Year in Industry
A Year in Industry placement is a great way for students to apply the knowledge gained during their first two years of study.
The Year in Industry (also referred to as a placement) allows undergraduate students to complete up to one year of engineering work experience as part of their degree.
Completed between a student's second and third year of study, the Year in Industry is a valuable opportunity for students to actively apply their engineering knowledge, develop technical skills, and enhance their essential skills in a professional work environment.
The skills, experience, and knowledge gained during an industrial placement, as well as exposure to professional networks and varied job roles, are invaluable in supporting our students' future employment.
Which students are eligible for a Year in Industry?
Undergraduate students (BEng and MEng) on the following programmes are eligible for the Year in Industry programme:
- Aerospace Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Engineering Design
- Design Engineering for 2025/2026 entry
- Engineering Mathematics
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
First-year and second-year students will register their interest in completing a Year in Industry.
The Industrial Liaison Office (ILO), through a dedicated Year in Industry team, will work with students who have registered their interest to:
- prepare for placement applications and interviews
- connect with suitable engineering organisations and roles
- coordinate the placement approvals process ensuring students complete high-quality work experience
Students will apply for industrial placements in their second-year and officially transfer to the Year in Industry programme once they have:
- passed all their first and second year units (at first attempt) in line with the required academic progression criteria
- secured a suitable industrial placement which has passed the Faculty's Academic and Health & Safety approvals
What are the minimum Year in Industry requirements?
To be approved, placements must:
- Meet the university's Intended Learning Outcomes for the Year in Industry programme and associated assessments
- Be salaried at a minimum rate of the National Living Wage
- Be full-time for a minimum of 9 months and a maximum of 12 months
- Allocate the student a supervisor, who is responsible for the student's work, professional mentoring and wellbeing during their placement
- Ensure students are employees and subject to the terms and conditions of the company, and employment and health and safety laws
A Year in Industry cannot be guaranteed to students who register their interest.
We anticipate a high demand for Year in Industry placements and additional criteria may be in place at school level.
International Students
Students who hold a Student Visa must seek advice from our Student Visas team if they are interested in applying for a Year in Industry. Additional guidance can be found on the UK Council for International Student Affairs UKCISA website.
Find answers to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below:
Do students pay fees during their placement?
Students pay reduced tuition fees during their Year in Industry as set out by the University:
- Home students: 15% of the tuition fee
- International students 25% of the tuition fee
The Student Fees website includes further guidance on tuition fees and student loans during the placement year.
How do students find a placement?
The dedicated Year in Industry team in the Industrial Liaison Office (ILO), with support from the Careers Service, will support students to find suitable placement opportunities.
We work with a network of dedicate industry partners, across a range of sectors, to directly promote high quality placements to students throughout their second year.
Students also seek out their own opportunities through websites such as:
The first year Industrial Mentoring Scheme is also a fantastic opportunity for students to network with their industry mentor and see what placement roles they can apply for.
A Year in Industry is not guaranteed. Students must actively apply for, and pass the relevant interviews, to secure a placement.
Are placements assessed?
Yes - the placement is an integrated element of the degree programme and will be assessed.
These include:
-
An initial report (1,000 words) and presentation (15 -minute presentation, including Q&A session)
- This assessment contributes 20% to the year mark
- Typically delivered in November
-
A final report (3, 000 words) and presentation (20-minute presentation, including Q&A session)
- This assessment contributes 80% to the year mark
- Typically delivered in April/ May
- A Personal Development Plan (PDP)
- The PDP will cover the professional progress and development during the placement, and will reflect the engineering competences highlighted in the Engineering Council's UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence and Commitment (UK-SPEC).
The assessment process is supported by the Year in Industry student's Academic Supervisor with feedback provided by the student's line manager. The Academic Supervisor will marks the assessments and provides constructive feedback to support the student's progress.
Are placements paid?
Yes, the Year in Industry must be paid.
The current average pay range for our Year in Industry students is £21,000 to £23,000 per annum.
The Industrial Liaison Office (ILO) only advertises and approves paid placements, with a minimum accepted pay at the respective National Living Wage.
Does the University provide support during the placement?
Yes, the Faculty supports students before, during and after their industrial placement.
While on placement, students have an Academic Supervisor who will support the placement student with their assessments and provide feedback on their progress. The student's industrial supervisor (line manager) within the company will also provide professional mentoring and support, including feedback on the student's progress.
Students will retain their Personal Tutor during the placement year for pastoral and wellbeing support, in addition to retaining access to all Student Support provision at the University.
The Year in Industry team, including the Year in Industry Academic Leads, will hold regular online drop-in hours for placement students to provide an additional point of contact with the team and with their peers, as well as providing updates and information relevant to their return to campus the following academic year.
Does the Year in Industry have to be related to my course?
Yes - the placement will be checked and approved by the Year in Industry Unit Director to ensure it enables you to meet the intended learning outcomes.
It is acceptable for a student to choose to work in a field of engineering that they have not necessarily studied so far, thereby widening their knowledge and opening doors to new industries post-graduation.
Can students get a placement abroad?
Yes - students can complete an industrial placements outside the UK, subject to approval from the Faculty and any UK Government travel guidance in place.
Previous students have secured placements across the globe including in:
- New Zealand
- Dubai
- Australia
- USA
- France
Placements must meet the same minimum requirements as UK-based placements in terms of content and salary.
For overseas placements, the student is responsible for researching, applying for, and securing a placement and work visa if needed. The Year in Industry team can provide general guidance but are unable to advise on any immigration requirements.
Current students
Resources for current students are now available on a dedicated Blackboard organisation site, Engineering Employability. If you can't find it in 'My Organisations' on the Blackboard homepage please get in touch