Year in Industry

The annual work placement is implemented in the SBC5001/BMD5555 modules, which include an extended placement in a professional workplace on the "Year in Industry/ with Professional Experience" programmes in the field of Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Psychology offered in SBBS and Neuroscience and Pharm IT offered in collaboration with FMD.

It is a 120-credit bearing module that aims to: 

• Provide a route to develop genuine and practical skills in a professional context.
• Enable students to gain a better understanding of their own abilities, aptitudes, attitudes, and employment potential.
• Help them to apply their subject knowledge in real life settings and adopt a more sophisticated level of understanding to their future studies.

The following requirements should be met for a successful completion of a Year in Industry/ with Professional Experience:

• The placement should be at least 1,200 hours (900 for Psychology) or 10-12 months; including holidays, and must take place between the end of the second and the start of third year study. It can also be taken abroad.
• The role should be at graduate level (e.g., shadowing only is not sufficient).
• Students must have a weighted average of 60% across year 1 and 2 and no failed modules.
• Students must successfully complete an academic assignment (largely based on self-reflection) in the end of their placement year (Pass/Fail). 

Most placements students pursue will be related to their course, but this doesn’t mean students have to limit their search! Fields and roles that could be considered are (the list is not exhaustive):

• Mental Health (e.g., Honorary Clinical Psychology Placement Student)
• Social Care (e.g., Social Worker)
• Education (e.g., Teaching Assistant; Applied Behavioural Tutor)
• Pharmaceutical Industry (e.g., Undergraduate Clinical Scientist)
• Biotechnology (e.g., Technology Industrial Placement)
• Medical Writing (e.g., Regulatory Medical Writing Placement)
• Marketing & Social Media (e.g., Marketing Intern)
• Human Resources (e.g., HR intern)
• Data Analytics (e.g., Research Assistant; Data Planning Analyst) 

The decision to offer a placement to a student is made by the employer not the university and the responsibility for securing a placement ultimately lies with the student.

To be successful requires time, effort and commitment from the students. Employers expect placement students to apply for jobs in the same way as any other employee so they will need to put aside time to research placement providers, write applications, and prepare for and attend interviews and assessment centres.

However, our students are not left to do this by themselves and help and support with all aspects of the placement process will be provided by the local Placement Manager, our Employer-led Education Team and the Careers and Enterprise SBBS Consultants who will:

• Run a series of placement preparation workshops.
• Offer one-to-one advice sessions on applications and placement search.
• Advertise placement vacancies.
• Organise events with employers.
• Support with essential paperwork. 

A year spent on a placement has a number of benefits for participating students, and many return to university with a new sense of purpose, focus and motivation. Benefits include:

• Improved chances of securing a graduate-level job.
• Integrate academic theory and practice.
• Gain and demonstrate transferable skills and competencies.
• Experience the job application process.
• Increased confidence, motivation and professionalism.
• Development of professional network.
• Insights into the culture of an employing organisation.
• A clearer understanding of what career they want to do, or don’t want to do.

If you would like to learn more about this placement option, take a look at a few of our student testimonials.

Are all students guaranteed a placement?
No, but support in finding one will be provided.

What support is provided?
All programmes in SBBS offer modules (e.g., Essential Skills for Psychology/Biochemistry) in the first year that give the students the foundations of good CV and Cover Letter writing and all the different application stages usually involved in a job application. In the second year, students have the opportunity to engage with a wide-ranging set of activities designed to help them develop a set of desirable transferable skills and enhance their job-hunting strategies. The more students engage with these activities, the more chances they will have to find a placement. At all times, they can seek support by your advisor, Placement Manager and Careers and Enterprise team. 

How long can the placement be?
Min. 1,200 (900 for Psychology) working hours, max 13 months.

Will students get paid?

Many placements are paid and we encourage students to pursue those paid roles. However, placements in non-for-profit organisations (including clinical psychology placements) are unpaid, yet they offer an excellent training programme. We always advise the students to consider the financial implications of their choices.

What if a student doesn’t find a placement?
They can revert back to the three-year version of their course at any time (it won’t impact their studies).

I’m enrolled in a three-year course. Can I add the year in industry later on during my studies?
Yes, you can. However, we encourage you to contact your advisor and Placement Manager by the start of your second year so that you don’t risk missing out on communications, activities and events tailored to the placement year.

Do students pay tuition fees? Why?
Yes, but at a significantly reduced rate. During the placement students will still be effectively a QMUL student, meaning that they will have access to all university’s services (such as Advice and Counselling, DDS, Library). Furthermore, the university will support them in case of issues arising in their job or with their line manager: the Placement Manager will always be ready to help if needed. Finally, they will receive guidance pre-, during and post-placement with regards to their applications, career plans and prospects.

Can students only apply for placement schemes?
No! Placements can be called in different ways – “internship”, “sandwich year”, “industrial placement”. All opportunities are fine as long they meet the minimum requirement of 900-1,200 working hours and is a graduate level role (e.g., shadowing only is not sufficient). Students can also take a normal job with a fixed-term contract.