Are sandwich courses disruptive to the university experience?

fbrep2012

A few of the courses I am applying to have a compulsory year in industry in the third year, then a final year of studying after that. By the time I come back, most of your house mates would have most likely graduated as well as a majority of the friends I made in the first two years. My worry is that when I come back, finding house mates again would be difficult as most of my house mates in second year would have left. Is this likely to be a problem?

Also, roughly how much is the salary for a sandwich degree placement?

Thanks

Reply 1

HelenaBeat

Whatever you do, still do the placement! When you graduate having done a year in the industry you are in much better position than other graduates who just did a 3 year course without/or little work experience

You can still make friends in the last years and keep in contact with the friends you've made during the previous years.
Regarding the house thing, you can flat share and find flatmates that way, you can friends with them. You can also make friends with your course mates and share a flat/house together

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Reply 2

Helloworld_95

Depending on your uni, a lot of students may be doing 4 year degrees anyway as integrated masters are quite common in sciences and engineering so I guess try and make friends with them so you'll have a house for fourth year. If you don't manage to do that there may be other ways of finding housemates at your uni or you could even rent a one bedroom flat by yourself.

Salary is going to depend on where you work and which field you go into.

Reply 3

nb2508

The answer is not a yes/no and depends entirely on how you look at it

YES - IT IS DISRUPTIVE

- If your social life revolves around people in the same year as you, they will have graduated when you return.

- If you're a fairly rigid person and are well set in the lecture-study-exam zone, you may find after your work placement, you don't like being back in the classroom.

NO - IT IS NOT DISRUPTIVE

- For everyone else, A year older, a year wiser. You will probably get a better grade (or an improved mark) then if you'd gone straight to your final year.

- A year is a long time in student world, and you may find you've matured alot more, you may start doing things a little bit differently.

- Having work experience in a professional setting will work wonders when you graduate and you won't find the struggle to find a job as hard as not having any at all

Reply 4

simplylldxo

I personally think these Sandwich Degrees add more to the university experience; not only will you get a degree but you'll get a year long work experience which will be beneficial to your later working life. As for socialising, that won't be affect as you'll make new friends whilst on the placement (they could be there for the exact reason) but that doesn't mean you'll stop contact with your Uni friends! There will be chances to visit them :smile:

If you've got the opportunity to do a placement; you should do it as you may end up regretting not doing so!

Reply 5

Nymthae

You'll meet other students doing placements usually. It's not uncommon for universities to plonk people on year out courses in same lab cohorts (if applicable), or tutorial groups/seminars, so they do meet other students.

Salaries, on average, i'd wager will be 13k-16k with potential for higher (my housemate got 19k, for instance). Obviously if it's in London then add a premium, but the sector can make a difference and area of the industry - so oil companies will typically pay more in the chemical sector, than a pharma.

I'm living with two students who went on a year out (Erasmus exchange, and a placement) and one girl who hasn't been out on placement. At worst? find some other third/fourth/master's students. You don't have to be best friends to live together, as long as everyone is considerate you can go about doing your own thing.

Reply 6

sr90

Volunteer Team

I think work placements should be offered to everyone regardless of what course they study. If I had the opportunity to undertake one, I would have taken it without any hesitation.

A few of my friends did industrial years, they all loved it and the experience really benefitted them. They've made new friends, they're well off financially and they'll be in a much better position to find a job when their degree ends. This is completely different to graduates like me who are struggling to find a 'proper' job because they don't have any ''relevant experience''.

One of my friends moved 200 miles away for her sandwich year and she's had the best year of her life. She's far more confident & mature, made a good group of friends, found a relationship... it's the best thing that could have happened to her. She got a third in 2nd year and probably would have got the same if she went straight to 3rd year. However I honestly think she'll end up with a high 2.1 now, because her mindset is completely different.

As for the housing issue? Some of your friends will be doing 4th years, others will also have done placements, some will remain in the area after graduating like me. You'll be fine.

Original post by fbrep2012

Reply 7

SillyEddy

It's not especially disruptive. I study mechanical engineering and I'm on an industrial placement year - So are many other people from my year.

You're typically not guaranteed work depending on the course, but more than enough people will be doing it. Of my two other house mates, one is on a placement too (so it's not an issue finding accommodation in the final year). I also have half a dozen other friends on placements as well.

If you join societies, you'll meet plenty of people from other years anyway - Over half my buddies are in a different year and/or different course.

The salary for a placement year varies hugely on the course and also the companies available. Some people will end up doing it for free or even to a loss. In engineering, it's around £14k-£17k but it depends on the company. You can get a partial student loan as well so that helps to cover some things. Depending on your university you may still be charged the fees or at a reduced rate.

It is highly beneficial though. I have learned a lot in a short space of time which will make me a lot better when I return to university. You can get a glimpse of how the industry actually operates and what technologies and methodologies are in place. For example, I now have a better idea of what tolerances are possible through the various process types and I have a better scope for how projects are actually run and the commitments involved.

It also greatly helps to get a job in the future and many people are offered a job by that company during their placement too. It's worth looking at and you can change your mind in the second year if you decide not to go for it.