Next Steps

Please let the Placement Team know AS SOON as you have secured your placement, even if the start date is months away

Contact your Placement Coordinator or Placement Tutor for your department and let them know that you have secured a placement. You can find a list on our about page, or if you are unsure, please email placements@reading.ac.uk.

In your email confirming your placement, please let us know the company/organisation, the title of your role and the dates you intend on starting so we can prioritise your placement authorisation. If it would be helpful, you can also book a 1:1 appointment with a Placement Coordinator.

You MUST complete a placement pathway before we can approve your placement

The Placement Pathway allows the placement team to review and approve your placement, and ensure the correct paperwork is in place to support your individual requirements. The Placement Pathway requires you to provide detailed information relating to your placement, such as location, key contacts, the organisation, the role, and also, very importantly health and safety information.

In some cases, especially if you are undertaking a placement in education, NHS or a care setting, you will require a DBS. The Placement team can undertake the verification process for you but you will need to pay for the DBS yourself. (Approx. £40 for an enhanced DBS check).

In most cases, your placement provider will not allow you to start your placement until the DBS certificate has been issued and they will ask you to bring it with you on your first day of placement.

Adjustments on placement

As part of our risk profiling on the Placement Pathway, we will ask if you have any specific requirements or disabilities so we can support you to make any necessary adjustments during your placement alongside your placement provider. For example you may need technical equipment, more time to complete tasks, specialist equipment or shorter working hours. We will not disclose any information to your placement provider without your permission and can support you with any discussions around your accessibility and needs before and during your placement.

All placement pathways must be completed before you begin your placement, otherwise the placement will not be authorised and may not count towards your degree.

How long will it take to authorise my placement?

We require a minimum of 3 weeks to approve UK-based placements, and a minimum of 6 weeks to approve international placements outside of the EEA, so please factor in these timings when completing your pathway otherwise it may delay your placement start date.

Overseas placements

All students undertaking placements outside of the UK, must complete the online risk management form for students on RISIS (under 'Actions' select 'Student Risk Management').

As you are undertaking your placement as part of your course, overseas placements are covered by University travel and medical insurance. For more information on our insurance policy, please see the University travel information and the details provided on our placement care card - we suggest that you take a screen shot of this, download the app and put the details into your phone, before you travel.

You MUST attend mandatory placement pre-departure training.

The Placement team run mandatory, timetabled pre-departure training sessions for all Placement Year students alongside your department. These sessions provide vital information on transition to, and managing your placement year, as well as details of the required assessment and learning outcomes.

All students MUST attend a pre-departure session before beginning a placement year, or have a 1:1 tutorial with a Placement Coordinator, if you fail to attend a group session.

Placement bursary

The Placement Bursary is available for students with a household income less than £45,000. Find out more here.

Student finance

You will need to speak to your student finance provider once you have secured a placement year. During your Professional Placement Year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee, which is 15% of your usual fees. UK and EU students can apply for a tuition fee loan to cover this cost. UK students can also apply for a reduced maintenance loan.

Unpaid Placements

If you are undertaking an unpaid or very low paid placement, you will understandably be concerned about managing your finances for the year. Before you accept an offer of an unpaid placement, please consider very carefully how you are going to manage financially for the year ahead, especially taking into consideration the increased cost of living, utility bills and also the impact this might have on your health and wellbeing. You may also discover that financial constraints prevent you from completing the placement year so it is important to plan ahead and weigh up your options.

Unpaid service:

The full maintenance loan should be available to students who are considered to be taking “Unpaid Service” in placement year.  Students can apply to Student Finance England for the same types of student funding for living costs as they would in the other years of their course:

• If they undertake an unpaid placement within a hospital, or laboratory, or with a primary care trust in the UK (or equivalent health authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)

• Unpaid service with a local authority in the UK in work that relates to the care and welfare of children and young people, health or welfare, or with a voluntary organisation providing facilities or carrying out similar activity in the UK.
• In a prison or aftercare service in the UK
• Unpaid research in an institution (i.e.a University) in the UK or overseas

Please see guidance on money matters and organise an appointment with the Student Financial Support team if you have any further questions, or call them on 0118 378 555.

The University and Students’ Union also provide an important interactive cost of living support guide for students

Accommodation

If you are changing locations for your placement year, you will need to plan your accommodation in advance. Your placement provider may be able to give advice on good areas to live and/or a reputable letting agent. Some placement providers offer buddy schemes and organisations with a large number of placement students might help to facilitate house shares through social media contact groups or networking/meet-and-greet events.

Care Card

We have created a care card for all placement students so you have important contacts at the ready should you need them at anytime – don’t forget to personalise with the details of your placement tutor and coordinator. If you’d like a hard copy, you can collect one from the Careers Reception desk.