Work Placements

What is a Sandwich Course?

A ‘sandwich course’ is one that contains a substantial period of work experience as part of the programme.
As a student you can work within a wide range of organisations obtaining experience that is relevant to your chosen field of study. Usually lasting twelve months, this work based learning counts towards your final award.

Why do a Sandwich Course?

The short answer is because it pays – short term and long term. Short term because while on placement you’ll earn:

On a typical 48-week placement last year salaries ranged from £9,000 and £28,000, with a £12,000 average.

Longer term, because you’re likely to earn more on graduation.

Recent research among our own students (Danaher, 2004) shows that on average ‘sandwich’ graduates earn £3,000 more than non-sandwich graduates in the same subject.

Sandwich graduates are also several times more likely to take up initial employment that relates directly to their long-term goals. Indeed, around a quarter of sandwich students return to their placement employer on graduation.

Although the placement year is optional for information and communication technology students, we strongly recommend that you take full advantage of this opportunity.

The Placement Experience

Your placement forms an integral and assessed part of your studies. It should provide you with the opportunity to:

* Develop an organisational overview
* Gain an understanding of different IT functions
* Apply knowledge gained in your first two years study
* Shape your approach to the final year of the degree
* Deepen your interpersonal and transferable skills
* Help identify a career path

Centre for Work-Based Learning Team

The placement period is supported and monitored by a dedicated Placements Team. Employers also collaborate fully to provide you with a varied and beneficial experience. The success of this scheme means that the team now works with a wide range of organisations. There are small, medium and large employers – local, national and international, who will take over 250 students each year.

A dedicated website packed with information provides an invaluable resource to support you through your placement search.

You will also have access to an extensive range of placement opportunities each year through the placements’ database.

If you’ve the drive and determination, we’ll do our best to help you achieve your placement goals.

Emma Blake – Student on placement at British Aerospace Systems

“I had the opportunity to become involved with a new initiative aimed at achieving customer excellence, which produced many opportunities such as presenting my own work to some of the BAE’s Executives. I was awarded the Bronze British Aerospace Chairman’s Innovation and Technology Award for my work on this initiative”.

Contact - Centre for Work Based Learning

Tel: +44 (0) 1242 543 212
Email: ugbs-placements@glos.ac.uk
Web: online.glos.ac.uk/placementinfo