Put your learning into practice and increase your employment prospects.

What's in it for me?

  • The opportunity to forge links with potential employers and possibly gain a job offer.
  • Practical skills and real-world experience, which will help you decide what kind of job you might like when you graduate.
  • Money. Placements are paid with salaries averaging around £15,000, although some students earn more, particularly in the south of England.
  • Increased confidence and experience of adapting to different environments
  • Possibly improved academic results, which are informed by practical experience.

Who could I work for?

Lots of different employers have offered placements in the past including:

  • Accenture
  • Ernst & Young
  • BMW
  • IBM
  • KPMG
  • Marks & Spencer
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers
  • Waitrose
  • Yorkshire Forward.

So whether you’re interested in the public or private sector, you’ll find a placement that is both challenging and rewarding.

Kate Sharp Year in Industry student

I was given responsibility and fully involved with the team’s caseload right from the beginning...

Read more about Kate's year working for Lloyds Banking Group

Find more inspiration, including placements at Xerox and Principles Research in the Student Profiles section.

What do I need to know?

  • You need to achieve a minimum average mark of 50 in the first year in order to qualify for a placement year.
  • You decide in your second year whether you want to take a placement year, and then it is sandwiched between your second and third year, effectively extending your degree programme by one year.
  • It is up to you to find your own placement; invaluable preparation for the job-seeking process. We help you by offering a structured second year module in conjunction with the Careers Service which develops your job seeking skills including writing CVs and applications, Psychometric Testing, Interviews and Assessment Centres.  The sessions are delivered by a number of graduate employers including P&G, IBM, Enterprise Rent-a-Car and the Co-operative Group.  
  • It is likely that you will have to relocate for a year, but many employers will help you find accommodation.
  • You must maintain an online learning log throughout the year and you must submit a portfolio of work at the end of the year to showcase the skills you have gained.

For more information, contact our Employability Officer, Dr Joanne Dickinson J.H.Dickinson@leeds.ac.uk