Obtaining work experience can help you discover your dream career and develop the skills needed to succeed in a professional setting. And, having related work experience on your resume can help you stand out when applying for a job.
International students in the United Kingdom may participate in internships, work placements, or sandwich courses during their studies. While there are similarities between these work-integrated learning opportunities, they differ significantly, too. Read on to learn more about each of them.
Why Consider Work Experience During Your Studies?
Here are a few benefits of work-integrated learning opportunities:听
- In a competitive job market, work experience will help you stand out.
- Some employers may request local work experience. A sandwich course or work placement will provide this.
- It鈥檚 not uncommon for students to land a full-time job at the company where they completed their work experience opportunity.听
- Graduates may not need to apply for entry-level positions if they have measurable work experience in their field. This may mean a higher salary and better benefits.
Internships
An internship can range from a week to a year in length, and is usually completed in the break between finishing one academic year and starting a new one. Students don鈥檛 usually receive academic credit for completing an internship, though it may be recognized by professional training organizations. You’ll be compensated, however, as by law, interns are paid at least the . As some organizations hire their interns full-time after completing an internship, it could also be the first step in your new career.
Work Placements vs. Sandwich Courses
In the United Kingdom, work placements are often called sandwich courses. However, while they sometimes share a name, they’re actually different types of work experience.
Work Placements
Some courses require students to complete a work placement for academic credit. So, these placements often happen during an academic term. Unlike internships and sandwich courses, short-term work placements are generally unpaid.
Work placements vary in length. Some are shorter and may be completed over the summer holidays, while other student placements are scheduled for one day per week during the academic year.听
Set up your budget as an international student with our helpful guide to the cost of living in the UK.
Sandwich Courses
A sandwich course combines different kinds of learning. In these degrees, students have at least one opportunity to work full-time in their chosen field for nine months to a year between their classwork. Students are typically paid for their time during these placements, and often don’t pay tuition fees during their placement.听
Sandwich courses are longer than a standard degree, but have many benefits. Because students in sandwich courses complete one or more placements that give them hands-on experience in a UK setting, students often have an edge when beginning their job search after graduation.
Thick vs Thin Sandwich Courses
In the UK, placements can occur at different points during a sandwich course. This has led to some sandwich courses being described as 鈥渢hick,鈥� while others are 鈥渢hin.鈥澨�
Often, a four-year degree is called a thick sandwich course. The first two years of a student鈥檚 degree are spent studying, followed by a placement in their third year.听
Conversely, three-year degrees with extended placements are nicknamed thin sandwich courses. In these courses, the work placement is split up into two halves. Sometimes, in your first year, you’ll typically complete six months of practical work, and another six months of work will be completed during your final year. In other courses, both work placements “sandwich” the first term in your second year of studies.
Curious about how to choose a bachelor鈥檚 degree in the UK? Read our blog for guidance.
One of the best academic and career decisions a student can make is selecting a course that offers a work placement, or is structured as a sandwich course. Consider choosing a degree that includes one: you’ll build critical skills and professional connections that can help you jumpstart your career.听
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