Practical experience can prove vital to your employment prospects in an increasingly competitive graduate job market.

There is strong evidence to suggest that work placements are extremely beneficial to students, both in terms of their academic development and future employability. We will support you if you wish to obtain work experience during your degree, and we also offer the opportunity for you to gain invaluable experience  and put your knowledge into practice by transferring to a 4-year programme and doing a professional placement year as part of your degree.

set yourself apart from the crowd

There is a wealth of benefits to be gained from undertaking a placement and gaining practical, hands-on experience in a field you may be interested in, such as the film industry, the financial sector, education, law or journalism.

If you would like to undertake a non-credit bearing summer placement or work experience, dedicated advice and one-to-one support is available from our team of Careers Consultants in the Careers Service,  as well as from your academic tutor.

"I did a paid summer placement with the Henley Business School, where my role was to improve the student and client experience. I was free to direct and manage most projects – conducting interviews, organising workshops, and facilitating a solution forum – with a supportive mentor available for advice. It was a great opportunity to gain experience and implement ideas within a real-world setting, and I would highly recommend a work placement to all students."

Hannah

BA Philosophy graduate

professional placement year

Doing a professional placement year will not only help you build your skillset and professional network but also increase your confidence in the workplace and allow you to explore your career options before you graduate. During your placement year you can go global and previous students have gone as far afield as Australia, China, the US and Zambia.

Get the advantage and make the most of your time at university by graduating with a year's experience under your belt. Many of our placement year students receive job offers from their placement providers and return for their final year of study with a secured graduate position.

Professional Placement Year Training and Support

Our Placement Coordinators are here to help you every step of the way and you will receive one-to-one support and professional placement training to ensure that you are fully equipped to secure a top-quality placement. We will also support you whilst you are on your placement and ensure that you have a successful transition back to university life when you return for your final year.

Find out more about the professional placement year and meet some of our students, or contact our Placement  Year Coordinator Dr Shalini Sinha.

undergraduate research opportunities programme

An exciting opportunity for second-year students to work with staff in the Department of Philosophy, or in other departments across the University, on a paid summer placement as part of our Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP). Develop invaluable research skills and learn directly from an expert supervisor as you tackle a fascinating topic. This project is an excellent springboard for the third-year dissertation and for postgraduate research.

"My research project was on the philosophy of technology. I could steer the research in the direction I wanted, so I ended up looking at virtual communities and being an 'authentic' person, linking this to psychosocial and mental health issues. This was a fantastic experience which showed me what professional research philosophy would be like, and has motivated me to do my master's, and possible PhD in the future."

James

BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics graduate

​Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme