Placement Year

Find out more about doing a Placement Year and register your interest

Undergraduates can take a Placement Year between the penultimate and final year of their course, so that's between second and third year for 3 year courses and between third and fourth for 4 year courses. The Placement Year will contribute to your experience and add even more value to your studies.

You can spend the year in the UK or another country, working or carrying out voluntary work. Another option is to spend the year studying abroad.

The Optional Placement Year opportunity is open to all second year undergraduate students who are studying on a three year programme. More information can be found in the FAQs below and on the Optional Placement Year Moodle course.

In addition, the following departments run specific courses with a year in industry programme. If you are enrolled on one of these courses you should contact your department for information on the process and support available. The departments are Biosciences, Computer Science, Criminology, Earth Sciences, Economics, Electronic Engineering, Law and Management.

What is the Optional Placement Year?

The Optional Placement Year is an opportunity for second year undergraduates on a three year programme (or third year undergraduates on a four year MSci/MEng programme) to take a year out before you begin your final year to complete a placement which will contribute to your experience and add even more value to your studies.
You can spend the year studying abroad, working or carrying out voluntary work.

Does registering my interest through the Moodle course commit me to doing the Optional Placement Year?

No. You should complete the Moodle course to register your interest, but if you complete it, there is no obligation for you to do the Optional Placement Year.

When do I need to apply?

You need to apply with your chosen placement experience in your second term. There are different deadlines to think about depending on the type of experience you are looking to undertake. If you want to study abroad you must apply to CeDAS for a place at one of the Royal Holloway partner universities by the end of the autumn term (for further details regarding the process, please go to this Moodle page or contact CeDAS@royalholloway.ac.uk

All eligible undergraduate students who ‘express an interest' in doing the Optional Placement Year will be able to access online resources to help them prepare for their ‘year out’ and to make an informed decision.

Is it a competitive process?

You are able to opt in and will receive support and guidance to help you source your placement. Your ability to undertake the Optional Placement Year depends on whether you can secure a placement (either on your own, via an opportunity we have advertised, or a combination of the two). Some experiences might involve a competitive application process e.g. where the provider has a limited number of spaces available (study abroad places are allocated following a competitive application and selection process). All placements must be approved by Royal Holloway.

If you are an international student you’ll need to get specific advice depending on your visa and where/how you want to spend your year out. If you are sponsored, you will need to speak to your funder.

What can I do during the year?

Subject to any visa requirements and work permit requirements, you are able to choose to undertake a work placement (in the UK or abroad), volunteering placement (in the UK or abroad), or study abroad placement.

Where can I study?

We have exchange agreements with partner universities in Europe, Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and the USA. Take a look at our Studying abroad pages for more information.

You may need a visa and/or work permit to go abroad depending on where you go. CeDAS can only give you very general advice about this and you must research the requirements and make the application yourself.

You will need to arrange your accommodation, travel and insurance, and you are responsible for these and the costs connected with living abroad. However, if studying abroad you will not pay tuition fees to the partner university.

How do I find a work placement or voluntary work opportunity?

The Moodle course contains information to help you develop your search skills and the College will send you any opportunities we are aware of but you need to be proactive in finding the opportunities that interest you – the preparatory resources on Moodle will help you to do this.

Whether you are paid or receive financial support from the organisation you are with depends on the terms of the placement or opportunity that you secure.

If you want to work or voluntary work abroad, you will need to check local visa requirements to establish whether this will be possible. You might need to arrange your accommodation and/or travel and insurance, and you are responsible for costs of these.

How do I apply?

First you need to express your interest in the Optional Placement Year. You do this by registering on the Moodle Course. This is so we can support you in your preparations for applying for an opportunity that suits your plans.

Once you have been offered a work, voluntary work and/or study abroad placement, you need to complete an application form for the College for approval. This will be explained further as part of the Moodle Course.

Who will approve my placement?

The College will approve the placement where it meets the requirements of the Optional Placement Year Scheme.

How will I be assessed?

The assessment will be determined by the nature of the placement and marked by your Department.

Can I do my Optional Placement Year at the end of my final year?

The Optional Placement Year has to be completed between your penultimate and final years of study.

What contribution does the Optional Placement Year make to my degree?

As it’s such an important part of your skills development and university experience, your Optional Placement Year will be formally recognised on your degree transcript and will contribute to your overall degree.

If your year out does not go to plan and you have extenuating circumstances that are deemed to have significantly impacted your Optional Placement Year, we will not include the mark in your final degree average.

How do I find out more?

Any questions, please email careersplacements@royalholloway.ac.uk