MEng placements

The School of Engineering Placement team coordinates the MEng Placements. The team comprises of:

  • Katherine Cameron, Industry Engagement Manager
  • Elsie Dent, Placement Administrator

We support students in finding placements by maintaining relationships with our industrial partners, advertising placements, organising supporting events to help students prepare for placements and guiding students through the placement approval process. We remain a point of contact during the placement. We work closely with the Study and Work Away Service (SWAY) who support  and risk assess international placements and the Careers Service who provide advice and guidance on placement applications and making the most of your experience.

Placement Handbook

The Placement Team have put together a general placement handbook which provides advice and information for students in the School before, during and after your placement. School of Engineering Placement Handbook 2022-2023 Each placement programme is slightly different and this handbook should be read along with any subject specific advice you are given.

MEng Placement Programmes

The following MEng degree programmes have a 6 month placement option:

  • Chemical Engineering
  • Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (part of the Mechanical Engineering programme)
  • Electronics and Computer Science (part of the Electronics & Electrical Engineering programme)
  • Electronics and Electrical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering

Further details about the individual programmes are below. If you are interested in taking a year out to do a "year in industry", there is information at the foot of the internships page.

Chemical Engineering

The Chemical Engineering placement is an opportunity to complete for students to complete their final year project in an industrial or overseas research setting.  Typically the host organisation will specify the project and at least two thirds of the placement time will be spent on work that will contribute to the dissertation.

Preparation Activities

  • 3rd and 4th year students will be invited to view the posters of returning placement students.  This event takes place in February each year and provides an opportunity to ask about the companies and what it is like doing a placement.
  • Presentation at the start of 4th year on 5th year project options.
  • Risk Assessment session.
  • Placement pre-departure meeting.
  • Support from the Careers Service: finding working experience, preparing applications, interviews.

At the beginning of 4th year all students will be added to a course area which will provide more detailed information on applying for placements.

Electronics & Electrical Engineering

The Electronics & Electrical Engineering placement is an opportunity to complete for students to complete their final year project in an industrial or overseas research setting.  Typically the host organisation will specify the project and at least two thirds of the placement time will be spent on work that will contribute to the dissertation. The School has some industrial partners which offer a summer internship between 3rd and 4th year paired with a placement.  These will be advertised to 3rd year students during 1st semester. The assessment of the placement is over two courses, Phase One and Phase Two.

Preparation Activities

  • During 1st semester of 3rd year there will be a series of talks covering an introduction to the placement scheme, choosing BEng or MEng and what jobs look like in industry.  These are accompanied but sessions from the Careers Service on finding work experience, CVs and covering letters and interviews.
  • 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students will be invited to view the posters of returning placement students.  This event takes place in March each year and provides an opportunity to ask about the companies and what it is like doing a placement.
  • Risk Assessment session.
  • Placement pre-departure meeting.

At the beginning of 3rd year all students will be added to a course area which will provide more detailed information on applying for placements.

Mechanical Engineering

The Mechanical Engineering Placement takes place during 4th year and is a work experience placement and students can complete it in an industrial or overseas research setting.

  • Course Description: Industrial/European Placement 4
  • Course Organiser: Stephen Warrington
  • Time Scale: January - August, starting in Semester 2, 4th year and running for at least 6 months.  Students return for Semester 1 of 5th year.
  • Key time for securing a placement: During semester one of 4th year

Preparation Activities

  • During 3rd year the Professional Issues for Mechanical Engineers 3 course includes a semester on Career Development planning which includes material useful for placement preparation. The lectures are delivered in collaboration with Careers Service and cover choosing BEng or MEng, presentations by previous placement students, finding work experience, CVs and covering letters and interviews.
  • 3rd and 4th year students will be invited to view the posters of returning placement students.  This event takes place in September each year and provides an opportunity to ask about the companies and what it is like doing a placement.
  • Risk Assessment session.
  • Placement pre-departure meeting.

At the beginning of 4th year all students will be added to a course area which will provide more detailed information on applying for placements.

Placement Approval

All placements must be approved by the Placement Team and the course organiser.  There are three different approval steps.

  1. Placement work approved as suitable, i.e. meets course requirements
  2. Placement agreement signed by the host organisation
  3. Risk Assessment completed by the student and signed off by the School

All three steps must be completed before the placement starts.