What is an industrial placement?

Industrial placements are programmes where students learn about a job or sector instead of studying. It’s a great way to develop your professional skills as part of your degree. Industrial placements usually take place in the penultimate year of your studies meaning you’ll return to university to complete your final year after your placement.

In many vocational courses, industrial placements are compulsory (or at least highly encouraged). But the option is now there for lots of non-vocational courses, too. Many subjects offer their students the opportunity to undertake an industrial placement, including business studies, pharmacology and humanities subjects such as geography and history.

In this guide, we’ll explain what industrial placements are, their benefits, how to apply for one and more.

We’ll dive into:

• What is an industrial placement?
• Why industrial placements are not the same as internships
• What to expect during a placement
• The benefits of industrial placements
• Are industrial placements paid?
• Industrial placement sectors
• When to apply for an industrial placement
• How to apply for one
• Can international students get industrial placements in the UK?

An industrial placement, also known as a student, sandwich or work placement, is a fixed-term, full-time role that generally lasts between nine and twelve months. Because of the length of time, they’re also called placement years. Industrial placements add an extra year to your degree, making a three-year course four years long.

Traditionally, companies only ran industrial placements for students on vocational degrees such as healthcare or engineering, but businesses in all different industries now offer placements. Industrial placements are often with big UK-based or international companies. But lots of smaller and medium-sized companies also run placement schemes.

By undertaking an industrial placement, you gain experience that’ll prepare you for work. Industrial placements are beneficial to you and they’re also helpful to employers. Businesses use placements to make sure students are gaining the skills that the industry needs. So, everyone’s a winner.

Think industrial placements are the same as internships? Think again.

Although both are types of student work experience and employers sometimes use the terms interchangeably, they differ.

An industrial placement is part of your degree programme and is usually considered a module, while internships are mostly organised externally to your uni. Because of this, you’ll receive academic credits for the year of the industrial placement whereas you won’t with an internship.

As for duration, industry placements take place throughout the term time, lasting anywhere between nine and 12 months. Internships, on the other hand, take place during university holidays and typically last between two weeks and four months (although some will be up to a year).

During an industrial placement, you gain exposure to the world of work including a strong understanding of the industry and the role. An industrial placement helps build your commercial awareness and soft skills, such as conflict resolution, proactivity, productivity, resilience and teamwork. You also develop practical skills to complement the theory gained from a degree which helps you become more employable once you finish your studies.

If an industrial placement is a requirement of your degree course, your uni is likely to assess it. This formal assessment will sometimes involve completing tasks in the job role or written reports. Even if the industrial placement is optional, you’ll probably still have to create a professional development portfolio to show what you’ve learned.

Industrial placements offer lots of benefits, including:

• Gaining an understanding of a specific sector and role
• Increasing your commercial awareness
• Making valuable industry connections and expanding your professional network
• Having a break from studying to focus on your career progression
• Improving your professional experience and increasing your employability
• Expanding and improving your CV
• Increasing your chances of getting a role when you graduate
• Having a chance to upskill and develop through training courses at the company
• Developing relevant soft and hard skills
• Applying aspects of academia in the workplace
• Receiving payment and having the potential for subsidised travel and meals
• Experiencing the application process for jobs and gaining interview practice
• Having the potential to return for your final year of study with a graduate role already secured

Most industrial placements are paid. The salary depends on many factors such as the role, location and company. According to Talent.com, the average industry placement salary is £24,000. But some people will earn more, and others will earn less. For example, London salaries will tend to be higher to match the higher rent and living costs. However, as industrial placements are usually exempt from minimum wage requirements, some salaries will be significantly lower. The reasoning here is that a placement still forms part of your studies, so you’re learning while you earn. Make sure you know the salary of your industrial placement early in the interview process, so you have the chance to assess if it’s the right option for you and your needs.

Some industrial placements, however, are unpaid. For example, industrial placements in the healthcare or charity sectors often don’t offer salaries. On some unpaid placements, the company employing you will still cover your expenses (e.g. travel). If you don’t receive a salary for your industrial placement, you’re eligible to apply for the full amount of student funding available to you. If you receive a salary, you’re only able to apply for a reduced maintenance loan so keep this in mind when looking at what you’ll earn.

During an industrial placement, you’ll also still be liable for some university fees but most are significantly reduced.

It’s a common misconception that an industrial placement is only available for vocational degrees, such as engineering. You’ll find industrial placements in many sectors including:

• Consulting
• Consumer, FMCG & retail
• Engineering & construction
• Financial services
• Investment banking & asset management
• Law
• Management, HR & operations
• Marketing, media & PR
• Public sector & charity
• Sales & commercial
• Science & pharmaceuticals
• Technology & IT infrastructure

While the application process for most industrial placements starts in September or October, more become available throughout the academic year with smaller companies typically starting applications later than bigger companies. It’s common for companies to fill the required quotas before the deadline, so it isn’t unusual for applications to close before the advertised date. So, don’t wait until the last minute! To avoid disappointment, get your applications in as soon as your second year of uni starts and keep track of upcoming industrial placement deadlines throughout the year.

Before applying for an industrial placement, check that you’re eligible. Some industrial placement roles require certain grades and experience, so look at these criteria before applying. But don’t focus too much on any predicted grades they ask for. Lots of companies value enthusiasm for the sector and will still consider your application without the required grades.

Once you’ve chosen the industrial placement you’d like to apply for, the process usually involves multiple stages. Sometimes, it’ll include an assessment centre and a few interviews after the initial application. Whether your interviews will be in person or virtual will depend on the company and role. Most applications will require a CV and cover letter. Be sure to tailor your cover letter to every role and try to get someone to proofread them before you submit your application.

Don’t worry if your first applications aren’t successful. It takes time to get your application writing skills and interview technique right! The earlier you start applying, the better your chances are.

Yes, international students are able to complete industrial placements in the UK. To do this, it’s essential to have a student visa and the industrial placement must be compulsory as part of your course. The industrial placement must also take up no more than 50% of the overall course length. Before adding an industrial placement year to your course, make sure that you’ve got enough time left on your UK visa to add an extra year to your degree. Part-time international students holding a student or Tier 4 visa, however, aren’t eligible to do an industrial placement in the UK.

An industrial placement helps you build your skills and experience by combining the theory you learned at uni with practical workplace experience. Remember, industrial placements are available across many degree subjects – not just vocational courses. Plus, you’ll sometimes get paid for the work you do too! What’s not to like?