Placements and work experience in the creative industries

Getting 'work experience' is easy, isn't it?  Just turn on your camera, your amp, or your design software and create something incredible...


But the real working world is increasingly competitive, and the kind of skills and experience you need to stand out as an employee or succeed in self-employment involve many different transferable abilities. It also helps if you have a contact or two in the creative industries, who already see your potential.

As one of our undergraduates, you'll likely have the chance to seek a work placement on one of our work experience modules or optional placement year, but even if you don't, you'll discover many opportunities to gain crucial experience, skills and exposure through industry-led activities such as live briefs and commissions.


Case studies

Learn more from our students who have taken placements or worked on live briefs, and the employers that have provided them.

ARU students sing on new album - find out about their experience

James

Creating 'vertical slice' for games company

Marc

Using the power of social networks to find placements

Take One placements

An insight into film festivals

Laura

Exploring Theatre in Education

Laura's internship at ARM

Sarah

Reconsidering career choices

Discover more opportunities to improve your employability at ARU

Advice and guidance

Frequently asked questions about our work placements

ARU's Careers and Employability page

More information and useful links


Creative industries engagement

Our students have found placements and internships, or carried out live briefs, with many different UK and international companies and organisations, including:

Computer games
Ninja Theory, ARM, Frontier Developments, Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe, Just Flight

English, Writing and Publishing
Metal Culture, Slow Theatre CompanyThe Romany Theatre Company, University Alliance, Cambridge University Press, Penguin Books, Windhorse Publications, National Centre for Writing

Film and Media
Film & Video Umbrella, Watersprite Film Festival, New York Film Academy, Lifecraft, Slow Theatre Company, Creative Warehouse, Amy Dickson Online Content Publisher, Royal Television Society, University of Cambridge: Kings College, Wikimedia UK, BBC, Cambridge Festival of Ideas, Cannes Film Festival, Cambridge Film Festival, Take One magazine, CBBC, ITN Productions, London Studios, MTV, Pinewood Studios, StudioCanal UK, Sight & Sound magazine, Warner Bros

Music, Drama and Musical Theatre
Great Abington Primary School, Leon Trayman (Director), Britten Sinfonia, Create Britain, Sharps Redmore, John Peel Centre for the Creative Arts, Children with Cancer Charity Ball, Cambridge Junction, Hazard Chase, New International Encounter Theatre Company, Mumford Theatre