degree with placement year

hi can anyone share opinion on placement year if you have any experiences?
or anyone that know more about placement year can advise me if i shld take a placement year.
thanks so much !

Reply 1

PS Reviewer

It depends on the subject you're studying
For some subjects a placement will be difficult to find and extremely difficult to find a worthwhile placement....for others a placement is the key thing

Reply 2

Kingston Reps

Official Rep

Original post by jeannnnnn

hi can anyone share opinion on placement year if you have any experiences?
or anyone that know more about placement year can advise me if i shld take a placement year.
thanks so much !

Hi! I’m currently a second-year student about to apply for my placement year, so I thought I’d share what I’ve learned so far and why I think it’s a great opportunity.

A placement year can be a fantastic way to gain real-world experience in your field. Here are a few benefits I’ve come across:

Practical experience – You get to apply what you’ve learned in your degree to a professional setting, which makes the theory much more relatable.

Boosts employability – Employers value candidates with work experience. Having a placement on your CV can make you stand out after graduation.

Builds confidence and skills – It’s a great chance to develop soft skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, as well as technical skills specific to your field.

Networking opportunities – A placement year can help you connect with professionals in your industry, and sometimes even lead to job offers after graduation.

That said, placements can be competitive, so it’s worth starting early. Research companies that align with your career goals and polish your CV and cover letters. Most universities, including mine, have dedicated career services to help with applications.

If you’re unsure whether to take one, I’d recommend asking yourself:

•

Do you want to gain experience in your industry before graduating?

•

Would you benefit from taking a break from academic study to work in a professional environment?

•

Do you feel ready to take on the challenge of balancing work responsibilities?

For me, the answer to these was a definite yes, which is why I’m going for it. Let me know if you have any specific questions—I’d be happy to help!

Best of luck deciding! 😊

Anushka
Kingston Student Rep

Reply 3

University of Bath

Official Rep

Hiya there OP,

I personally would recommend taking a placement year course because of all the above reasons. It is the chance to do something fun and different for a year, plus it gives you benefits such as experience (sometimes paid!), personal/professional growth, and adds its weight in gold to your graduate CV as most graduates will not have done this. It may even help you get your foot in the door to future employment with the company you end up with if you do something that interests you!

When I did my placement year I very much enjoyed the opportunity to do something different and it gave me some great extra experience I could add to my CV and talk about at job interviews after my graduation.

That being said, it won't be right for everyone and you are the best judge of whether it would be the right option for you. For example, often people move away for their placements and so you could end up in a brand new environment for a year potentially away from your friend network, and also you will need to consider that you may need to cover some costs such as your travel and accommodation.

I would definitely recommend it! However its worth writing a pros and cons list to see if its the right thing for you.

Hope this helps, best of luck in deciding!

Holly
University of Bath