Student stories

My placement year was amazing! I was lucky enough to complete a 50-50 placement year spending the first five months of my placement working at the University of Surrey's International Engagement Office, and the second half of my placement studying abroad on exchange at the University of Wollongong in Australia.

The optional Professional Training year was a major boost to my university experience, giving me twelve months of hands-on experience in various departments within the luxury hospitality industry. This experience helped me bridge the gap between theory and practice, and returning for my final year with practical insights and a broader skill set has given me a fresh perspective and greater confidence. 

As well as working in luxury hotels, I also got to travel. I made some amazing friends from all over the world, tried incredible food from different cultures and met thousands of guests over the year. It will always be a time I look back on with fond memories and I am very grateful for the opportunity. 

During my placement year at the Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard, I gained valuable insights into luxury hospitality while developing essential skills ... I also loved the networking I was able to do.

I’ve been inspired by career opportunities in fields such as animal care, welfare, research, conservation, and even veterinary medicine. Exploring these diverse options on my course has been incredibly rewarding, and I now feel more confident in shaping my future career.

Professional Training Placement played a crucial part in informing my career plans by providing me with opportunities to experience various engineering disciplines prior to graduation.

I completed my Professional Training placement at Performance Communications in Kingston and it was one of the best experiences I've had during my time at university ... From working on real campaigns to attending client meetings and managing deadlines, it was such a valuable experience. I gained confidence in my skills and really grew as a person.

The best thing about my course is the opportunity to apply and transfer the theoretical background of what we learn in our lectures to the laboratory every week. The skills we learn in the laboratory alone are incredibly useful as we learn not only skills for chemistry, but also professional development skills like teamwork, data analysis and more.

I never planned to do a placement year or study abroad, but in my third year I did both. It was an awesome experience! I studied at Northern Arizona University. This was one of the best experiences in my life. Doing a placement in the UK also significantly helped me develop professionally: developing new skills, networking and having significant responsibilities.