UCR - University Centre Reaseheath
University Centre Reaseheath

UCR placement year

At University Centre Reaseheath, we are fully committed to providing higher education that not only develops your passions and interests, but also prepares you for progression onto a successful and rewarding career in your chosen land-based industry.

One of the ways we ensure you graduate career ready is by offering a number of BSc Hons three-year undergraduate programmes which have the option to spend a year on placement as part of your degree.

The year on placement could be a national or international placement and will help you to further enhance your subject discipline knowledge, develop your skills, and increase your confidence in your chosen field.

The placement will be a minimum of 9 months and will be credit bearing with a portfolio assessment and professional discussion required to evidence your achievement. Fees are reduced at £1,850. 

Put simply, a placement year is a nine month, 30-40 hours per week, full time placement in industry which will help you gain that all important industry experience in the subject area you are passionate about.

You will be able to take the placement year after two years of study with us on your degree course if you achieve at least 50% in your Level 5 modules. After completing your placement year, you can then return to university to complete the final year of your degree.

Placement year degrees at University Centre Reaseheath

Benefits of completing a placement year

The placement year will give you hands-on experience in a work environment and invaluable work experience that will boost your employability and confidence when you come to apply for graduate jobs.

You’ll also learn valuable skills as you apply for placements due to the similarities with recruitment processes for graduate jobs, for example, you can expect to gain experience in preparing applications, writing a CV and covering letter, and preparing for interviews.

Other benefits of a placement year include:

  • first-hand experience of the world of work
  • consolidation and application of academic learning
  • knowledge of how an organisation/sector works
  • new or enhanced professional and intellectual skills
  • the chance to be involved in a project from start to finish
  • increased personal effectiveness and confidence
  • greater career awareness
  • potential to be offered a post-graduate job with your placement employer 
  • grow and develop your business contacts and networks

 

A placement year also provides a great opportunity to network and, if you impress your employer, you may even find you have a job waiting for you when you graduate.

Where can I find placement year opportunities?

Placement years are available across a broad range of job areas and industries, including animal science, equine, food and landscape architecture, with many of the UK’s top graduate employers offering placement year opportunities.

Placement opportunities are advertised in a variety of places, from dedicated websites to social media. Before you start looking, you should think about what kind of graduate job you might like to progress on to once you graduate and whether any particular organisations interest and inspire you.

BSc Zoo Management graduates

Which UCR degrees offer placement years?