Can somebody explain uni things to me?

Don’t worry about placements before you’ve got to uni! My course is similar to yours, a 4 year intrgrated masters with a placement year. I have just completed my third year and am about to go on placement. I didn’t start applying until the start of this year. So don’t worry about it until the year before you’re aiming to go out on placement. I’m sure your uni will also provide support on how to apply and advice.

If your placement's after 2nd year, you'll apply at the start of 2nd year. I've just finished 2nd year of uni and I've never heard of anyone applying for anything in 1st year. You won't have to worry about it for a while and you'll likely receive a lot of support from your department.

At Sheffield Hallam university I study Computer Science and we apply for the placement in our third year in our second year. This makes the most sense and I would assume most universities do this as employers can see your first year results and get an idea of what you're capable of.

Hi yes I’m going to Sheffield Hallam too! 😁 yes I understand that now definitely .

Oh cool, that's awesome! I'm happy to talk to you in PMs or something else about freshers and other stuff if you want? I'm going to be a second year but I wouldn't mind helping you out or possibly seshing with you haha.

I'm glad you understand freshers a bit better now. You have nothing to worry about.

not trying to cause a panic but Biology placements are low in supply and high in demand, I would honestly try and make friends with someone in the industry as soon as you can, don't bother applying online cuz you'll be a feather in the wind. The only placements that are 'plentiful' are the Engineering type ones where your degree is specifically tailored to the job i.e. a Software Engineering student will easily get a placement that has the job title 'Software Engineer' but how many job titles have you seen that are called 'Biologist'? You gonna need a foot in the door as they say, and I'm telling you this out of love. If your planning to down the hospital/medicine route then that's a different story

Yeah I totally get what ur saying. But more than looking for jobs labelled “biologist” I’m thinking and hoping from those I’ve spoke to on the degree that you specialise in a subject you like the most rather than biology as a whole. Say microbiology, research, allsorts. It does give u a good knowledge on loads of topics so I’m hoping I find something I enjoy most. But I’m old enough to know how to go out and get something too 😁 not sure how I’ll make contacts in the industry at first as I won’t know anyone.. but where I see opportunities I will take them best I can.

heya

I'm currently doing my masters at Uni of Sheffield- in the lab I'm in for my project (and multiple others around the uni) there are a lot of SHU placement students. They applied over their second year

Thanks for the reply what did you do for your degree?

I did Biological sciences at UEA now doing Translational Oncology

Aww thanks that’s awesome!!!! I’m not living in so I don’t wanna miss out on all the freshers stuff I have no idea what happens 😂

Hey @Ridinghigh95


Good luck with your course. I'd try not to worry too much about your placement year- you will be told about all this when you get to uni.

If you like- I can introduce you to the course leader for Biology and they can tell you more about this?

Thanks,
Bridget

Unless you don't attend any sort of lessons or have missed a class which may have been important, everything should be explained to you and you should not have anything to worry about. If you do miss something because you weren't aware then it's really acceptable to complain and you should be given some space to make up for it. Worrying is the worst thing you can do because it eats up valuable emotions.