Placements
Number 1 in the West Midlands for providing meaningful work experience placements (RateMyPlacement 2025)
We understand that in today's competitive jobs market, increasing numbers of employers expect new graduates to have substantial experience of the workplace.
You may be required to undertake a placement as part of your course, or offered the opportunity to undertake a Professional Placement Year during your time at BCU. Our students have enjoyed placements with companies like the BBC, Cisco, IBM, NHS, Microsoft, Dolby, Selfridges, ASOS and more.
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I'd recommend doing a placement because it sets you apart from everyone else who's applying for graduate jobs when you finish. Bosch is a big name and I have that on my CV.
Are you holding that knee? Have you damaged your knee?
Yes
The most rewarding element of placement for me is just developing those communication skills with my patients I really love the part of my job where I can reassure people.
Did you manage to sort the new heights out for the boilers? It's so valuable the experience and knowledge you can gain on placement so anybody looking to come into the business this is definitely the way forward come into a placement year
Sulphuric acid inside the small beaker of copper oxide and we're gonna see a reaction take place. There's a big difference in terms of studying and coming on to the job it's all practical when it's kind of linking in the theory the pedagogy side of education with putting it into practice.
We just quickly look through the cost tab as well and see all of that's pulling through correctly slight variance in the overhead. It's been a wonderful year I've managed to travel to all of the different sites within the bend of the group in the UK I've also had exposure to several different departments.
Yeah of course if you just want to give me your name I can make sure you're on the door for tonight so you'll be able to get in. I'm on my third year placement Edgbaston Cricket Ground is commercial executive as far. As we're concerned she's a full-time member of staff and contributes to what we're trying to achieve all the time.
Engineering has been a right choice for me it's really satisfied my edge of technology and being part of the BBC on placement has been really fun working with teams that produce content for millions of people has been really really satisfying.
You want to see a variable name and you want to see the data so I'll give you another two minutes to do that. I'm extremely ecstatic that I've done the course and I'm looking forward to starting September as a newly qualified teacher and bringing all the skills knowledge and understanding that I have into my new profession.
How do placements work?
Completing a placement is an excellent way to put what you have learned on your course into practice and develop new skills relevant to your future career. We've put together all the information you need to know about placements.
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What are the different types of placement?
You may be required to undertake a placement as part of your course, or many of our courses offer a Professional Placement Year option.
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Will I be supported in finding a placement?
For any placement, you will be fully supported by your tutors and the Careers+ Team through lectures, seminars, workshops and one-to-one guidance.
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When does placement take place?
Mandatory placements will be rearranged and worked into your timetable. Depending on your course, you could have placement every term, every year or just once during your degree.
If your placement is an optional Professional Placement Year, this means taking a break between year 2 and year 3 of your course to work in industry for the year.
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What kind of companies can I work for on my placement?
Our students have enjoyed placements with companies like the BBC, Cisco, IBM, NHS, Microsoft, Dolby, Selfridges, ASOS and more.
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Will I be offered a job at the end of my placement?
Whilst we can't guarantee that completing a placement will get you a job offer, employers are often impressed by students completing placement and offer them a job when they graduate or invite them back to interview.
Either way, if you make the most of your placement then you'll still have new skills and connections you can use to apply to a graduate job.
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Are Professional Placement Years paid?
Professional Placement Years are often paid. Salaries will depend on the role, location and company.
Placement stories
My placement with Sky and Universal Music Group
Elvinah has achieved two work placements in the media industry. She spoke to us about how they'll help her pursue her career in television.
Elvinah's placementMy placement with Nissan Technical Centre Europe
Mohammed is a Mechanical Engineering student who worked as a Test Engineer at Nissan Technical Centre Europe and gained valuable experience.
Mohammed's placementMy placement with support through court
Law student Lauren worked in our on-site law clinic which led to a job offer before she had even graduated.
Lauren's placementMy placement with Turner and Townsend
Quantity Surveying student David spent his placement year at leading global consultancy Turner & Townsend as a Trainee Cost Manager.
David's placementPlacements for Education and Teacher Training, Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery, and Social Work and Community students.
If you're a student on one of our Education and Teacher Training, Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery, or Social Work and Community courses then placements will be a compulsory part of your course. Placement opportunities will be embedded throughout your course to develop the necessary skills for your chosen profession. Find out what these placements involve and hear about students' placement experiences.