Work placements
Whatever your goals, work placements can help you develop new skills, build contacts and prepare for your future career. That’s why, from 2023, the majority of our undergraduate courses give you the choice to undertake a placement year as part of your degree.
Get out of the classroom and into the workplace
Placements give you real work experience opportunities that make you stand out. You’ll be applying the knowledge you’ve already gained during your degree to real-world situations, and have an opportunity to test out a career in a chosen industry. It’s worth knowing that some employers can offer graduate positions for when you have completed your degree.
Learn from industry leaders
Our partners include McLaren, Siemens and the NHS. Major companies around the world are keen to recruit our students because our degrees have a global reputation for excellence. Our students have had placements with IBM, AstraZeneca, the Home Office and a wide variety of smaller organisations, including Tribosonics and B. Braun Medical Ltd.
Shape your career from day one
We’ll support you from day one. All our placement students receive support from the start to understand how the process works and how to make the most of opportunities. That means you can feel confident that your choices are shaping your future.
Earn while you learn
Most students will earn a salary during a placement. Many find that their placement year increases their confidence, sharpens their focus on their subject area and makes their CV shine - meaning they gain so much whilst learning in the process.
Many courses here at Sheffield offer the option to take a year out to gain experience and I can highly recommend taking this opportunity. I am really enjoying my placement so far and can’t wait to continue learning and developing as well as applying my knowledge to the last two years of my degree.
Micah Massop
MEng Civil and Structural Engineering with a Year in Industry
I’ve made a great network of contacts here during my placement year who I hope to keep in touch with throughout my career. I have a better understanding of what I enjoy, how I work and what kind of work culture suits me. The richness of this experience can’t be understated and has had a positive impact on my professional and personal development.
Emily Beatrice Smith
BA History and Philosophy with a Placement Year
Get started
Take a look at our undergraduate prospectus to see if you can take a placement year as part of your course. There are some courses which include a built-in industrial placement year, or you can opt into this opportunity if you think it might be for you once you get here!
If there’s anything you’re unsure about, we’re always here for a chat.