MN6W04 - Professional Experience Year Placement (2026/27)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2026/27 | ||||||||||||
| Module title | Professional Experience Year Placement | ||||||||||||
| Module level | Honours (06) | ||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 30 | ||||||||||||
| School | Guildhall School of Business and Law | ||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 300 | ||||||||||||
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| Running in 2026/27(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) | No instances running in the year |
Module summary
A Year in Industry (‘sandwich placement’) module is often one of the most effective ways to secure a professional career following graduation.
This module provides an additional 30 credits between Levels 5 and 6, offering a four-year course programme. It is specifically designed to enhance your employability and improve your future prospects by undertaking a minimum of 44 weeks of full-time, professional-level employment related to your graduate career goals.
Pre-placement preparation workshops and one-to-one support will assist you in your search for a suitable placement. Year-long placements are advertised by a wide range of organisations, and we will support you in accessing these opportunities.
During the placement year, you will be supported by a Placement Tutor who will provide guidance on all aspects of your workplace experience and module assessments.
Placement employers will be asked to complete a feedback form evaluating your performance in the role.
The module aims to enable you to:
• Apply the knowledge gained through your course and any previous employment in a practical, professional work environment.
• Gain in-depth insight into a particular industry, including analysing work-based problems and proposing solutions.
• Develop industry-focused, graduate-level employability skills.
• Make a positive contribution to the employing organisation and demonstrate inclusive workplace practices.
• Articulate industry-specific and transferable skills to support your future career—whether through recruitment processes, self-employment, or further professional/postgraduate study.
Please note:
• You will receive support well in advance of the placement year to help secure a suitable placement in good time.
• You are responsible for applying for appropriate opportunities and engaging with the Module and Placements Team for assistance.
• The suitability of any placement will be assessed by the Module and Placements Team, and all placements must meet Health and Safety requirements for Higher Education placements.
• Students on a Student Visa must ensure their placement meets UKVI monitoring requirements. This includes:
• Prior approval of placement dates and hours.
• Submission of timesheets signed by a line manager or supervisor.
Prior learning requirements
Work placement modules are not available for Study Abroad students.
Syllabus
The syllabus will prepare you for securing a suitable work placement, performing well in the job role and the assessment and considering the next steps in your career.
● Consideration of suitable placement roles, guidance on job application and selection processes and appropriate articulation of your abilities
● Demonstration of confident self-presentation and self-assessment techniques for personal and professional development and resilience.
● Equipping students to positively contribute to and work in a diverse environment, professionalism, ethics and inclusive work-based practice, being a critical employee, being an inclusive team worker or leader, Health and Safety in the workplace, setting personal goals.
● Critical self-reflection on personal and professional development, application of academic knowledge and personal skills development to the placement environment.
● Problem solving in the placement environment; investigation and analysis of the immediate environment; personal contribution to the work situation and analysis of the wider goals, aims and functions of the project/organisation.
● Future career action planning following the placement experience, reflecting and preparing for the next steps of their development to achieve career goals through study and additional experience.
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
The module is designed to serve a number of diverse course programmes and is therefore flexible to a wide range of subjects and work-based environments. Student learning will be developed through individual and group-based activities and will include remote one to one support during the work placement phase of at least 44 weeks from the summer following the end of Level 5 studies to the summer before Level 6 studies.
As the syllabus outlined in Section 10 above must be covered prior to commencement of the Year in Industry, the scheduled learning and teaching class-based workshops and one to one support will take place in the academic year before the placement commences and will be scheduled to meet existing timetables. To support this, certain classes may be delivered via Teams.
Virtual learning will be via the WebLearn Virtual Learning Environment, to augment the syllabus delivery and will continue during the placement phase. In addition, Teams will be utilised during the remote support phase to ensure the relationship between the tutor and student is maintained.
Independent study will include researching roles to apply for, preparing applications and for selection processes, recording work-based activities and completing the assessments. Timely feedback will be provided on planning / drafts.
Work placement hours
The module requires a minimum of 44 weeks of full-time hours, with the maximum time period of up to 48 weeks full-time hours, over a year. The overall hours would depend on the standard working hours for a particular placement e.g. 35, 40 or 45 hours per week. Therefore, the total hours can range from 7,700 hours up to 9,900 maximum.
Assessments The assessments are designed to support students in identifying and articulating their professional skill set. Students will be expected to reflect on the experiences gained through their year-long work placement and demonstrate their learning through participation in mock assessment centre tasks. These tasks will focus on workplace problem-solving and provide evidence of the skills and knowledge developed during their placement. In addition, students will be required to outline their intended next steps in their career journey. This may include pursuing further work experience, engaging in freelance opportunities, or applying for graduate-level roles.
Post placement learning development: students will be encouraged to further progress their employability in consideration of their graduate careers supported by the Graduate Success team and online resources.
Learning outcomes
Following successful completion of you the module, you will be able to:
1. Critically evaluate the operational practices of an organisation, identifying strengths and areas for improvement in relation to industry standards and inclusive workplace practices.
2. Analyse complex work-based problems encountered during your placement and formulate evidence-based solutions that demonstrate initiative, creativity, and professional judgement.
3. Apply theoretical knowledge and academic frameworks from your degree programme to real-world professional contexts, demonstrating adaptability and reflective practice.
4. Construct articulation of your transferable and industry-specific skills, supported by critical reflection on your personal development and career aspirations.