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 to transfer to 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.

A Year in Industry cannot be guaranteed to students who register their interest.

Students must actively search and apply for roles, and be successful at interviews to secure a Year in Industry placement.

In the second year, students will apply for industrial placements and officially transfer to the Year in Industry programme AFTER they have: 

  • passed all their second year units in line with the required academic progression criteria.
  • secured a suitable industrial placement which has passed the Faculty's Academic and Health & Safety approvals.

The Industrial Liaison Office (ILO), through a dedicated Year in Industry team, will work with students 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.
  • provide continued support during the Year in Industry and the return to University.

 

What are the minimum Year in Industry requirements? 

To be approved, placement opportunities and secured 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 an industrial supervisor (line manager), 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

We anticipate a high demand for Year in Industry placements and additional criteria may be in place at programme and faculty level.

 

Where have students completed their Year in Industry?

Bristol Engineering students have completed their Year in Industry placements in a variety of sectors across large organisations and SMEs including: 

  • Aston Martin
  • Belltown Power
  • Crux Product Design
  • Buro Happold
  • ARUP
  • EDF
  • Dynisma
  • DEEP Manufacturing
  • Jaguar Land Rover
  • Siemens
  • McLaren Racing
  • Tonkin + Taylor (New Zealand)
  • Hawk Eye Innovations
  • Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI)
  • WSP
  • and many others.

 

International Students

Students who hold a Student Visa can complete a Year in Industry.

Student Visa holders MUST seek advice from our Student Visas team if they are interested in applying for a Year in Industry.

Additional guidance for student visa holders can be found on the UK Council for International Student Affairs UKCISA website. 

 

Find answers to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below:

Yes.

Students pay reduced tuition fees during their Year in Industry as set out by the University:

  • Home students: 20% of the tuition fee (correct for the academic year 2025/2026)
  • International students: 25% of the tuition fee (correct for the academic year 2025/2026)

The Student Fees website includes further guidance on tuition fees and student loans during the placement year.

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 dedicated industry partners, across a range of sectors, to directly promote high quality placements to students throughout their second year. 

Students can also seek out placement 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.

Yes. The Year in Industry placement is an integrated element of the degree programme and will be assessed.

The Year in Industry assessments include:

The assessment process is supported by the student's Academic Supervisor. They will mark the assessments and provide constructive feedback to support their student's professional development and placement progress. 

Yes. The Year in Industry MUST be paid.

The Industrial Liaison Office (ILO) only advertises and approves paid placements. We strongly advocate for placement providers to pay students at the respective National Living Wage.

The current average pay for our Year in Industry students (academic year 2025/2026) is approximately £24,000 per annum.

 

 

Yes, students are supported before, during and after their industrial placement.

While on placement, students have an Academic Supervisor (a University of Bristol engineering academic) 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 monthly 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.

Yes, the placement MUST be engineering related.

Each placement will be checked and approved by the Year in Industry Academic Leads to ensure they are engineering related and enable students 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.

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 
  • Portugal

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.