Computing student placements

Develop your skills, knowledge and confidence and return better placed to meet the challenges of the final year
Computing placements - image courtesy of Getty Images
Student placements - Lingfen Sun

Lingfen Sun

Associate Professor (Reader) in Multimedia Comms and Networks

Employability Tutor

In the third year, students will have the opportunity to complete a minimum of 48 weeks of full-time employment, gaining invaluable experience in the industry. Students will get paid by their companies and the University only charges students a nominal fee during this year. Students will have the opportunity to increase their employment experience; to embed knowledge and skills developed during the first and second years of their degree; and also acquire new skills, knowledge and competencies in the workplace.
The University’s Placement Office will assist and support students throughout the process of obtaining a placement: preparation of placement applications; CV writing; job interview technique; access to up-to-date information on placement opportunities. Each placement student will be allocated a placement tutor, who will monitor each student’s progress; supporting the student when required; as well as carrying out placement visits to the student’s place of work. Each student completes staged progress reports, which include 6-week, 24-week and final progress reports. Near the end of the placement, students also submit the Professional Training Report, which is an integral part of the assessment requirements for the programme of study.
The computing degree students at the University of Plymouth have been highly successful in obtaining positions in top-class companies. The students have taken on placements at well-known multinational companies, such as: IBM, Intel, HP and Microsoft, mainly at their UK sites; at national and government organisations and corporations such as BBC, Met Office, and Land Registry; and at local companies/organisations such as Delt Shared Services, Plymouth City Council, Plymouth Marine Labs and University of Plymouth Technology Information Service (TIS) department.

Muna Rahman took her placement year at the University of Plymouth

"I was able to apply my technical knowledge to real-world situations, which enhanced my understanding and demonstrated useful applications of what I learnt in lectures."
Student placements - Muna Rahman - Technology Information Service technical assistant at the University

Kate Uzar – Computer Programmer placement at Nestlé UK&I Ltd

"I have gained a lot of valuable skills and attended training that was offered by the company and relevant to my role, which will be useful in my future career in Computer Science or Data Science/Artificial Intelligence areas."
Kate worked in a small team called Warehouse and Transport Systems Specialists (WATTS) within the Materials Handling team, part of Supply Chain.
Student Placement Kate Uzar BSc (Hons) Computer Science

Jodie O'Reilly – Software Engineer at Renishaw

"My programming skills have come on leaps and bounds in the last year. This is because I was using these skills every single day and the projects were a lot more complex than anything I had tackled in the past."
Jodie worked for an engineering company in Gloucestershire called Renishaw which specialises in metrology and precision.
Jodie O'Reilly computer science placement student

Student success stories

Matthew Plumber, BSc (Hons) Computing & Games Development, at Accenture

Matthew Plumber - Software Engineer Associate and Cloud Software Engineer with Accenture

John Clarke, BSc (Hons) Computer Science, at Thomson Reuters

John Clarke - Junior Software Engineer at Thomson Reuters

Callum Trounce, BSc (Hons) Computing, at DDT Multimedia (Netherlands)

Callum Trounce – Intern Developer at DTT Multimedia

Thomas Perry, BSc (Hons) Computer and Information Security, at UK Hydrographic Office

Thomas Perry – Software Engineer at the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

Mat Kastner, BSc (Hons) Computer Science, at IBM

Mat Kastner – Industrial Trainee at IBM

Brian Viviers, BSc (Hons) Computer Science, at Science and Technology Facilities Council

Brian Viviers – Software Engineer at the Science and Technology Facilities Council

Richard Imms, BSc (Hons) Computer Science, at Accenture

Richard Imms' placement with Accenture

"After finishing my placement year, I felt I had direction and I knew which modules I needed to pick in my final year to help me achieve my new found aims."

George Adams developed his skills with IBM

"The placement has certainly given me more confidence because I have experienced real-life situations and challenges that I can apply to my studies."
Student placements - George Adams – Systems Runtime Engineer at IBM Hursley

We work with...

BSc (Hons) Computer Science

Accenture
Body shop
C3 Resources Ltd
Centrax Gas
CLS Group
Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Crowd Funder
Delta Shared Services
Developertown LLC
Diverse Interactive
Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Ericsson
Gamma Telecom
GE Global
GlaxoSmithKline
Hewlett Packard
Hicom Technology
IBM
ICO3
ICSA Software International Lmt
Ideal Final Result Consultants
International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical experience
Kew Royal Botanical Gardens
Land Registry
Lankmark
Lockheed Martin UK
Nanodators SIA
National Physical Lab
Neurocore/University of Plymouth
Oracle
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
University of Plymouth
Pythagoras Communications Ltd
SAA Consultants
Spirent Communications
Starred
Science & Technology Facilities Council
TE Connectivity
The Barden Corporation
Thompson Reuters
Virgin Care
Visteon Engineering Services Ltd
WebBased
Xerox UK Ltd
DTT Multimedia
GE Aviation Services
ProspectSoft Ltd
Hydrographic Office
Numatic International Ltd
Helitune Ltd
Renishaw Plc
Met Office
Landmark Information Group Ltd
Intelligent Optimisations
The Barden Corporation (UK) Ltd
Vualto
Accenture Technology Solutions Ltd
Spirent Communications plc

BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Software Engineering)

Apetito
Aspex Software
BBC
BMW UK Ltd
CGI
IBM UK Ltd
ICO3 Ltd
Land Registry
Less 4 Spares
MD Web Solutions
Numatic
Peninsula evolvit Limited
Plymouth City Council
South Hams District Council
TouchByte
WebBased
Met Office
TE Connectivity
Ministry of Defence
Food Surveys Ltd
FDM Group
Higher Education Statistics Agency

BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Cyber Security)

Anient
BT Group
Brightside Group PLC
Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Delta Shared Services Ltd
Devon Partnership NHS Trust
GlaxoSmithKline
Insite Digital
L3 TRLLand Registry
Landmark Information Group Ltd
Microsoft Ltd
Optimal Hosting Ltd, London
Outpost24
University of Plymouth
Portcullis Computer Security
Royal Botanic Gardens
South Hams District Council
Sullivan Cuff Software Ltd
TRE
UKHO
Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd
Hydrographic Office
Delt Shared Services Ltd

BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Games Development)

Accenture
DDT Multimedia, Amsterdam
GE Capital
MSM Software Solved, Exeter
Nestle
Real Visual
Sparkol
The Barden Corporation
Landmark Information Group Ltd
Delt Shared Services Ltd