The Aspire Guide - Flipbook - Page 11
University
3. Study and Industrial Placements
Some universities and courses offer the opportunity to take a year later on in your degree to work in
a company in a relevant sector, or to study abroad. This is an opportunity to earn as you learn: you’ll
experience what it’s like to work in a particular industry or in another part of the world, and gain a degree
while building your CV.
Often, students will take a year-long placement at a company in the sector they’re studying towards,
while some spend a year studying in a foreign exchange program, and still others go abroad to work in a
field related to their degree. Different universities and courses have different opportunities for placements
and rules around years abroad, so be sure to do your research.
Many universities also offer travel grants or awards to support students who want to undertake travel
related to their studies (e.g. fieldwork for a dissertation).
If you don’t get the opportunity to study abroad or have a travel placement as part of your degree,
you may still have opportunities for industrial internships or taster sessions through your university’s
careers department, who will collect a range of opportunities and support students with making their
applications. You might also be able to do so once you’ve got a graduate job. Many large companies offer
secondments abroad. This might mean six months or a year working in one of their offices overseas,
anywhere from Spain, to Dubai, to Russia.
Funding for a Year Abroad is usually covered by Student Finance and follows the typical application
process. You may be able to receive funding or grants through the Turing Scheme, international
organisations, or your university.
4. Higher earning potential
Having a degree makes you more attractive to employers and you’ll have a greater choice of jobs
upon graduating. Data from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) also shows that graduates will earn
on average 20% more over their working life than those who did not go to university.2 However, it is
important to remember this figure is an average and is dependent on a number of factors such as where
and what you study along with where you choose to live. Your choice of university and course can have
a significant impact of your potential future earnings. If you want to learn more about this, please turn to
page 13 where we discuss degree earning potential in more detail.
Name: Sahar
Winner of the Creative Industries Award at the 2018
Student Social Mobility Awards.
Subject: Politics & Sociology
University: Goldsmiths, University of London
I moved to Vienna, Austria, as part of the Erasmus scheme to study abroad, which was enriching!
I was frightened at first but I managed to settle in eventually. I learnt German and made friends
from several other countries who I am still in contact with. I also wanted to do something that
would be rewarding both personally and professionally and this experience was. It has sustained
my self-development and given me more awareness and resilience, with recruiters interested to
hear about my experience and my progression through university. I always recommend to get
involved with as much as you can at university as there is so much on offer.
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