Placements and internships

Why just learn it, when you can do it?

Many of our degree courses include an optional placement year. You’ll be able to showcase your talents in an industry relevant to your ARU degree course, while enhancing your career prospects.

Placement opportunities exist for a range of subjects including business, finance, engineering, psychology, sports science, and the arts.

A student working on an electronic toy car

Benefits of a placement

Completing a placement improves your chances of securing a graduate role, with employers reporting that they rehired an average of 52% of their interns and 43% of their summer placement students.*

The placement year takes place during your studies. You’ll gain a good understanding of the working environment, with the advantage of being paid for many placement opportunities. The skills, knowledge and experience you gain will be invaluable in your future career.

To find out about the latest opportunities, contact our Placements team: [email protected]. 

By doing a placement year you can:

  • receive support through the whole process from ARU’s dedicated Placements Team
  • expand your network and connections
  • gain a professional reference
  • adjust to professional life more easily once you graduate
  • develop your transferable skills and employability
  • potentially save money for your final year: our students on paid placements earn an average of £16,000 per annum.
"I have loved every second of my placement year and hope to return to the same company once I graduate."
Emma
BSc (Hons) Business and Human Resource Management

How do I find a placement?

Our Placements Team is here to help you navigate the job market and secure a placement.

You apply for a placement in the same way you'd apply for any job, by submitting your CV and attending an interview.

We have close links with a range of employers – from smaller local businesses through to global organisations – and work to match their vacancies to our students.

We can also help with:

  • tailoring your CV
  • mock interviews
  • confidence building
  • careers fairs
  • speed networking events.

Last year 92% of ARU students who secured a year-long placement were supported by our Placements Team.

While we can't guarantee a placement, as we rely heavily on market availability and on your own enthusiasm and commitment, we can guarantee that we’ll be here to support you every step of the way.

For placements starting in September, proposals must be submitted by 1 August.

For placements starting in January, proposals must be submitted by 1 December.

"The help and support from the Placements Team is absolutely incredible. They're always checking how you're getting on and help with preparations for interviews. The team is amazing."
Lauretta
Civil Engineering student

Placements for postgraduate students

A growing number of our Masters degrees offer placements as an integral part of the course:

View postgraduate courses with placements

Placements range from 12 weeks up to 34 weeks.

You'll be responsible for sourcing your own placement, but there'll be plenty of support and guidance on offer in your faculty.

For placements starting in September, proposals must be submitted by 1 August.

For placements starting in January, proposals must be submitted by 1 December.

Find out more

Contact us to learn more about studying on a placement course, or employing one of our students. Email [email protected].



*ISE Annual Student Recruitment Survey 2018