Year In Employment Placements

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Getting the most out of your degree goes beyond the lecture theatre; it’s also about gaining real, hands-on experience. A Year in Employment Placement gives you the chance to put your knowledge into practice, build professional skills, and gain valuable workplace experience in an industry of your choice. Not only will you graduate with a degree, but you’ll also be better prepared and more confident as you take your next step into your professional career.

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A Year in Employment Placement will extend your degree by a year, and if successful, you’ll graduate with the Year in Employment on your transcript. For eligibility and further details, please .

* and Southampton Business School placements are organised directly through their Faculty.

Learn more about how the Year in Employment works and where to start your placement search through our online handbook

Register Your Interest

Speak to a Work Experience Adviser about taking a placement year and get support to help you secure a role

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How could a Year in Employment Placement benefit you?

Increase your chances of securing a graduate role
99% of students who have completed a Year in Employment secured a 2:1 degree or higher
Valuable experience to demonstrate to future employers
The opportunity to work in a chosen field of interest and find out if it's right for you
Opportunity to grow your professional network
Most placements are paid with the national average salary at £20,300

“My Year in Employment Placement has given me time to think about what I enjoy doing and what I want to pursue in the long run. It’s also given me the opportunity to network with entrepreneurs, explore ventures and travel, undoubtedly giving me a clearer vision for my future”

��Ƭ out more

Eligibility
How does it work?
During your placement
Support we offer
Apply here
Current Year in Employment Placement opportunities

��Eligibility

Full-time undergraduate students, including those studying on a Student Visa, from eligible courses can undertake a Year in Employment Placement. International students considering taking a Year in Employment should contact the Visa and Immigration Student Advice Service in the first instance for further information and guidance.

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You must pass your second year at the first attempt to be eligible for a Year in Employment.��

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In order to qualify for a Year in Employment Placement, a role must fulfil the following criteria:

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For paid placements you must complete a minimum of 1050 hours - not including annual leave. This is equivalent to a 9-month full-time placement.
For unpaid placements you must complete a minimum of 840 hours - not including annual leave. Those on unpaid placements are permitted to work a 3 or 4 day week (minimum 21hrs per week) to allow extra time for paid part-time work.
The placement role must be beneficial to your long-term career goals and would normally require a degree-level qualification for permanent employment.

��How does it work?

Students are responsible for securing their own placements, however, support from Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise is available throughout this process. All placements are undertaken after the second year of study (this applies to students on both 3 and 4-year degree programmes).�� We recommend that you begin considering a placement during your first year of study, as many placement vacancies open in the autumn of your second year. To discuss all aspects of a Year in Employment, you can .

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During the placement year, students are only required to pay 20% of the usual tuition fee and will continue to remain an enrolled student at the University.��

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Year in Employment Placement opportunities are advertised on ��or you can source your own placements elsewhere (see the information under Apply here). If you are considering or searching for a placement, you can contact our Work Experience Advisers for further guidance and support: workexp@southampton.ac.uk.

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Step 1: ��Ƭ and secure a suitable placement. Please ensure that placements fulfil the eligibility criteria. We cannot approve placements that do not fulfil these requirements. Contact the Work Experience Team if you are unsure of a role's suitability.
Step 2: Notify the Work Experience Team of your role, job description and offer letter. You will then be invited to an Induction, where you will be guided through completing a Risk Assessment.
Step 3: Once your role is confirmed, the Work Experience Team will notify your faculty and change your course to include "with a Year in Employment".��
Step 4: You begin your placement after your second-year semester 2 exams. You must pass these exams at the first attempt to continue with your placement.

��During your placement

During your placement, the University will be in regular contact to ensure everything runs smoothly. In order to successfully complete your Year in Employment Placement, you will need to complete the following:

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Complete a check-in call with the Work Experience Team and return an induction checklist to us within your first month – this helps us to ensure you have received the appropriate health and��safety training for your role.
Liaise with the Work Experience Team to organise your placement visit within the first 4 months.
Complete six optional blogs, tracking your progress throughout the year, which will help to form your reflective report.
Update us if there are any changes to your placement or personal circumstances.
Submit a reflective report of up to 3500 words, evidencing your fulfilment of the learning outcomes.
Complete our feedback forms upon completion of your placement to help improve the programme for future students.

��Support we offer

Before your placement:

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Contact the Work Experience Team through , or to discuss finding and applying for placements
Utilise our Ask the Adviser��and appointments to improve your CV and applications

During your placement:

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As an enrolled student you will be able to access all university services remotely, or in person if you remain in Southampton
The Work Experience Team will support you throughout your placement including two check-in calls and a visit
Access 24/7 support from the Student Hub

After your placement:

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A reunion event for you to catch up with other students and staff before you return for your next year of studying
Continued support and access to opportunities through Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise

��Apply here

Placement opportunities are listed on and you can find additional resources through our . You can also source your own placements from elsewhere. Some useful sites are:

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Google search for specific roles��
Individual organisation websites
��Check below for current opportunities

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