Placements

All Science courses offer the opportunity to undertake a placement; some are built into modules and there is always the option to take a sandwich year. All provide students with work experience and the opportunity to put academic theory into practice.

Students who undertake a placement will gain the relevant work experience which employers seek; giving them a competitive advantage in the graduate recruitment market. Students can expect to develop both professionally and personally, gaining and honing new skills.

Some Northumbria graduates have successfully secured full-time graduate employment with their placement provider.

Placement choices encompass a wide range of host organisations in order to reflect the breadth of career paths open to science students. A science placement will provide students with a strong foundation in a wide range of methodologies, with an emphasis placed on laboratory analysis.

The placement experience will enable students to develop their practical skills and gain exposure to a wide range of methodologies, using state-of-the-art instrumentation within an sector specific context. Students who successfully complete their placement can expect to develop the key transferable skills expected of any high-calibre science graduate, specifically the communication and presentation of investigation results.

We work in partnership with leading organisations to provide our students with a diverse range of placement opportunities all of the highest quality. We have worked in partnership with:

• Procter & Gamble
• GlaxoSmithKline
• KP
• Greggs
• NHS

Whatever the type of placement, students are fully supported in the placement journey, from the initial contact with the provider and throughout the placement itself, to evaluating the experience for future personal development. Students will also gain exposure to the breadth of knowledge and experience from fellow science professionals whilst building up a network of industry contacts.

Industrial Placements
Northumbria University students have the opportunity to take part in work-experience for a year. We have strong links with various NHS Trusts, providing students with working placements in an area relevant to their degree. Students embarking on an Industrial Placement in the fields of Biotechnology, Chemistry, Food Science, Biology, Human Nutrition and Forensic Science have the opportunity to be placed as a full time employee with a competitive salary of around £14,000 - £16,000 paid by the placement provider.