• Inform your Placement Officer and complete / check all the required health and safety related actions using Co-Tutor.  In particular, the:
  • Risk Assessment
  • Health and Safety Briefing
  • Host Organisation Declaration Form
• If your placement is unpaid and/or there is no contract or agreement in place between you and the organisation, then ask the organisation for written confirmation of the following:
  • A job description or summary of the duties you will be undertaking
  • Days and hours of the placement/internship
  • Breaks during the day e.g. time allowed for lunch
  • Whether work-related expenses can be claimed, including how to claim, e.g. by submitting receipts for travel
  • Any ‘holiday’ or ‘annual leave’ entitlement

• If your placement is overseas you must have read and completed:
  • The actions on the Overseas Checklist on Co-Tutor
  • The Travel Advice Section actions (see also Travel advice for overseas placements below)

Refer to the resources available on the following topics:

• Employment rights and responsibilities
• Housing
• Council Tax
• Student Finance
• Workplace Etiquette‌

Explore your options as early as possible to work out what will be the right choice for you.

Living at home

Many students search for a placement near home and can move back home for a year to live with family. This can be a good option financially, but may limit your options for the type and number of placements.

Staying with someone you know

You could take up a placement away from home, but near a friend or relative whom you could stay with. Or you could agree to stay with someone you know for just a short time, giving you the opportunity to find alternative accommodation in the area.

Living in Loughborough

Some students seek placements in and around the Loughborough area. If this will be the first time you have looked for rented accommodation in Loughborough visit the Student Advice and Support Service website.

Finding accommodation in the UK

Most students undertaking a 45-week placement will move away from Loughborough (and away from their family home) and secure accommodation near their place of work.

Help from your placement employer

Some employers might recommend accommodation, help you to find something suitable or put you in touch with other students or staff you could share with. Don’t be afraid to ask about this.

Finding your own place to live

If you need to find rented accommodation near to where you’ll be working, advice on house-hunting, contracts, managing your finances, safety, dealing with any problems is available from the Student Advice and Support Service. Most of this is relevant to accommodation anywhere in the UK.

Accommodation in Loughborough if you don’t find a placement 

If you have not received a placement offer yet, you can apply for a room in halls. If you do secure a placement later in the year, you will need to fill in a cancellation form with evidence of your placement offer to be released from your hall room contract.

Alternatively, you can rent private accommodation, but don’t feel pressured into giving up on your placement search too early!

If you have secured a Placement abroad, there will additional considerations and practical arrangements to make.  Ensure you read the 'Things to Consider' section on our Working Abroad page which provides information, advice and links to help you get started so that you can prepare mentally, financially and physically to make the most of the opportunity 

IMPORTANT: You should also ensure that you have read the University Before you Leave page which has details about visas, finance and insurance which are relevant to a placement abroad.  It also has vital information of what to do in an emergency situation while you are abroad on your placement.

As part of the recruitment process or when you have accepted the offer of a placement role you may be asked by the organisation for a letter demonstrating that you are a student on a course that includes a placement.  The letter can be requested from Loughborough University Student Enquiries.

If you are a student studying in the UK on a tier 4 visa the organisation may request a letter from you that confirms you are eligible to undertake a placement as part of your course.  This letter can also be requested from Loughborough University Student Enquiries.