Work placements
Work placements give you the opportunity to put your learning into practice in a real-world setting.
A History student working at the Royal Worcester Museum
While your studies help you develop subject knowledge and academic skills, spending time in a workplace allows you to see how those ideas are applied in professional environments. Many students find that concepts explored in lectures and seminars become clearer and more meaningful when they experience them first-hand.
Placements also help you build the skills and confidence employers value. Supported by academic staff, placement coordinators and employer partners, you'll gain experience communicating, solving problems, working with others and adapting to professional environments.
How placements fit into your studies
Placement experiences vary depending on your course. Some programmes include mandatory professional placements, while others offer work experience modules, employer projects, professional practice opportunities or placement years.
Opportunities to gain practical experience are available across a wide range of subjects at Worcester, including healthcare, education, business, law, sport, science, arts and humanities. Whether you're preparing for a regulated profession or exploring career options within your chosen field, placements and work-based learning can help you develop the skills, experience and confidence valued by employers.
Professional and clinical placements
These placements form an essential part of professional training and accreditation, allowing students to apply their learning in real-world settings while meeting the requirements of professional bodies.
Courses that include professional or clinical placements include Nursing, Midwifery, Occupational Therapy, Paramedic Science, Social Work and Teacher Education programmes.
Short-term placements and work experience
Short-term placements give students the opportunity to gain practical experience with employers, schools, charities, cultural organisations and community partners. These experiences may take place over a number of weeks, as a block placement, or through regular hours alongside your studies.
Depending on your course, you may have opportunities to undertake work-based learning in areas such as media, heritage, education, psychology, community services, science and the creative industries.
Industry projects
Industry projects and professional practice modules allow students to work on real-world challenges with organisations, employers and community partners. This might involve responding to a live client brief, producing content for an external organisation, supporting members of the public through the University's Legal Advice Clinic, or undertaking project work linked to a professional setting.
These opportunities help students develop professional skills while building their portfolio, experience and network.
Professional practice
Some courses include professional practice modules that allow students to engage directly with industry professionals, creative organisations, community groups or specialist settings. These opportunities help students explore career pathways, apply subject knowledge and gain experience relevant to their chosen profession.
Placement year
A placement year offers the opportunity to spend an extended period working in industry as part of your degree. They allow students to gain in-depth professional experience, build industry connections and further develop workplace skills before graduating.
Study and work abroad opportunities
International study and work-based opportunities enable students to gain experience in different cultural and professional environments. These experiences can help develop independence, adaptability, global awareness and valuable employability skills.
Placement support
Students undertaking placements are supported throughout their studies by academic staff, placement coordinators, employer partners and the Careers and Employability Service. Depending on your course, you may also have access to specialist placement teams and subject-specific support.
Whatever your course, you'll continue to have access to support from the University throughout your placement experience.
Healthcare students
Students studying Nursing, Midwifery and many Health and Wellbeing courses complete placements in professional healthcare settings as part of their course.
Support is provided by the Placement Support Team (PLAST), which works with placement partners to arrange placements, maintain placement records and provide advice to students. Students are also supported in practice by mentors, NHS practice facilitators and the University's Practice Development Team.
Education students
We work with more than 500 schools across the region to provide teaching and classroom experience opportunities.
While training to become a teacher, you'll take part in placements as part of your course where you'll gain experience observing lessons, working with teachers and developing your understanding of school life.
Arts and Humanities students
Students in subjects such as Arts, Law, History, Sociology, Journalism, Theatre and Performance, Media and English may have opportunities to undertake placements, work-based learning industry projects, or professional practice modules as part of their studies.
Support is provided by academic staff, a dedicated Placements and Employability Manager and module leaders, who work closely with employers and placement hosts. Students may receive support with placement preparation, CV development, mock interviews and professional skills development throughout their placement experience.
Science and Environment students
Depending on the course, opportunities may include clinical placements, industrial placements and work experience modules. Students are supported by academic staff, placement tutors and subject specialists, with guidance available on finding opportunities, preparing applications and developing employability skills.
Students will be supported throughout their placement through placement visits, employer partnerships, and regular contact with the course team throughout the placement experience.
Support available to all students
All students can access support from the Careers and Employability Service to help prepare for placements, internships and future employment.
They can help you with:
- CV and application advice
- Interview preparation
- Careers guidance
- Skills development workshops
- Networking and employer events
- Employability resources and career planning support
Businesses and employers
Many of our courses are developed in partnership with employers, professional bodies and industry experts, meaning our students develop the knowledge, skills and experiences that are valued in the workplace.
We work with organisations ranging from local businesses and community partners to national employers and public sector organisations. These relationships help create opportunities for students to gain practical experience and understand how their studies relate to the world of work.
FAQs
What is a work placement at university?
A work placement gives you the opportunity to gain experience in a professional environment as part of your studies.
Placements can take many forms, including clinical placements, school placements, short-term work experience, industry projects, employer-led learning and placement years. They help you apply your academic knowledge in real-world settings while developing professional skills and confidence.
Do all courses include placements?
No, placement opportunities vary between courses.
Some courses include compulsory professional or clinical placements, while others offer optional work experience, industry projects, employer engagement activities or placement modules.
Course pages provide more details of the opportunities available within individual courses.
What are the benefits of completing a work placement?
Work placements help you gain practical experience, develop professional skills and build confidence in a workplace environment. They provide opportunities to apply what you learn during your studies, develop your professional network and gain a better understanding of your chosen career sector.
How can a placement help me find a job after graduation?
Placements can help you develop the skills, experience and professional awareness that employers value. They also provide opportunities to build industry contacts, explore career options and demonstrate practical experience on your CV.
Many students find that work-based learning helps them feel more prepared and confident when applying for graduate roles.
Are placements compulsory?
Some courses include compulsory placements because they are required for professional accreditation or registration. Other courses offer optional placement opportunities, work experience modules or industry projects.
Details of any compulsory placement requirements can be found on individual course pages.
Are there placement opportunities in creative, humanities and social science subjects?
Yes. Placement and work-based learning opportunities are available across a wide range of subject areas, including arts, humanities and social sciences.
Depending on the course, students may gain experience with schools, theatres, museums, archives, heritage organisations, media companies, creative businesses, community organisations and public sector employers.
Course pages provide more details of the opportunities available within individual courses.
Will the University help me find a placement?
Support available varies depending on your course and placement type. Many students receive guidance from academic staff, subject-specific placement teams, careers advisers and employer partners to help them identify suitable placement opportunities. Some courses arrange placements directly, while others support students in securing their own opportunities.
Who will support me while I am on placement?
Depending on your placement, you may receive support from placement coordinators, academic tutors, workplace supervisors and other University staff. All students can also access support from the Careers and Employability Service.
Not sure who to ask? The firstpoint team can help connect you with the right support for your course, placement or career questions.