About the Computer Science placement year

The placement year is a great opportunity for you to gain some invaluable work experience and get a head start on the career ladder.

All our undergraduate Computer Science degrees give you the option to undertake a one year paid work placement in your third year of study. It is not compulsory, but we encourage all students to take advantage of the opportunity.

Research shows that students who do placements have a greater chance of finding employment after graduation and typically achieve better grades in their final year of university.

Placement opportunities

A wide range of placement opportunities are available in various areas in IT and computing.

Depending on where you work your placement could involve business analysis, database development, programming, software development, web site design, technical support, testing, and much more.

Our students have worked at small local companies as well as at large national and multi-national corporations.

We currently have students on placement at:

• Accenture
• Apple
• BT
• GSK
• Intel

In the past two years other students have worked for:

• EADS-Astrium
• IBM
• LOCOG on the London 2012 Olympics
• Microsoft
• Xerox

The Careers and Placements Service at the University will help you find your placement.

They will advertise placement opportunities throughout the the year and support you with completing applications, writing your CV and preparing for interviews.

You can also approach companies directly and arrange your own placement subject to academic approval for its suitability.

Tuition fees

For students on placement in the academic year 2012-13 the university charges no tuition fee.

What do our students say?

'I have been able to relate my knowledge from university with practical situations where it matters the most.'

'Now I understand enough about the IT business that I can talk confidently to prospective employers.'

'I am currently on a placement year, working at xxx. I just wanted to inform you that [they] have offered me a full time job commencing from the date I graduate and given me a post dated contract. They have also want me to work part time for the final year of my course.'

'[Applying for a placement was] the best decision I ever made.'