Placements and internships

Why just learn it, when you can do it?

Many of our degree courses include an optional placement year, or the opportunity to do an internship. You’ll be able to showcase your talents in an industry relevant to your ARU degree course, while enhancing your career prospects.

To find out about the latest opportunities, contact our Placements team: placements@aru.ac.uk.

A student working on an electronic toy car

Benefits of a placement

Completing a placement improves your chances of securing a graduate role, with employers reporting that they rehired an average of 52% of their interns and 43% of their summer placement students.*

You’ll gain a good understanding of the working environment, with the advantage of being paid for many placement opportunities. The skills, knowledge and experience you gain will be invaluable in your future career.

View undergraduate courses with optional placement years

By doing a placement year you can:

  • receive support through the whole process from ARU’s dedicated Placements Team
  • expand your network and connections
  • gain a professional reference
  • adjust to professional life more easily once you graduate
  • develop your transferable skills and employability
  • potentially save money for your final year: our students on paid placements earn an average of £16,000 per annum.
"I have loved every second of my placement year and hope to return to the same company once I graduate."
Emma
BSc (Hons) Business and Human Resources

How do I find a placement?

You apply for a placement in the same way you'd apply for any job, by submitting your CV and attending an interview.

Our Placements Team is here to help you navigate the job market and secure a placement.

We have close links with a range of employers – from smaller local businesses through to global organisations – and work to match their vacancies to our students.

We can also help with:

  • tailoring your CV
  • mock interviews
  • confidence building
  • careers fairs
  • speed networking events.

Last year 92% of ARU students who secured a year-long placement were supported by our Placements Team.

While we can't guarantee a placement, as we rely heavily on market availability and on your own enthusiasm and commitment, we can guarantee that we’ll be here to support you every step of the way.

For September starting placements, proposals must be submitted by 1 August.

For January starting placements, proposals must be submitted by 1 December.

"The help and support from the Placements Team is absolutely incredible. They're always checking how you're getting on and help with preparations for interviews. The team is amazing."
Lauretta
Civil Engineering student

Placements for postgraduate students

A growing number of our Masters degrees offer placements as an integral part of the course:

View postgraduate courses with placements

Placements range from 12 weeks up to 34 weeks.

You'll be responsible for sourcing your own placement, but there'll be plenty of support and guidance on offer in your faculty.

For September starting placements, proposals must be submitted by 1 August.

For January starting placements, proposals must be submitted by 1 December.

Internships

In Spring each year we advertise a variety of 8-12 week part-time internships which are ideal for undergraduate students.

Vacancies cover a range of areas including digital marketing, research and business development.

Find out more

Contact us to learn more about studying on a placement course, or employing one of our students. Email placements@aru.ac.uk



*ISE Annual Student Recruitment Survey 2018