Placement Student of the Year

We’re proud of our track record for graduate employability. Surrey has a long history of supporting year-long placements as part of the student experience, with a heritage going back to its founding roots as the Battersea Institute of Technology.

Each year we recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of our students during their placement year in industry.

Professional Training Placement Year

The Professional Training Placement Year (PTY) provides the opportunity for our students to spend 12 months working in the industry, commerce, the public sector, or in charities. It gives them an insight into their subject and career potential and early access to professional experience. It can be invaluable in developing work-based skills and helping them secure a graduate career.

Each year we recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of our students during their placement year in the industry. Returning students can nominate themselves or, peer nominations for the Sustainability, Trailblazer, Inclusivity and Resilience Awards, and directors of employability/senior placement tutors nominate students for the Faculty Awards. Students’ experiences while on placement are not only remarkable but have significant real-life impacts.

Each winner receives a prize, and certificate for use on their CV and LinkedIn profiles, and the award will be shown on the student’s final transcript when graduating.

Students currently on placement and returning to their final year, will be contacted via email (by the PT Award Team) advising when the Professional Training Award 2027 applications open in October 2026.

Faculty winners 2026

Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences

The student could have made a significant contribution to raising the profile of their subject area whilst on placement, or could have made outstanding contributions to their own development as a professional through their Professional Training Year.

Niki Grover

Project Manager within the Real Estate & Facilities Team at GSK

"If you're considering a placement year, take it! It will shape you in ways you don't expect. My placement at GSK was one of the best experiences and I wouldn't change it for anything. I had the opportunity to work on a once in a lifetime office move, helping relocate thousands of employees into a new global headquarters and taking on responsibility I would've never imagined as a student. A placement year builds confidence, resilience, and real perspective. Be proactive, communicate with everyone you can, and put yourself forward - that's where the real growth happens."

Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Emir Ahmed

Data Scientist at NPL

"In my opinion, a work placement is extremely important for career development and should be customary for any degree taken. It teaches you how to apply your studies in the workplace and develop a wide range of practical skills, many of which are more easily attainable on the job than at university. My main piece of advice is to seize every opportunity that comes your way, as it might not come around again. During my placement, I embraced many opportunities, and I'm extremely grateful I did, as they have opened the door to new possibilities for my future career!."

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Charlotte Quinn

Animal Nutritionist at Marwell Zoo.

“Choosing to take a Professional Training Year became the most valuable and memorable part of my time at university. It gave me the opportunity to apply my learning in a real-world environment and truly understand what working in my field involves. Being able to conduct research and share my work with professionals helped me grow both academically and personally. The skills, confidence, and experience I gained have been invaluable for my final year and future career. I would strongly encourage any student considering a placement year to take the opportunity because it is an experience that will shape your future!."

Global Impact winner

The nominee should have made a significant impact working in a company overseas, or an international department within a UK company, collaborating with overseas partners or clients.

Polly Cook

Patient Care Coordinator at Amen Clinics in Atlanta, GA

"I’d encourage any University of Surrey student to take a Professional Training Year. It’s where everything starts to click. You move from learning about your subject to actually living it. It challenges you, builds your confidence, and helps you figure out who you are in a professional setting. It was the most rewarding part of my degree, not just for my CV but for my growth as a person."

Inclusivity Award winner

The nominee should have made a significant impact on equality, diversity, and inclusion in their placement year, where they have helped influence the culture of the organisation they worked with or implemented something new to meet diverse customer needs.

Ellica Akbarzadeh

Digital Media Solutions Consultant Intern at Adobe

"I came back from my Professional Training Year feeling like a completely different person. It sets you up with the skills and confidence you need for the future, and it unlocks strengths you don’t even realise you have. You grow in ways you don’t even expect, you learn to navigate challenges, take initiative and trust yourself. The unexpected experiences were the most transformative for me, and along the way I made friends for life. It is more than a placement year, it is personal growth you carry with you long after you graduate!"

Leadership Award winner

The nominee will have shown the ability to influence and guide members of their team or wider organisation while on placement, showing excellent leadership potential.

Roshni Bhambra

Junior Economist at NPL

"A Professional Training Year is the perfect catalyst for personal and professional growth. It’s a unique opportunity to test-drive your future, expand your network, knowledge, and life experiences. Pushing you outside your comfort zone, it allows you to develop in the best way possible, building resilience and confidence. Crucially, it opens doors to opportunities and provides that vital motivating push to excel in your final year with a clearer sense of purpose. If you're thinking of doing a PTY, absolutely go for it - I could not recommend it more!."