There are lots of opportunities for help if you do not already have a placement. We have identified some of the support that is available from the Placements Team and the University’s careers service, Careers Network.
We have created a dedicated Canvas course to support you in your search for a placement and you can self-enrol to the course here. The Canvas course also provides information about key dates and learning outcomes, such as placement registration deadlines, placement completion dates and tools to develop your understanding about your skills and strengths.
Ultimately, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have a placement arranged for the module. If you don’t have a placement and are planning on choosing the module, or have already done so, please let us know what your work experience interests are by completing our Placement Plans form which will be sent to you following module registration.
Entrepreneurship
Do you have a business idea that you'd like to explore? Along with typical summer placement routes, such as internships and volunteering, students are able to scope out, develop and grow their ideas as part of the Professional Development Module (PDM). This approach takes a great deal of self-discipline, and you should only consider undertaking a placement of this type if you are confident that you will be sufficiently motivated both to use the time usefully and to complete the minimum 40 hours. Please complete our expression of interest form if you're interested in using an independent placement towards the module.
Book a one-to-one appointment
The Placements Team also offer bookable appointments to students in their penultimate year who are considering or have chosen the Professional Development Module. Book a 'Professional Development Module Placements Support' appointment with a member of the Placements Team for some one-to-one support.
Careers Network are available throughout to provide careers support and can help you in your search for work experience.
From deciding what to do to making your first approach to a company, the Internships and Work Experience team have created useful Work Experience Guidance pages to help you find a placement.
The module’s dedicated Placements Team are going out to find placements for students in the public, private and voluntary sectors and these placements will be advertised to students on the module’s Canvas course. Students will have to apply to these placements directly and undergo a recruitment process set by the employer.
You may secure an unpaid placement and therefore require financial assistance to cover travel and out-of-pocket expenses - please see some of the funding options that are available at the University:
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The Turing Scheme is the UK’s global programme to study and work abroad. A minimum of £120 a week is available to support international summer work placements. Additional funding is available depending on the destination and/or if you are a widening participation student. Placements must be a minimum of 4 weeks and maximum of 8 weeks in duration, occurring between June and August 2024. Get in touch with the the Placements Team to receive support through the Turing Scheme’s application process.
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The Gateway to Work Experience Bursary has been made available to eligible students to help fund a summer placement for the Professional Development Module. The Gateway to Work Experience Bursary is designed to enable certain undergraduate students from under-represented groups at the University to access work experience which they may otherwise be unable to afford. Applications to the Gateway to Work Experience Bursary can still be made for extracurricular work experience. The Bursary can cover reasonable costs of travel, accommodation, and formal clothing – up to £1,000 for UK-only work experience. For information on eligibility and application process, visit the bursary webpage: https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/student/careers/internships-and-work-experience/funding/gateway-bursary-scheme.aspx. Bursary queries can be directed to workexperience@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
- Student Support Fund - The Student Support Fund (SSF) is a discretionary grant, offering non-repayable support of up to £2,500 in an academic year. All applications will be means-tested, therefore some applications will be unsuccessful.