Sandwich year

[OddBoots]

DS is about to head back to university for his 2nd year in a sandwich Computer Science and Mathematics BSc. Can I pick your brains about how to approach the sandwich year please?

When should he start looking/applying?
How involved are the university in placement finding?
Can you recommend any websites or similar he should be looking at?
Is there any good information about what a modern CV should contain?

Thank you for any advice or information.

[BubblesBuddy]

Not an expert but most good universities have a dedicated member of staff to facilitate this. I would get DS to check this out now from the university web site and then go and see them fairly quickly upon return. He may also find there are talks given about this.

I think some universities don’t have enough placements and students have to rely on their own resources. DD did. DHs company have offered placements to students when asked by the students but the local universities (several very high ranking in the fields DHs company consults in) have never ever contacted any of his offices. So I would question how proactive some universities are. On this basis, get him to think about if he wants to work near home or university. Start to research employers.

I’m sure others will have more direct and better advice.

[OhtheHillsareAlive]

I think some universities don’t have enough placements and students have to rely on their own resources

This. He will need to be proactive.

[Leeds2]

My friend's DD got no help at all from her (RG) university. She did it by herself. Her placement started in the June after her second year, so I would start researching now and applying as soon as applications open.

[impostersyndrome]

My DS got lots of help from his (RG) university, who had fairs, CV assistance, and interview prep. They have a full-time liaison person, who works with various companies associated with his subject.

He started applying at the start of second year, so your DS may find this is already in place for when he returns. Interviews were on campus and at companies towards the end of the first term.

In short, it's worth OP checking what's available at the university and a general tip to those looking at universities to check what's available, as this was one of the points my DS considered when looking at where to apply to.

[thejeangenie36]

As PP have said, most universities will have someone to facilitate this and support applications, or at least point to interested companies. That person will either be in-hour in one of the departments, or in the University Careers service. Either way, they'll be able to give better advice and indicate deadlines. Companies who are interested will typically approach the coordinator (who plays a sort of networking role), so it's much better to go through the University-provided support, if available.

Note that, if the universities I've worked at are anything to go by, your DS cannot just organise something himself. He may have to proactively source a placement, but he'll still need to get that placement approved by the University. This is because universities have liabilities to students (e.g. in relation to health and safety and insurance), and also because they need to check the placement is suitable to meet the outcomes required to get a degree with 'Sandwich Year' in the name.

[OddBoots]

Thank you so much for all the information,it is amazing how varied it can be. DS thinks his university has a fair amount of help but he won't be depending on it.

He is at The University of Sheffield in case that is the RG university mentioned above. He has seen that Sheffield have produced a free Futurelearn course about writing applications and CVs so that seems his logical first step.

[Stopyourhavering64]

Dd got very little help for her placement year....she had to be proactive and approach companies individually
I'd also start applying sooner rather than later as many of the good placements get snapped up quickly
She thoroughly enjoyed her year out and learnt so much and given a lot of independence...traveling frequently from Leeds to London, Manchester..using her new found knowledge to complete her dissertation

[OhtheHillsareAlive]

I think it will also depend very much on which programme & which Department/Faculty.. Some Schools, Departments or Faculties are well set up for placements because they require that most students do them; some, in the same university, are not because they're not required or the resources aren't available to have full-time admin/professional staff looking after them.

He should still be prepared to be proactive, and thinking about where he wants to go, or what he wants to achieve in his placement.