Postgraduate work placement

Kingston University is now offering an optional two year postgraduate programme with an integrated work placement 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. As the work placement is an assessed part of the course, if you are an international student, 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).

How do you apply for these programmes?

The courses will have two full-time course options: a one year option and a two year ‘with professional placement' option. You can apply for either of these options online via the relevant course page. 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.

If you are an international student, you should request the two-year 'with professional placement' course option before your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)* is issued (so the 12-month placement will be included in the CAS). 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.

*The CAS is related to the Tier 4 visa.

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 in year 1 with the placement fee invoiced in year 2. Therefore, students starting in September 2017 would therefore be charged the placement fee of £1,070 in September 2018. Students commencing the course in September 2018 will be invoiced the placement fee in 2019 (provisionally £1,230).

This 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 non-refundable immigration health surcharge up front for both years.

How you will be supported in your placement

Pre-placement:

You will attend an introductory session explaining the UK placement market and providing you with key advice and guidance on identifying and applying for placements.

You will be able to sign up to attend additional workshop sessions on Postgraduate Placement Support and other topics that will support your placement search.

Our Jobs Central database contains placement and job opportunities with hundreds of employers to help you source a suitable placement. You will also benefit from access to Student Circus, a platform of placement opportunities specifically for international students.

Drop-in sessions with Careers and Employability advisors take place every week and provide additional support for queries relating to CVs, cover letters and job searches.

Students who have attended workshops and drop-in sessions and require further one to one support will be able to book an extended appointment with one of our Careers and Employability advisors.

We will also liaise with employers to ensure the opportunity you have secured is fit for purpose and meets the University's requirements, including compliance with health and safety and insurance requirements.

During placement:

You will receive a minimum of two meetings with a University representative once you have secured a placement, to check how your placement is progressing and identify any additional support required.

Post-placement:

You will be invited to a post-placement event bringing together students to share experiences and reflect.

Accommodation

The postgraduate accommodation contract runs from September to the following September. You are liable for the whole 50-week contract.

General programme structure for all faculties, except Kingston Business School

September intake

You will do the placement between the taught portion and the dissertation period:

September 2018–May 2019	Taught modules
May / June 2019	Deadline to confirm placement (exact date TBC by Faculty)
June / July 2019–May / June 2020	Professional placement (maximum 12 months)
June–September 2020	Dissertation

January intake (Science, Engineering and Computing)

Placement at end of your taught course and after completion of your dissertation or project.

January–May 2019	Taught modules (two)
June 2019– January 2020	Dissertation/project
September 2019–January 2020	Taught modules (two)
January 2020–December 2021	Professional placement (maximum 12 months)

Programme structure for Kingston Business School

Kingston Business School students: You will do the placement at the end of your taught course and after completion of your dissertation or project. Following your placement you will be required to complete an end of placement assessment.

September 2018–May 2019	Taught modules
June 2019–September 2019	Dissertation/project
July 2019	Deadline to confirm placement (exact date TBC by Schools)
September/October 2019–September 2020	Professional placement (maximum 12 months)