Study with employment experience

Undergraduates can choose to switch to a degree with an integrated placement year.

People sat in an office working at their desks
On

An undergraduate degree with employment experience includes a placement year in your third year of study which will last a minimum of 38 weeks.

This means you study your first and second year at university, before completing your placement in your third year. You then return to Sheffield to complete your fourth and final year.

The successful completion of your placement will change your degree title to recognise this, for example 'BSc Environmental Science with Placement Year'.

A placement year is an excellent opportunity to apply what you’ve learnt in your course and gain invaluable workplace experience.

Year-long placements

Eligibility

Students on the following courses can apply to transfer onto a 'Degree with Placement Year':

  • Environmental Science BSc
  • Geography and Planning BA
  • Geography BA
  • Geography BSc
  • Global Sustainable Development BA
  • Urban Studies and Planning MPlan(UG)
  • Urban Studies BA

Application process

Rather than applying through UCAS, you can transfer onto 'Degree with Placement Year' in your first year at Sheffield, once you've secured your placement.

Placements aren't guaranteed but we’ll do everything we can to help.

Fees

Students undertaking a placement year pay a substantially reduced fee (Student login required).

You can undertake a placement within the UK or internationally.

Placement examples

In previous years, students have carried out placements with a variety of public and private sector organisations, including:

  • Local planning authorities and private organisations in London and Cambridge
  • Private planning organisations in London
  • Transport for London
  • Local housing associations
Student Maisie on her placement

I wanted to get some experience of how planning works in real life

Maisie Colloby BA Geography and Planning with Placement Year

Maisie undertook a placement year, which helped her to better understand what she wanted to do in her future career.

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