and placements in the UK and internationally, one size doesn’t fit all. Your work experience maybe part of your course’s connections, obtained through your academic school or the Career and Personal Development Team. Or it might be something you organise yourself. No matter how you find it, we’ll help ensure it gives you the real hands-on learning your career needs.

Benefits of work experience

Work experience expands your knowledge outside of your studies. You'll also pick up skills to enrich your time at university and ensure that you leave Staffordshire with the expertise to succeed in your future career.

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Types of work experience

Professional placement

Professional placements (or "industrial work placements") are usually mandatory and tied into the course structure. Nursing and PGCE teacher training are examples of professional placements in which students receive direct experience of their future career as part of their course.

Sandwich placement

A sandwich placement is a work experience opportunity which forms part of the University degree programme and is usually the third year, of a four year course. It adds to your experience and is an integral part of the course itself.

Short or serial placement

Placements give students professional development whilst studying at the same time. A short placement is work experience for a fixed period of time and a serial placement is work experience on a regular, on-going basis.

Internship

An internship is an opportunity offered by an employer, to work at a firm for a fixed period of time (this could be paid or unpaid). Interns are usually undergraduates or recent graduates and most internships last between a week and four months.

Voluntary work

Volunteering is working without payment or reward and is usually done for a good cause or charity. Volunteering can be done as a one-off experience, such as supporting an event or on a regular basis.

Hear from our students

Work placement at Airbus Space and Defence

Video

Business Management student, Eleri Turner, talks about her experience after completing a year-long work placement in the project management office at Airbus Space and Defence

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Nesta Shingler - Engineering Design Placement

Video

Nesta tells us about his experience on his technical work placement which he secured through Unitemps, University of Staffordshire's in house recruitment agency.

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With the great placement year I had the opportunity to gain real industry experience.

University of Staffordshire taught me both professional and personal skills. With the great placement year I had the opportunity to gain real industry experience, which meant I gained a lot of knowledge both involving programming but also professional and personal skills that I could bring back, and become a much better student.

Anna Ljungberg

Codemasters

My confidence and communication skills have definitely grown

Taking a placement has given me the opportunity to develop my skills and the confidence to explore the career path that I would like to follow. My confidence and communication skills have definitely grown throughout the year.

Idris Alsharaff

Business Management

Terms and conditions

Basis of the guarantee

All students have the opportunity to participate in work experience while studying at University of Staffordshire. For some students satisfactory completion of specified work experience is a necessary part of their award. For others work experience is an option which students may elect to undertake or decline to undertake.

Students do not have the right to participate in a particular type of work experience, to work experience in a field directly related to the subject being studied, or to work experience related to their career ambitions or preferred location. We will endeavour to provide a range of opportunities wherever possible.

Limitations

All students are offered the opportunity of work experience. In some cases participation will be subject to satisfactory references, interview or an assessment undertaken by an employer or on their behalf. The guarantee does not extend to those cases where a student is not accepted by an employer, or where an employer curtails the work experience during the student's participation for any reason.

Visa students

Restrictions may apply to overseas students on visas. Please seek advice from the International Student Support team before making any arrangements by emailing isa@staffs.ac.uk.