Year in industry worth it for a mature student?

How do other mature students feel about doing the extra year in industry as part of their degree?

I'm 34 and I'll be starting a computer science degree in September. So I'm faced with the prospects of graduating at 37 for a 3 year degree, or 38 if I took the year in industry.

My reservations for doing the year in industry is it will take me a year longer to graduate and I'm already no spring chicken, it will be additional debt for the year extra fees, and the typical placement pays less than I earn working part time now.

Does an industrial year make you that much more employable that it's worth doing, or as a mature student with a healthy work history already behind me would it be more beneficial to get my degree sooner and into real work?

Reply 1

dragonkeeper999

Original post by BigYoSpeck

Not a mature student but know quite a few so thought I'd give my two cents...

Personally, I feel like the year in industry scheme is more about getting work experience as a young person who'd never had a relevant job before. However, if your previous jobs were relevant to computer science there would not be much benefit to spending another year doing the same thing for less pay, and even if it was in a different industry you will have gained a lot of transferable skills.

However, one advantage of the scheme is that many students then get offered graduate jobs with the company they did their placement year with - which could also be helpful for you.

To be honest, I'd say don't bother - as you've already said, it's a bit of a waste of time and money. You can easily get internships/ summer projects with relevant companies during your standard three year degree, thus getting the potential benefits of a job offer from the company without having to waste a whole year.

Reply 2

BigYoSpeck

Original post by dragonkeeper999

To be honest, I'd say don't bother - as you've already said, it's a bit of a waste of time and money. You can easily get internships/ summer projects with relevant companies during your standard three year degree, thus getting the potential benefits of a job offer from the company without having to waste a whole year.

Hey, thanks for the feedback.

To be honest this is how I'm leaning at present. The industrial year seems to be mostly about introducing younger students who perhaps have only ever had casual jobs into a working environment to help them not be one of the graduates who struggle to find work.

I'd be interested to hear from any computer science graduates who skipped the industrial placement and how challenging they found it to secure their first job?

Reply 3

Nick1621

I'm going to be studying electrical engineering in sept so the course I'm on has an option to study a placement year. I'll be mid thirties when/if I pass the course.

I'm leaning not to do it, although depending on where the placement might be ( and where it might lead - which is impossible to tell) I might do it. ie massive company / specialist area like research

What uni are going? I'm going Mmu. Looking forward to it!

Reply 4

BigYoSpeck

Original post by Nick1621

Leeds.

You raise an interesting point about a placement with a particularly interesting placement opportunity. When I went to Manchester's open day they highlighted a CS graduate who did his placement with Red Bull Racing, I could see myself going through it for an opportunity like that.

I guess that's a factor to include if it's with someone I would have a passion for or that would open future doors rather than some faceless corporation.

Thanks

Reply 5

Nick1621

I'm just going to try and get my foot in the door anywhere.

Even if it meant doing a less than ideal job in massive company then id do it. Just because of the contacts I could make on the placement. The placement is really an opportunity to get a job.

It's not just the placement though,even when I finish. If there was an engineering firm that employed worldwide and I had to take a job as a packer initially I probably do it also.

Reply 6

loooopppyyy

Generally the University will encourage you to apply for placements on your second year, if you apply for a 3 year degree the option will always be open to extend it to a placement degree if you change your mind, best thing to do is complete the first year, if you get exceptional results then you can apply for good placements, if you don't then maybe just continue with the 3 year degree instead.