Work placements and work based learning

Types of placement and work based learning

Many large companies and organisations offer nationally advertised work placements with excellent development opportunities; and many small and medium- sized companies (SMEs) are increasingly taking on placement students too.

The different types of placement may include:

• placement year (equivalent of a year’s academic study, between 30-52 weeks carried out between the penultimate and final year of your undergraduate course) and counts towards your degree
• short placements These happen in an academic term, and can be a number of weeks or hours that you need to complete to pass certain modules within your degree. Available in different departments, please check with the placement team if you aren't sure
• work based learning projects (negotiated pieces of work, either group based or individual, usually carried out in third year of undergraduate study). Available in different departments, please email placements@essex.ac.uk for more information on what is available to you.

How to get a placement

You are responsible for identifying and securing your own placement positions, but the Placements Team, and your department, will support you and help you with every step of the process.

You can book an appointment with the Placements Team for support with your applications and the placement process.

When you're looking for a work placement it's useful to research creatively. Identify your key skills and don't restrict yourself to the obvious sectors, as many other industries will offer work placements that match your skills.

Additional resources

• Placement years on the CareerHub vacancy board
• Search guide available via the Placements Team, email placements@essex.ac.uk