Module Directory

This module enables you to undertake a full placement year with an external Placement Provider, who will be your host organisation for the period of the placement (a minimum of 30 weeks).

During the placement, you will complete a number of assessments which enable you to utilise and develop the links between the knowledge and skills developed in your academic course and the work-based skills developed in carrying out your placement role.

The aims of this module are:

• To provide you with the opportunity to apply your academic learning outcomes in a work-related context.


• To enable you to develop essential work-based skills throughout the placement.


• To provide you with the opportunity to analyse your practical work in a theoretical context.

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Reflect on and articulate the learning gained from a work placement.


2. Devise and revise learning goals and identify future actions to enhance your employability.


3. Record and interrogate critical incidences and moments of insight.


4. Investigate jobs and organisations and identify opportunities that appeal to you.


5. Synthesise the impact that experiential learning in the work place has for your personal, academic and employability development and future career choices.

You are responsible for securing the placement, with support from the School and University. The main support is provided by the Placements Team, and you should contact them at the earliest opportunity.

Placements have to be approved by the School's Placement Officer. If you cannot secure a suitable placement in time, you will be transferred onto the equivalent three-year course without placement. If there are issues with this timing, you should contact the School's Placement Officer as quickly as possible – while no guarantees can be provided, special exceptions may be granted.

An acceptable placement should include the following elements:

- Ability to apply subject-specific reasoning and learning
- Provide opportunities for practical learning in an organisation relevant to your career aspirations
- Enable you to assume an appropriate degree of responsibility
- Be at Junior Professional level or clearly related to graduate-level work, such as to improve the chances of the placement holder to gain graduate-level work after completing it

You should contact the School's Placement Officer at the earliest opportunity to ascertain that the placement you aim to apply for is suitable.

The learning and teaching methods will be dependent on the placement and will be recorded for you on the training agreement signed by you, the Placement Provider and the University.

You will be assigned to an Academic Supervisor in your Department, and a Placement Supervisor named by the Placement Provider.

You will liaise with your Academic Supervisor and your Placement Supervisor on a regular basis throughout the period of your placement, and as necessary after the placement has ended in order to allow you to complete the assessed work for the module.

The Academic Supervisor will be appointed prior to undertaking your placement, and will contact you at defined points throughout the placement. The Academic Supervisor will be available via email and phone as necessary during the period you are on placement.

You will additionally be provided with the contact details of administrative staff in the SPAH who will be contactable throughout the placement; and with the details of the Faculty Placements Team who will be available to you throughout your placement to provide advice and support in relation to generic work-based learning issues.