Psychology placement year

All of our psychology students can opt to take a voluntary placement year, so you do not have to apply for a particular course – but you should let the student finance company know that you will be on a four-year course with a sandwich year.

Placements are unpaid, so you have to be able to support yourself for a year, but they are invaluable in giving you workplace experience and boosting your self confidence as you discover what you can achieve.

The process starts in your second year, with information sessions to help you decide if a placement year is right for you.

You complete a profiling document to outline your reasons for going on placement, and to identify your objectives. Then with the help of your personal tutor, you create a CV that emphasises your strengths and gives you the best chance of getting an interview.

You can then apply to one of the organisations that regularly offer placements to our students, or you can find your own host, perhaps through personal contacts. The host can be anywhere in the world, so some students have taken this chance to volunteer for work overseas.

Your placement will run for between 36 and 46 weeks, depending upon what you and your host arrange. They run between July 1 following your second year, and August 15 the following summer.

July–October: as soon as possible before the placement starts, you complete a Placement Data form and a Learning Agreement, setting out your duties and objectives for the placement.

October–December: arrange for your personal tutor to visit you at your place of work, to meet with you and your supervisor.

Before the end of February you should send your tutor a Placement Progress Report. This is two sides of A4 charting what work has been done so far and what is left to do.

By the third Friday in August ask your workplace supervisor to complete an Employer Assessment for you to upload.

After the placement: submit your Placement Report by October.

When you graduate, you will receive a Certificate of Professional and Industrial Experience as well as your psychology degree.

Bridgewater Forensic Liaison Team - Broadmoor Hospital - Dorset HealthCare University Foundation Trust - The Forensic Liaison Team - Devon and Cornwall Constabulary - HMP Channing Woods - HMP Dartmoor - HMP Leyhill - HMP Rye Hill - The Myers-Briggs Company Limited - Psychology Associates Ltd.

Dartmoor Zoological Park - Drinkmaster Ltd - Intel - Kings College London - National Marine Aquarium - Neurocore - Plymouth City Council - Southampton University - University of Aveiro - University of Massachusetts - Samsung Electronics UK - Sussex Mindfulness Centre (NHS) - University of Plymouth - University of Vienna.

2gether NHS Foundation Trust - Aneurin Bevan University Health Board - Broadreach Action for Change - Cardiff & Vale University Health Board - Cheadle Royal Hospital - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services - Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust - Cygnet Health Care - Derriford Hospital - Devon Partnership NHS Trust - Devon Psychological Services - Focus Counselling - Frenchay Hospital - Guys and St. Thomas NHS Foundation Trust - Headway Somerset - Headway Southampton - Inspire Wellbeing - Jigsaw Trust - Livewell Southwest - Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust - Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust - Re:Cognition Health - Royal Devon & Exeter NHS - The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust - Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases - SL Volunteers - The Priory Hospital - The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust - Torbay and South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust - Southampton General Hospital - Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust - University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust - The Zone.

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