Placement year help

10

Hi guys, for those who are applying for placement year this year, have already got an offer or have recently finished one, could you explain the process of how appilcations work? I'm studying Sociology at university and most people i know study finance, business and engineering and are most likely applying for an internship through big companies like jp morgan and etc.I have a few options of where to apply for example one of them is a sixth form since i already have work experince in primary school, but I was thinking about simply just emailing them and sending my cv and cover letter? Not sure if this is the right way to do it. Also if i am not getting paid for it, what is the student finance situation?

Reply 1

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

18

Original post

by Kinderbueno505

Hi guys, for those who are applying for placement year this year, have already got an offer or have recently finished one, could you explain the process of how appilcations work? I'm studying Sociology at university and most people i know study finance, business and engineering and are most likely applying for an internship through big companies like jp morgan and etc.I have a few options of where to apply for example one of them is a sixth form since i already have work experince in primary school, but I was thinking about simply just emailing them and sending my cv and cover letter? Not sure if this is the right way to do it. Also if i am not getting paid for it, what is the student finance situation?

Hi @Kinderbueno505

I'm a biochemist, who did a placement year 2023-2024. I applied for placements at biotechnology companies advertised through their websites. I didn't have to do too much searching for these as my department sent out a weekly newsletter of opportunities, but I think there are also a lot of websites that keep track of new placement openings. Your department's careers team will likely have a list of previous locations that students went on placement which can give you more ideas on where to go.

In terms of applications, I usually had to submit a CV and cover letter and I'd have an interview. Sometimes I had to answer some application questions, or complete an online assessment centre as well.

At Lancaster they really don't like us taking unpaid placements (there may be exceptions but I don't work in careers). I don't know what conditions your university will have for placements, but it might be worth checking with your department. In terms of student finance, you will have to pay reduced tuition fees to the university, which SF will cover as usual, and you can take out a reduced maintenance loan. I didn't need to take out a maintenance loan during my placement year as my salary covered all my costs.

The fun thing about a placement is that it doesn't have to be related to your degree! I know someone else with a bioscience degree who did their placement year at Disney. If you're looking at "creating" a placement opportunity, rather than applying for one that's already open, your careers team will probably have some great advice on cold emailing companies!

Good luck with your applications!
Rebecca (Lancaster Student Ambassador)

Reply 2

University of Salford Student Rep

Official Rep

13

Original post

by Kinderbueno505

Hi guys, for those who are applying for placement year this year, have already got an offer or have recently finished one, could you explain the process of how appilcations work? I'm studying Sociology at university and most people i know study finance, business and engineering and are most likely applying for an internship through big companies like jp morgan and etc.I have a few options of where to apply for example one of them is a sixth form since i already have work experince in primary school, but I was thinking about simply just emailing them and sending my cv and cover letter? Not sure if this is the right way to do it. Also if i am not getting paid for it, what is the student finance situation?

Hey,

It’s great that you’re thinking ahead and exploring your options for a placement year, especially in a subject like Sociology where routes into work can sometimes feel a bit less structured compared to fields like business or engineering. But rest assured, there are lots of meaningful opportunities out there, it’s just about knowing how to approach them.

As someone who's gone through this process, I can say that not all placements are listed through big recruitment portals like they are in corporate sectors. It’s really common (and totally valid!) to find or create your own placement by reaching out directly to organisations. So yes, your idea of emailing the sixth form and attaching your CV and cover letter is absolutely the right kind of approach. If you already have experience in education, building on that can be a really smart move and schools, charities, and social impact organisations are often very open to hosting placement students, especially if you’re proactive and show genuine interest in what they do.

When it comes to applying, here’s a rough outline of the process:

1.

Typically starts with filling out an application accompanied by your CV and cover letter.

2.

Next you might have to do some psychometric tests, these typically measure your ability, aptitude, and personality.

3.

You might then have an informal interview, typically a phone call with a recruiter.

4.

The final stage is mostly an interview or assessment centre.

Here are some of my tips:

1.

Do your research: Look for local organisations, charities, policy groups, schools, or even councils that align with your interests in sociology (education, social care, research, community work etc).

2.

Send a tailored CV and cover letter: Address it personally if you can, explain why you’re interested in them specifically, what skills you bring, and what you hope to gain.

3.

Be proactive and follow up: It’s okay to send a follow-up email a week or two later if you don’t hear back.

4.

Use your university’s placement team: They might not advertise the same roles as for other subjects, but they can help you refine your CV, draft emails, or even reach out to organisations on your behalf. Salford has an amazing careers team, so look for a similar service at your University.

5.

Network: Talk to lecturers or tutors who may have connections in sectors like research or social policy.

If your placement is unpaid, you’re still eligible for Student Finance Maintenance Loan. If it’s a credit bearing yearlong placement, your tuition fee might also be reduced. Always double check with your university’s finance team, they’ll confirm how the funding looks based on your course and placement type.

Finally, don’t feel discouraged by what other students are doing in more ‘corporate’ fields. A placement in sociology can be just as impactful (if not more) when it aligns with your interests and future goals. Whether it’s in education, research, advocacy or something else entirely, what matters most is the experience and how you reflect on it later.

You’re definitely on the right track.

Good luck 😊
Arslan – University of Salford Student Representative

(edited 8 months ago)

Reply 3

Phoneetc

10

Original post

by Kinderbueno505

Hi guys, for those who are applying for placement year this year, have already got an offer or have recently finished one, could you explain the process of how appilcations work? I'm studying Sociology at university and most people i know study finance, business and engineering and are most likely applying for an internship through big companies like jp morgan and etc.I have a few options of where to apply for example one of them is a sixth form since i already have work experince in primary school, but I was thinking about simply just emailing them and sending my cv and cover letter? Not sure if this is the right way to do it. Also if i am not getting paid for it, what is the student finance situation?

you're still entitled to student finance, but you're capped at a certain amount of around 2k?(double check this). because there aren't many placement schemes I would say just to apply to everywhere and anywhere that you can actually see yourself working in. make sure to double check degree requirements obviously.

For your 6th form, I'd email them asking if they have year in industry/placement schemes and if possible to direct you to a place to apply. I wouldn't send a cv or cover letter at the first email unless you have been told otherwise by the school

Reply 4

Kingston Zhi En

Official Rep

11

Original post

by Kinderbueno505

Hi guys, for those who are applying for placement year this year, have already got an offer or have recently finished one, could you explain the process of how appilcations work? I'm studying Sociology at university and most people i know study finance, business and engineering and are most likely applying for an internship through big companies like jp morgan and etc.I have a few options of where to apply for example one of them is a sixth form since i already have work experince in primary school, but I was thinking about simply just emailing them and sending my cv and cover letter? Not sure if this is the right way to do it. Also if i am not getting paid for it, what is the student finance situation?

Hiya @Kinderbueno505 , I am a design student who has just finished my placement year 😚 aside from a few connections through the university, a majority of the application process is reaching out to companies you are interested to work for on your own. I would usually prepare a tailored CV and cover letter to each relevant company asking for possible internship opportunities. You should also contact your Uni's course leader, Careers Services or Work Placement team to see if they have any recommendations or connections from past student internships. I hope this helps and I wish you all the best for your placement year ahead 🤗

Zhi En
(Kingston Student Rep.)

Reply 5

Kinderbueno505

OP

10

Original post

by Lancaster Student Ambassador

Hi @Kinderbueno505
I'm a biochemist, who did a placement year 2023-2024. I applied for placements at biotechnology companies advertised through their websites. I didn't have to do too much searching for these as my department sent out a weekly newsletter of opportunities, but I think there are also a lot of websites that keep track of new placement openings. Your department's careers team will likely have a list of previous locations that students went on placement which can give you more ideas on where to go.
In terms of applications, I usually had to submit a CV and cover letter and I'd have an interview. Sometimes I had to answer some application questions, or complete an online assessment centre as well.
At Lancaster they really don't like us taking unpaid placements (there may be exceptions but I don't work in careers). I don't know what conditions your university will have for placements, but it might be worth checking with your department. In terms of student finance, you will have to pay reduced tuition fees to the university, which SF will cover as usual, and you can take out a reduced maintenance loan. I didn't need to take out a maintenance loan during my placement year as my salary covered all my costs.
The fun thing about a placement is that it doesn't have to be related to your degree! I know someone else with a bioscience degree who did their placement year at Disney. If you're looking at "creating" a placement opportunity, rather than applying for one that's already open, your careers team will probably have some great advice on cold emailing companies!
Good luck with your applications!
Rebecca (Lancaster Student Ambassador)

Thank you very much for the advice Rebecca!

Placement year help

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