Undergraduate

Placement FAQs

Can overseas students go on placements?
Yes. The Home Office allows overseas students to take placement employment on both the one-year placement and Professional Pathway schemes without needing a work permit, and without jeopardising your student visa status.

When do I need to decide if I want to do a placement?
One-year placements are finalised during the second year. The PLU holds sessions to fully brief you on what you need to do and when.

What happens on placement?
Placement students perform a range of tasks, for example, programming, user support, systems investigation, analysis and design, documentation, testing, development, data collection, or helpdesk work. City ensures that you are provided with a planned sequence of learning opportunities, goals, and industrial training.

How much will I be paid on Placement?
How much depends on each employer. You would typically be paid between £15,000 and £22,000 per year while on placement and, in exceptional cases, substantially more.

How do I find a placement?
City has extensive experience in enabling students to secure placement employment in the IT and engineering industries. We teach you effective communication skills, CV preparation, and help you practise for interviews and psychometric tests.

When can I do a placement?
All one-year placements are taken between July at the end of your second year, up until September the next year.

Where can I do a placement?
A placement can be carried out anywhere in the world as long as there is a significant IT component to the placement as recognised by the British Computer Society.

What is the typical duration of a placement?
Most one-year placements last between nine and twelve months with the majority lasting twelve.

Is the placement accredited?
Yes. The high standard of City placements is recognised through a professional development scheme approved by the British Computer Society. This gives you a framework for career development planning, which we help you with. Your validated record, demonstrating competence in a range of tasks, will provide you with evidence of experience you can use when applying for jobs. On graduation, you are able to apply for professional British Computer Society membership

Am I guaranteed a placement?
No. The PLU is there to support any students looking to undertake a placement by assisting with application and CV advice, as well as sourcing and promoting placement opportunities to students.

Are the placements exclusive to City students?
The PLU does source many exclusive opportunities every year. The unit is always working to increase the number of exclusive opportunities to help increase your chances of securing a placement.