Work Placements Information for Students

Work Placements Information for Students

Welcome to the School of Management While the School of Management at Swansea University is one of the UK s top providers of management, finance and economics research and education, we place very high priority on the student experience during study and the subsequent employability of our graduates. The first job for new graduates is tough to get and tough to keep, and there is no doubt that practical experience of work gives an individual a huge advantage. Company placements and work experience as part of a degree course give the graduate a massive competitive edge over others. We aim throughout all we do to give our students the very best training for their chosen careers, so that they can approach their first jobs with dynamism, enthusiasm and highly developed skills. This training is greatly enhanced when students gain practical experience of the world of work during their time at university. The best way to achieve this integration of theory and practice is through a work placement. In short, our undergraduate programmes are specifically designed to enhance your career prospects and we will give you numerous opportunities to work and network with industry experts during your time with us. We have an established track record of placing graduates within multinational companies and we achieve a 92% graduate employment rate. This School is quickly developing new capabilities. We have an exciting vision for the future with a focus on innovation and internationalisation. We are embarking on a dynamic programme of strategic change, with new course provision and cutting edge facilities, including a Trading Room and Enterprise Suite. This will culminate in our relocation to the University s new Science and Innovation campus, which, from September 2015, will offer our students state of the art facilities in an outstanding location. Students who undertake work placements develop a practical structure for better understanding the relevance and applicability of their prior academic study, and complete their studies after the placement with a completely different mind-set oriented towards informed practice. Professor Nigel Piercy, Dean of the School of Management

Benefits of Placements With many employers increasingly looking for candidates with experience as well as academic achievement, work placements have a growing importance for students and the various benefits of undertaking a work placement are significant. Employability benefits Experience of the formal application and employment process Enhancing your CV with specific industry experience Exposure to potential graduate recruiters - many companies use placements as an opportunity to talent spot for the future Professional benefits Developing new work oriented skills including presentation, teamwork and interpersonal skills Keeping up-to-date with current developments in the sector Obtaining professional qualifications that many companies offer students as part of their placement Identifying and trying out your ideal career path Making industry contacts through networking opportunities Academic benefits Chance for practical application of your theoretical knowledge Opportunity to gain a breadth of subject knowledge Insight you gain may directly relate to your course and therefore benefit your academic work, helping you achieve higher results in your degree Personal benefits You will receive continuous support from the Student Hub throughout your placement, from the application process at the start, all the way through to creating a CV which uses your industry experience to make you stand out from other applicants Opportunity to adapt to workplace culture within a supported environment Building confidence and maturity Many placements offer a salary giving you the added bonus of earning money while you increase your employability; alternatively If a salary isn t on offer, expenses and living costs may be covered at the discretion of the organisation

Programme Portfolio and Placement Schemes For undergraduate students we offer a range of business management, economics, accounting and finance degrees in our four year programmes of study. These four year programmes include the option of either a single twelve month placement in industry, or two six month placements conducted in your second and third year. Business Undergraduate We offer a suite of programmes with a variety of specialisations: BSc Business Management BSc Business Management (Marketing) BSc Business Management (Entrepreneurship) BSc Business Management (Operations & Supply Management) BSc Business Management (Finance) BSc Business Management (e-business) BSc Business Management (Management Consulting) BSc Business Management (Business Analytics) BSc Business Management (Human Resource Management) Accounting & Finance Undergraduate We offer three distinct programmes within the areas of accounting and finance: BSc Accounting & Finance BSc Accounting BSc Finance Economics Undergraduate (year in industry placement option available only) We offer three distinct programmes within the area of Economics: BSc Economics BSc Economics and Business BSc Economics and Finance For more information on the programmes above see the School of Management Undergraduate prospectus Why choose two six month work placements? Having the possibility to conduct two six month work placements allows you to experience variety within the workplace. Placements can be conducted in two different disciplines i.e. one placement in marketing and another in operations management, or alternatively within two different companies in a discipline of your choice. This can provide you with the chance to broaden your range of experience and expand your network of contacts. Being able to try before you buy within an area of business is a benefit of the two six month placement option. There is also the possibility to spend a semester abroad at one of our exchange universities. Studying abroad will enable you to enhance your communication skills, improve your cultural awareness and potentially gain proficiency in a foreign language. Why choose a year in industry? Spending a year in industry allows you to take on larger projects and immerse yourself within an organisation or discipline. Businesses often assign students to different areas within an organisation during their placement year, enabling individuals to gain far greater knowledge and experience of how the business operates as a whole. Having twelve months to showcase your ability to a potential employer is a great opportunity provided by a year in industry.

Timeline, Assessment and Fees Timeline Your work placement(s) will be conducted in your 2nd and/or 3rd year, depending on the type of programme you opt for. Six month placements will run from July to December and January to August, while your year in industry will take place from July to July. One year-long placement (during the third year of study) Semester 1 Semester 2 YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 12 month placement YEAR 4 Two separate six-month placements (one in year two and one in year three) Semester 1 Semester 2 YEAR 1 YEAR 2 Placement 1 or semester abroad YEAR 3 Placement 2 YEAR 4 Assessment To ensure your placement counts towards your studies it will be credit bearing, so you will be expected to carry out assignments during this time. We are aware that the demands of a full-time job are significant, so therefore the work you will be expected to complete during the placement will be linked to your employment activities and offer you the chance to reflect on the experience you are gaining. The structure of the assessment will be as follows: Company report on your performance (40%) Target setting and activities review, including a weekly log (40%) Written reflection on your experience and the skills you have developed on your placement (10%) Career planning review and submission of an up to date CV (10%) Fees A reduced rate of 20% of your normal tuition fees for the year will be payable to Swansea University. 20 % of normal tuition fees

FAQs What is a suitable placement? Your placement should offer the opportunity to apply and develop the knowledge and skills you have already acquired from your studies, whilst providing an appropriate degree of responsibility and the chance to make a tangible contribution to the organisation. What sort of work will I be doing? A wide range of job opportunities are available such as carrying out some project work for the organisation, filling a short term vacancy or working across two or three departments. Detailed information will be given on each placement, this should be read carefully to ensure that the placement is suitable for your chosen career. How do I find a placement? The Student Hub will liaise with employers and search for suitable placement vacancies; some of which will be bespoke opportunities through the School of Management. These will be advertised on the placements notice board, on Blackboard for you to browse, regularly e-mailed to your personal student account and posted on our social media sites. There are also many other placement schemes available which we may not advertise, so you would be encouraged to search and secure a placement for yourself as well. There are also drop in sessions available every Thursday for you to have a meeting with a member of the Placements team. Will the placement be paid? Most organisations offering placements will pay a salary or cover living and travel expenses, this will vary depending on the size, type and location of the organisation. You should ensure that this is not your primary goal for choosing a particular placement, your decision should be based on the experience you will gain and the relevance of the placement to your future career. How will I find accommodation whilst on placement? You are required to source your own accommodation for the time you will be conducting your placement. Many companies will offer guidance and advice on suitable locations and letting agents. The Placements team will always be on hand to offer support and advice where needed. I m not currently on the work placement programme. How do I transfer? If you have applied for, or are currently enrolled on a 3 year course, it is a very simple process to transfer you on to a four year programme. All you will need to do is fill out the transfer paperwork with the Placements team and Student Hub who will take you through the necessary process. As an international student, can I undertake a work placement on my current visa? This will depend on the type of visa that you have and we strongly recommend you seek advice and support from the International Student Advisory Service (ISAS). Applications will be dealt with on a case by case basis, but the team within ISAS will be able to advise you on how to obtain a visa allowing you to conduct a placement with your chosen organisation. Your Support Structure Entering the workplace can be a daunting prospect, which is why the Student Hub is here to provide support for students throughout the process to ensure you are successful in this practical element of your degree. How do we support you? Before the placement The School of Management will work closely with companies to provide placement opportunities for students. These opportunities will be advertised on our notice board and Blackboard, along with other vacancies collated by the Placements team. Advice on where to look for other available placement opportunities can also be sourced through the Student Hub. Our dedicated Careers Officers will meet with every School of Management student individually during their first year of study; they will be able to help you with the application process by holding bespoke meetings to focus on CV writing, interview techniques and to answer any other questions you may have regarding employability and your career prospects. During the placement While on your placement you will be contacted at least three times over each six month period, either face-to-face or via Skype, email or telephone. In addition, you can contact the Student Hub about any difficulties that may crop up during your placement at any time and they will endeavour to provide assistance. Your personal tutor will continue to provide academic supervision throughout your placement. After the placement At the end of your placement you will attend a meeting with one of our Careers Officers to discuss how you can apply the knowledge and skills you ve gained from your experience to enhance your employability, and make informed decisions on your future career plan and direction. swansea.ac.uk/som

Case studies I joined the School of Management Placement Scheme because I wanted to broaden my future employment prospects and improve my chances of finding work after finishing my degree. I have found that I have experienced more in the first two months of my placement than I would have expected to during the entire year of my placement, and I am already in discussion with my employer about coming back to work for them after I graduate. If you are motivated to work hard and to get the most out of your placement, you may be surprised at just how many worthwhile opportunities get sent your way. Luke Whitmore, School of Management student and intern at ReconRegen I am currently doing a marketing placement at IBM in Germany. I get to work in a small marketing team, who plan and organise events to which selected customers get invited to receive more information on specific products. From the start I was involved in projects and the planning stages of some upcoming events which enabled me to get an insight into the business world within the first couple days! It is really nice to use the theory that I ve learnt from university over the last two years and apply it in the real business world. I recognised theory from lectures which gave me even more confidence when I got to apply it. I think this placement will make me more confident when searching for jobs after university, as well as enhance my CV! Julia Wein, School of Management student and intern at IBM My placement experience has taught me more than I ever imagined. Being given real life tasks and responsibility within the company has helped me grow in the working environment and boosted my confidence on a personal level. I hope that in the future my experience will increase my employability and help me achieve the job I want. I would advise anyone considering a placement to go for it and experience the most valuable, worthwhile year yet! Charlotte Rathbone, School of Management student and intern at PMP Recruitment The new Careers team at the School of Management have helped me in so many ways. I would never be in my dream work placement if it wasn t for the help and encouragement they gave me. I would recommend their services to everyone! Cara Lewis, School of Management student and intern at DTR Medical

Contact us: Work Placements - somplacements@swansea.ac.uk Tel +44 (0)1792 295601 and ask for the Student Hub Web: www.swansea.ac.uk/som