Placement year degrees

Optional work placements are periods of time spent in employment with organisations in the private, public or third sectors. Optional work placements differ from mandatory placements which are a compulsory element of the learning experience within professional courses e.g. teaching, nursing and social work. Students are strongly advised to seek early support from the Placements Team to discuss options available based on their specific requirements. 

Placements typically last from 9-12 months and, for international students due to current UKVI legislation, placements must be completed by the course end date. All placements are subject to an approval process and students should speak with the Placements Team for more information on any requirements to approve a placement role.

It is the responsibility of students to apply for and secure an optional work placement, with support from the University, by the required deadline each year.

31 July for Sandwich Placement

31 March for Post Studies Placement (Connected Degree)

The University does not match students to placements and the application and selection processes are managed by employers/placement providers. Placement opportunities are advertised and the students apply directly to employers as part of a competitive process. All optional work placements remain subject to approval by the University using its standard process and in line with the University’s Optional Placement Policy.

Home Students can choose to undertake a Self-Employed Placement during their course, in which they are supported to start their own business. Students opting for a Self-Employed Placement (or SEP) are given advice and support throughout their placement year, including access to office space on campus from which to operate. 

International students are not permitted to undertake Self-Employed Placements either during or after their course, as their Student Visa, or Home Office legislation, do not allow them to engage in business activities including starting a business.

Every student starting a full-time undergraduate course is able to undertake an optional work placement at the end of their studies, with specific rules for international students under Home Office legislation. The option is available to a limited selection of postgraduate courses which can be identified by a course title containing ‘with Professional Experience’. International students on a visa must seek advice from the International Student Advice team on visa extensions and registration dates when considering their options.

Whichever route you choose, you will graduate after four years assuming you are on a three year degree with optional placement.

For those taking a sandwich placement, you will graduate after returning and completing your final year of studies.

For those taking the Connected Degree option, you will graduate after your placement year.

You will receive the same award whether or not you complete a placement. If you secure a placement offer, and complete and pass the placement year, there will be an acknowledgement on your degree transcript to show that you completed the placement year.

Students can choose to work or study abroad as a sandwich year and then take a post-study work placement.

However, students cannot take a study abroad year at the end of their course, and they cannot take two work placements.

Find out more about study abroad option

Optional work placements can have a lot of benefits. However, not every student can, or will want to, do an optional work placement. There are other opportunities at the University, within and outside of our courses, for students to gain valuable work or voluntary experience. 

These include opportunities available through the Students' Union, such as being a Course Rep or taking on a leadership role in one of our many clubs and societies, and volunteering with a local organisation through Careers and Employability. Students gaining additional experiences like these can gain recognition through our Portsmouth Award, which can be added to your CV or LinkedIn profile. 

If you want to increase your work experience, but an optional work placement isn't for you, visit Careers and Employability for advice.

The Optional Placements Team, within Careers and Employability, work very closely with students to support them with their placement search by providing tips on how to search for roles, providing 1-2-1 CV and application feedback, interview preparation, and more. We also run a Placement Club on campus twice a week, faculty placement events, drop in and bookable appointments available each day, that students can book to discuss their placement search, and placement sessions included in our undergraduate and eligible postgraduate courses.

You will get support with:

• Searching and applying for suitable roles
• Writing applications and preparing for interviews
• Navigating competitive recruitment processes
• Deciding the right time for you to do a placement
• Access to ongoing support from the University during the placement
• Students choosing a placement will also benefit from placement preparation sessions embedded into our taught courses

Students can apply for optional placements advertised by us on our jobs board, MyCareer, or they can identify their own. Either way, once an offer is in place, the placement MUST be approved by the Placement Team who will carry out further checks (in line with our approval process and University’s Optional Placement Policy) to ensure the placement is suitable, and establish an agreement with the placement provider to manage the relationship.

All students will pay a reduced tuition fee to undertake an optional placement year, currently set at approximately 15% of the full tuition fee for each year. For full fee information specific to your course, please look at the course costs and funding section of your course page.

By completing an optional placement as part of your course, you continue to be registered as a student. You will continue to have access to the same student discounts and benefits, including council tax exemption. All guidance and support services provided by the University remain accessible to you throughout your placement year.

Home students choosing an optional work placement as a sandwich year may be eligible for a tuition fee and reduced maintenance loan. They should contact the University’s Student Money Team for detailed individual advice but, in broad terms, the maintenance loan for the placement year is based on the placement location, salary, and residence (i.e. whether living at home or elsewhere).

Students who plan to take their placement as a sandwich must communicate notice of the accepted placement offer by the 31July in their second year of study. 

Students who plan to take their placement at the end of their degree, must communicate notice of the accepted placement offer by the 31 March in the final year of their studies.

All students undertaking an optional work placement will be required to undertake a pass/fail assessment. Details of this assessment, including submission deadlines, will be communicated to students before starting their placement.