Business BA/BSc (Hons): Links with business and industry

You have the opportunity to do a work placement as part of this course. The benefits of completing a year in business include:

• enhancing your CV – work experience will give you an edge on the competition when you look for a job and help you to make better-informed career choices;
• helping your final year academic studies – statistics indicate that somebody who has done a placement achieves, on average, better results in their final year;
• developing your professional skills – preparing you for your career; and
• providing you with a salary, so potentially reducing debt in the middle of your degree.

In addition, each year many students receive graduate job offers from their placement employer.

Find out about why our students chose to do a work placement year:

How we help you

The Placement Office has a wealth of industrial contacts and exists solely to help you get the best possible placement position. It enjoys an excellent relationship with a wide range of organisations, from global multinationals to small cutting-edge enterprises and the public sector. These links serve to ensure that the calibre of Kingston graduates is recognised by potential employer.

Throughout your second year the Placement Office will invite you to attend placement preparation workshops to prepare you for your third year in placement. They offer support at any stage of the application process.

Examples of placements

Organisations that have supported the placement programme include:

• The Walt Disney Company;
• Avios;
• Marks and Spencer;
• AXA – IM;
• The Kids Company;
• Morgan Stanley;
• NetApp;
• Telephonica O2;
• G4S;
• Airbus; and
• Network Rail.

We have a programme of lectures from guest speakers, all at senior management positions in prestigious organisations. You can attend these lectures, which cover aspects of business at a strategic level. So not only will you have the chance to meet people renowned for their business expertise, but you will also gain from their professional insight and advice. 

Guest lecturers have included:

• Patrick Harris, director of thoughtengine and former director of creativity for Orange Group;
• Stephen Barrow, head of global HR strategy and resourcing, HSBC Holdings plc;
• Eckart Schwarz, vice president, international clinical development and medical affairs, GlaxoSmithKline;
• Sally Coulden, head of clinical operations, GlaxoSmithKline;
• Fons van der Ham, director education sector Sony business Europe, Sony; and
• Graham Josephs, director personnel and development, Historic Royal Palaces.