College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has a dedicated placements team that works to bridge the gap between academia and industry, enabling students to apply their knowledge to a real work setting, across both public and private sectors.

For many of our placement programmes, we can provide a stress-free and comprehensive service, supporting you at all stages of your placement recruitment. If you would like advice on offering a work placement opportunity, please get in contact via [email protected].

We support a broad range of courses across our Humanities, Social Sciences, Life Sciences and Law schools. Please note, students can intern either remotely (ie virtually) or on-site at the organisation's premises. 

Placements in Humanities 

• Minimum 35-hour work experience for final year English, History and Languages undergraduate students, between September–December
• This can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses) and can be on a full or part-time basis
• Opportunities suitable for this module are varied, although many students seek experience in education, marketing, publishing, journalism, media, languages and the arts/cultural sector

Placements in Archives and Museums 

Sandwich placements

• Minimum 550 hour work experience for postgraduate 'MA Museums, Galleries and Contemporary Culture with Professional Experience' students across a 12 month period
• Placements are usually in museums, galleries and other cultural institutions
• Placements can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), on a part or full-time basis, usually beginning either in January or September each year

Internships

• Minimum 72-hour work experience for final year undergraduate students, between September–April
• This can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), and usually is part-time during term time
• Opportunities suitable for this module are strictly archive and museum related, thus the majority of students intern for historical houses, museums and galleries

Placements in cultural institutions

• Minimum 105-hour work experience for postgraduate students, which can be completed between January –August
• This can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), and can be on a full or part-time basis
• Opportunities suitable for this module are varied but most students seek opportunities in curating, museums, publishing, media/journalism, galleries and cultural organisations

Placements in Criminology

• Minimum 35-hour work experience for final year undergraduate students, between term time September–April
• This can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), and usually is part-time during term time
• Opportunities suitable for this module are varied but most students seek opportunities in policing, rights and justice, research, social/youth work, advice clinics, courts and security intelligence

Placements in Sociology

• Minimum 35-hour work experience for second year undergraduate students, between term time September–April
• This can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), and usually is part-time during term time
• Opportunities suitable for this module are varied and many students take on placements in education, administration, research, marketing, advice clinics and other charitable work

Placements in Psychology

Sandwich placements

• Undergraduate students in their penultimate year of study in psychology and cognitive and clinical psychology have the option to spend an academic year (30+ weeks) in a work setting related to psychology
• Placements can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), with students working four days per week
• Students seek work placements across clinical, educational, forensic, health and occupational psychology. Examples include working in hospitals, prisons, educational psychology centres, universities, and schools, through to market research companies, and occupational psychology agencies

Work experience

• Undergraduate and postgraduate students have the option to undertake a minimum of 30–35 hours of work experience during term time (September–April), which can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), and on a part-time basis
• Examples of work experience settings include supporting individuals with mental health issues, drug or alcohol dependence, supporting parents and children with autism, befriending people with dementia and working in a research or clinical setting

Placements in Politics and International Relations

• Minimum 72-hour work experience for second year undergraduate students, between term time September–April
• This can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), and usually is part-time during term time
• Opportunities suitable for this module are strictly related to politics and so many students go on to seek placements in think tanks, political charities and embassies

Placements in Law

• Minimum 35-hour work experience for second year undergraduate students, between term time September–April
• This can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), and usually is part-time during term time

• Roles suitable for this module are varied. Students will typically seek roles in administration, advice clinics, charities, courts, education, finance, human resources, law, research, rights, and justice, policing, and finance

Placements in Life Sciences

Sandwich placements

• One-year (48–52 weeks), sandwich placement for undergraduate biomedical sciences students in their penultimate year of study. Placements are usually in diagnostic laboratories, pharmaceutical companies and research institutes
• Placements can be paid or unpaid (with travel and lunch expenses), on a full-time basis, usually beginning in September each year
• Opportunity to engage with students through holding an insight session, for example with a diagnostic or pharmaceutical setting