A Placement Year is a minimum of 45 weeks of “professional level” work experience, starting after your second year of studies and before your final year.

On successful completion of your placement, you will be awarded an additional qualification known as a Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS).

There are academic requirements so not just a 9-5 job. Also, your placement has to be fully approved by your Placement Officer before you can start.

A professional placement helps you test drive a career and stand out to employers.  It also improves chances of securing a graduate-level role, you develop key skills and competencies and students are more likely to perform better academically in their final year.   Placement options are wide and varied but would typically be a graduate level role with one of a broad range of companies or organisations which can be based in the UK or overseas.

We have strong industry links which help our students secure placements in the UK or overseas. These placements are an invaluable opportunity to enhance employability and apply skills and knowledge to a working environment. Students are expected to secure their own placement, however, extensive support from the School Placement Officer and Careers Network team is always available.

Additional award

This course comes with the option to undertake a professional placement for a year, at the end of which you will gain a Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS). This is an additional award to the final qualification you will receive once you have successfully completed this course.

Featured placement year companies

Psychology students have had placements in the UK and abroad, with schools, Universities, sport clubs, charities, NHS Trusts, youth justice, prisons, the Home Office and various consultancies and companies. Examples of recent placement destinations include:

  • Amazon
  • British Army
  • BAE Systems
  • BMW Mini Group
  • City Year UK
  • Enterprise Mobility
  • Headway
  • Hull City Football Club
  • Kinetic Foundation
  • Lamb Weston
  • Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
  • L’Oreal
  • Metropolitan Police
  • Northampton Saints Rugby Club
  • PepsiCo
  • RH Psychology Ltd
  • Safe and Sound Group
  • Sherborne School for Girls
  • Sussex Voices Clinic
  • Threshold Sports
  • Volleyball England

Alternatively, you can choose to undertake a year in enterprise. This option provides you with opportunity to develop your own business with support, resources and facilities offered by the Loughborough Enterprise Network (LEN) and The Studio.