The University of Aberdeen offers a wide range of work-based learning opportunities in the curriculum, giving you the chance to apply your skills and knowledge to challenges faced by real companies or organisations - and, of course, to develop new skills, connect with potential future employers and provide you with valuable insights to help you make informed career decisions.
Your options will depend on your programme of study and the courses available within your programme but may include:
- courses based on a consultancy-style group projects
- employer-hosted undergraduate and Masters projects
- "year in industry" as part of a five-year undergraduate degree.
- What types of work-based learning course are available and how do they work?
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Courses based on a consultancy-style group projects for an organisation
On these courses, you will be allocated to a team to work on a project for an organisation. You may have the opportunity to indicate your project preferences, although you won’t be guaranteed to get your first choice.
Examples of these courses which are open to undergraduate students from any degree discipline are PD2503 for level 2 and ED3537 for level 3 students.
Some postgraduate degree programmes will include this type of course as an option.Employer-hosted undergraduate or Masters projects
In some programmes, it is possible to complete an employer-hosted project. In some cases, these projects are sourced for you, and you will be invited to apply. These will often involve a competitive application process. You may also be able to source your own project.
Contact your programme or course coordinator to find out what is possible, and what the process and timeframe is for sourcing your own project as soon as possible.Individual placement courses
In some programmes, you can take a more traditional placement with a company or organisation. These placements may take place at a host company or organisation but, increasingly, they may take place on a hybrid or virtual basis.
Placement courses may be offered on a short-term basis within one term, take place during the summer term, or in some programmes they may involve a year-long placement as part of a five-year undergraduate degree.
In some cases, placements will be advertised for you to apply for, but more commonly, you will be expected to source and secure your own placement. Make sure you find out what the process and timeframe is for sourcing your own placement with your programme or course coordinator.International opportunities
There may also be an opportunity for you to complete a placement or "traineeship" abroad as part of your undergraduate degree. This could take the form of an English Language Assistantship as part of a languages degree, an industrial placement or a degree project abroad. You can find out more about your options and what funding is available on the University's Go Abroad website. - How do I find credit-bearing courses with a placement element?
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Your options will depend on your programme of study and the courses available within your programme. The course catalogue lists all courses for Undergraduate and Postgraduate students. You can search for courses linked to your subject to see any courses which include work-based learning or placements which are directly related to your programme. Some courses are available to students across multiple programmes, so it is also worth searching the overall catalogue for key words such as ‘placement’ and ‘work-based learning’.
- What help is available if I want to source my own project or placement?
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The Careers and Employability Service can support you in a number of ways:
- You can search for advertised year-long placements on the MyCareerHub, using the ‘Year in industry’ filter as the Opportunity type.
- You can also check out a range of resources for finding work experience, including placements on our website.
- We also have a great mini career course on finding internship opportunities.
- In some cases, it may be appropriate to explore the speculative approach to sourcing a project or placement. If you would like help with this, please make an appointment to get started and discuss how we can support you.
- How do I make the most of my project or placement?
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Before your project/placement
When you take on a project or work placement, you will most likely be given tasks and targets to achieve, however, it is a good idea to take a little time to also think about what you would like to gain from the experience.- A skills audit can help you to identify areas where you are already strong and where there is room to develop.
- You could set yourself some SMART goals and review them regularly to ensure that you stay on track.
After your project/placement
Once you have completed your project, you could repeat the skills audit to see how far you have come. This can help you to showcase your experience to future employers or postgraduate selectors on your:- CV - You can highlight any technical achievements and contributions but also transferable skills and insights you gained.
- LinkedIn profile - Add your project/placement experience to your profile but also any new skills and maybe also recommendations. If you haven't already, connect with colleagues, managers or collaborators and consider posting about your experience. Make sure to thank your host organisation and (new) network!
You could also start to think about your experience for future interviews. Our Guide to creating STARR examples can help you to describe your achievements in a structure recommended by many employers.
If you would like any feedback on your CV, LinkedIn profile or get advice on how to showcase your project or placement, then please feel free to book an appointment or use our Ask a question service.