At Bath, all undergraduate course areas ^4/5/6 offer a placement, sometimes called an internship, or study abroad option ^7/8. Some placements are paid so you could earn a salary while you work.

Going on a placement gives you the opportunity to work in a business or organisation, apply your academic knowledge and gain practical work experience. Your work may make an impact on the world before you even graduate.

Placements can last between six and twelve months depending on your course and employer. You can even take a placement in different parts of the world.

The majority of students take a placement or study abroad so when you return to finish your degree you'll be back with people you know.

As a student, you have a variety of placement options to help you find something to suit your career plans. You could work for a multinational corporation overseas, a small to medium size business in the UK, or a start-up in the local area. Depending on the course you choose, you could do a research-focused placement, or work for a non-governmental organisation or charity.

Previously, students have completed placements at organisations⁹ like:

• Apple
• Arup
• BMW
• Cancer Research UK
• Deloitte
• Dyson
• European Parliament
• GlaxoSmithKline
• Goldman Sachs
• Great Ormond Street Hospital
• Innocent Drinks
• Superdrug
• Unicef UK
• Unilever

On placement you'll get the opportunity to work with other employees or volunteers, helping you to build valuable professional connections. They could help you with your future career by giving you references for job applications.

If you work really hard and impress your employer it may even lead to a full-time job when you graduate.

Bath's placements teams are well-placed to help you find the placement that’s right for you. They work with a range of organisations and have developed lasting relationships with the companies and charities they've placed students with in the past.

The team will work alongside you to identify your personal objectives, develop your CV and help you to find a suitable placement. They will also organise practice interviews to help you get the placement you want.

If you are disabled your placements team will work with your employer to understand any adjustments that need to be made and help you to apply for any grants you're eligible for.

A placement gives you the opportunity to learn from experts who’ll share their knowledge with you. As part of a workplace community, you’ll get to meet colleagues and learn more about what the organisation does.

You’ll also learn how to solve problems, manage your time and work to deadlines. Employers highly value these transferable skills.

Going on a placement will help you to improve your understanding of an employer and industry before you commit to a future career.