A Professional Placement Year (also sometimes called a year in industry, or sandwich year) is your opportunity to integrate an extended period of invaluable work experience into your course, have it recognised on your degree, and develop personal and professional skills that employers are looking for in a competitive job market.
You'll see that job listings frequently ask for relevant work experience as well as a degree, but if you need the degree to get the work experience, and can't get the work experience without the degree, how are you expected to win? Our answer to this is to combine them, which is why we offer a PPY with every undergraduate course.
In the years leading up to your PPY, you'll receive significant – often personalised – support through timetabled lectures, one-to-one appointments, events, and on-demand resources to help you secure a placement that's meaningful to you.
"I think it will be good to have this on my CV as experience, because I think nowadays people want to see a degree plus experience... so it's been really good that I could do this alongside my degree."
Natasha Milosevic, BA (Hons) Interior Design with Professional Placement Year
Course fees during your PPY will be 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year. You may also be eligible for funding, and will receive at least £500 from BSU's PPY Bursary.
Sometimes, students will be paid by the employer for the work they do on the placement. If this is the case for you, you may need to pay income tax and National Insurance on your earnings.
We offer a PPY Bursary for every student that undertakes a PPY whilst studying at BSU.
You'll receive between £500 to £1,500, which can be used towards placement costs such as travel, food, workwear, or accommodation. The amount you receive will depend on various criteria, but everyone will receive at least £500.
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"This placement has definitely opened so many doors and opportunities for me. In terms of my degree, I will definitely be able to apply my experience to my degree and dissertation. I've developed decisiveness and leadership skills, I'm hoping I'll be able to apply that to my degree and kind of and be able to take lead and take charge."
Charlotte Cooke, BA (Hons) Business and Management with Professional Placement Year
"A placement year enabled me to secure postgraduate employment ahead of finishing university which removed an added pressure."
Jasmine Henry, BSc (Hons) Criminology with Professional Placement Year
Wondering who can help you find a placement, secure funding, and answer any queries you may have? Find out more about the help available to you before, during, and after your Professional Placement Year.
Your PPY Tutor will be assigned and introduced to you before your placement begins. They'll usually be from your subject area and will be responsible for marking your assessments.
The Placements team will be key in helping with your search for a placement, and deliver all of the teaching sessions and appointments to assist you. If you encounter any problems while on your placement, you should contact them through MyCareer. They also look after the administration of the PPY.
Our Careers team can advise you on any matter relating to job applications, as well as career planning, and decision making. They offer a range of services, resources, and appointments to help you, and can be contacted through MyCareer.
From small, local businesses to international brands, previous BSU students have gone to an enormous range of workplaces for their PPYs, as evidenced in the student stories section above!
Our Placements team will expertly support you in searching for, and then securing, a placement in a way that's meaningful for your development and ambitions.
Yes, it's your responsibility to find a suitable placement. Attend the lectures and engaging with our learning resources will ensure you're well-equipped to conduct a successful placement search.
You should also consult the Placements team, as they can provide support and they advertise placement opportunities throughout the year. Remember to check MyCareer regularly for placement appointment times and to see the placement opportunities on offer.
No, the placement should provide a genuine learning experience. If you're unsure, you should discuss it with the Placements team.
When you complete the Placement Details Form, you'll need to explain clearly why the experience will benefit your future career. Only placements that have been pre-approved by the Placements team can count towards the module. You must not start your placement until approval has been given.
Yes, you can undertake more than one placement to reach the minimum requirement for the PPY.
Yes. The timetabled lectures are designed to prepare you as fully as possible to make successful applications for your placement. They also communicate key information and processes that you must follow and understand. If you're unable to attend a lecture, you should contact the Placements team as soon as possible.
Sometimes placements don’t go as expected, but this doesn’t mean that they're not good learning opportunities.
If your safety or welfare is in any way threatened, please immediately leave the placement provider’s premises and inform the Placements team. If you have a concern with how the placement is going, please discuss this with the Placements team through MyCareer or by contacting your Placement Coordinator.
You'll be assessed on your Placement Portfolio (3,000 words) and Placement Presentation (ten minutes) – both are pass / fail only.
Yes, it’s a good idea to keep a reflective journal that you can quote from in your assessments. This will capture your thoughts and feelings about your day-to-day experiences while on placement. We want you to reflect on your own performance and how this has influenced your future career aspirations.
You'll need to keep up to date with recording your hours on the PPY On-Placement Resource through MyCareer. Make sure you accurately record the hours you work and get this signed by your placement supervisor.
How would you like to change and develop?
Personal and professional development often includes skills development, but it's not restricted to skills alone. It also includes the development of professionalism, personal characteristics (integrity, for example), and values.
Academic queries should be directed to your PPY Tutor. This will usually be a member of staff from your subject area who will introduce themselves to you before you go on placement. If you're unsure who your tutor is, please contact the Placements team through MyCareer.
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