Postgraduate work placement

Kingston University offers an optional two-year postgraduate programme with an integrated work placement, as a component within the programme. Available for most postgraduate programmes, this option is available for both international and full-time home/EU students.

Which postgraduate programmes are available?

How does it work?

The onus to find and secure the placement is on you, but you can make use of the University's career support services to help you. The placement will be undertaken after the taught portion of your programme.

How do you apply for these programmes?

Visit the relevant course page and select the two-year 'with professional placement' option.

Applied for a one-year course, but want to switch?

If you have applied and been made an offer for the one-year standard course, you can request to change course to the two-year 'with professional placement' option.

International students

As the work placement is an assessed part of the course, you will be issued a two-year visa to cover both the taught and the work placement components upon meeting the Home Office's requirements (including the 5-year time limit on Tier 4 study –see the UKCISA website).

International student applications
You should request the two-year 'with professional placement' option before your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)* is issued, so the 12-month placement can be included. If you choose to switch to the two-year 'with professional placement' course after you arrive in the UK, you can still take up the opportunity, but you will need to secure a placement before you can submit a new Tier 4 student visa application from within the UK. Please note, the new Tier 4 visa will also need to be granted before your placement can begin.

Have a look at the process chart and frequently asked questions if you are considering switching to the two-year 'with professional placement' course.

If you decide not to pursue the placement option, or do not manage to secure a placement by the deadline, you will be switched back to the usual one-year course and complete your degree in the standard 12 months (this will not affect your grade). If you are an international student, then UK Visa and Immigration will be alerted about the course change.

Please note that courses including the work placement option are not eligible for US Federal funding.

Is there a fee for the work placement year?

Invoicing on the placement courses is split into two stages. The standard course fee is payable at the start of year 1 with the placement fee invoiced at the beginning of year 2.

Placement fees

Fees for the placement year are set out below. Please visit your course page for the course fee.

Courses starting in 2021–22 (placement starting in 2022–23)	£1,420
Courses starting in 2020–21 (placement starting in 2021–22)	£1,385
Courses starting in 2019–20 (placement starting in 2020–21)	£1,230
Courses starting in 2018–19 (placement starting in 2019–20)	£1,070

The placement fee amount will only be charged to your account after you find a placement and are enrolled on the work placement module. You will not be charged this fee if you do not manage to secure a work placement.

International students applying for a Tier 4 visa will need to pay the £300 non-refundable immigration health surcharge up front for both years.

How you will be supported in your placement

Before your placement

Introductory session to the UK Placement market.
Additional workshops to support CV development, applications and interviews.
Access to online jobs boards to support your job search.
Face to face support with careers advisers via drop-ins and appointments.

During your placement

Check-ins with the University to see how you are getting on.
Access to university services including library, wellbeing and other support services.

After your placement

Post-Placement event to meet other placement students.
Access to the Careers and Employability service once you have graduated.

General programme structure

Faculty of Business and Social Sciences

September cohort

September 2019–May 2020	Taught modules including dissertation/final project
September 2020	Deadline to confirm placement (exact date TBC by Schools)
September/October 2020–September 2021	Professional placement (maximum 12 months)

January cohort

January 2020–February/March 2021	Taught modules including dissertation/final project
Jan 2021	Deadline to confirm placement (exact date TBC by Schools)
February/March 2021–December 2021	Professional placement (maximum 10 months)

Kingston School of Art

September cohort

September 2019–May 2020	Taught modules
	Depending on your course, you can choose whether you start your professional placement in May 2020 (before your final project) or in September 2020 (after your final project).
	Deadlines will be confirmed once your placement timing is agreed

January cohort

January intake is not offered in Kingston School of Art.

Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing
September cohort

You will do the placement at the end of the course:

September 2019–September 2020
Course duration

10 August 2020
Deadline to confirm placement

September/October 20–September 2021
Placement

January cohort

You will do the placement at the end of the course.

January 2020–January 2021
Course duration

1 December 2020 Deadline to confirm placement

January/February 2021–January 2022
Placement

March cohort

You will do the placement at the end of the course.

March 2020–March 2021
Course duration

1 February 2021
Deadline to confirm placement

March/April 2021–March 2022
Placement

Contact us

General international student enquiries

Tel: +44 (0)20 8417 3411

Postgraduate study