Placement Years and Internships in the UK and Ireland Explained

What a placement year (sandwich course) is

Many UK and Irish degrees offer a 'placement year' (often called a 'sandwich' course or 'year in industry') — a year of full-time work with an employer, usually taken between the second and final year of study. The degree extends to four years instead of three, and the placement is normally a formal, assessed part of the course.

A placement differs from a short internship in length and integration: it is built into your programme, supervised by both employer and university, and frequently graded or reported on. The aim is to apply academic learning in a real workplace and graduate with substantial experience already on your CV.

Not every course offers a placement year, and the structure varies by university and subject. Always check the official course page on the university's own .ac.uk or .ie website for what is offered, whether it is paid, and how it is assessed.

Internships and summer work experience

Internships are typically shorter — often a summer or a few months — and may sit outside your formal degree. Large employers run structured 'summer internship' programmes, especially in finance, technology, engineering, consulting and law, and these often feed into graduate-scheme offers.

Smaller organisations, start-ups, charities and research groups also offer internships and short work-experience placements, though these are advertised less formally. Your university careers service and departmental contacts are usually the best route to find them.

Internships build skills, references and professional networks, and let you test whether a sector suits you before committing to a graduate role.

How to secure a placement or internship

Placement and internship recruitment for competitive employers can open well in advance, so start early. Treat applications like graduate-scheme applications: a tailored CV, a focused cover letter, and often online tests or interviews.

Use your university's placement team — many sandwich courses have dedicated staff who maintain employer relationships, advertise vetted roles and support you through applications. Careers fairs, employer presentations and alumni contacts are also strong leads.

• Check whether your course includes an optional or compulsory placement year
• Register with your university careers/placement service early
• Build a tailored CV and cover letter for each role
• Apply early — competitive schemes often recruit well in advance
• Prepare for online tests, video interviews and assessment centres
• Ask academic staff and alumni about contacts in your sector

International students: visa and work considerations (UK)

If you are in the UK on a Student visa, a placement that is an integral, assessed part of your course may be treated differently from ordinary part-time work, but conditions and limits apply and depend on your specific visa and course. Your university's international student team and the official GOV.UK Student visa guidance are the authoritative sources.

This is general information, not immigration advice. Work allowances, placement rules and any limits change and depend on your individual circumstances. Always verify your exact entitlements on the official GOV.UK Student visa pages and with your university's visa advisers before accepting a placement or internship.

International students: working while studying in Ireland

Non-EEA students in Ireland on a Stamp 2 permission for an eligible full-time course may take up work within the conditions set by Irish immigration, which include limits on hours during term and different allowances during holiday periods. A work placement that forms part of your course may be treated differently again, depending on the programme.

This is general information, not immigration advice. The exact hour limits and placement rules are set by the immigration authorities and can change. Verify your entitlements on the official Irish Immigration Service (irishimmigration.ie) and Citizens Information pages, and confirm details with your college's international office.