Postgraduate Industry Placements
We’re proud of our close links with industry, which provide valuable experiences and networks for our students, helping them to succeed in their chosen careers.
Not only is our academic content industry-focused, but we also offer placement opportunities on most of our Master courses, providing you with the chance to add a competitive advantage to your CV.
You will have the chance to undertake a nine to 12 month paid placement or the three to six month Industry Collaboration Project. Whichever you choose, you will put the specialist knowledge that you've learned into practice, develop key networks and gain important skills in communication and problem-solving.
Industry Placement
The paid industry placement gives you the chance to undertake nine to 12 months' employment with an organisation located regionally, nationally or internationally.
You will find your own work placement, but the Business School will support you with industry contacts. We will also help by offering preparatory lectures in study skills, action planning, consultancy and more. You will be allocated a supervisor to support you throughout the placement, from preparing your learning agreement and action plan with your employer, through to delivery of your outcomes.
For the final three months of your programme, you will return to campus to reflect on and write about your experience.
Assessment:
Portfolio – 8000 to 10000 words
Reflection - 2000 words
One year masters placements are really popular with international students, as it allows them to benefit from a wider experience of working in the UK and its culture, build excellent work connections, and improve their communication skills.
If you are an international student, and are accepted onto a placement, you will need to extend your visa. Please note, there will be costs associated with this. You should extend your visa three months before the placement is due to start, so that you have enough time for your visa to be processed. Find more information on our Immigration and Visa FAQ page.
Industry Collaboration Project
The Industry Collaboration Project (ICP) module accounts for the final 60 credits of your degree. You will have the opportunity to select between a live project, placement, internship or dissertation. These are all designed to accommodate your career aspirations and enhance your professional experience.
You will be allocated a supervisor who will mentor you through the ICP. You will also have the opportunity to engage with the Student Hub and askUS, helping you with project/placement support and opportunities for those going on placement to participate in training workshops to ensure best practice. The Student Hub can help you find internships, placements and live projects for your Industry Collaboration Project.
Why our students love work placements
"Apart from the obvious fact that is a good addition to your CV, it also helps you to appreciate and have a better understanding of what you have been taught in the classroom." Temitope Omojaro, MSc Project Management.
" you get to build and expand your network of professionals who are more than happy to help and guide you with your career. " Hashim Adbusheikh, MSc International Business.
“I came to Hopewiser to implement a business-to-business marketing campaign. Within the first six weeks, my placement turned into a job offer. Everyone was so welcoming, it’s been fantastic to join this company.” Ryan Gerrard, MSc Digital Business.
Enhanced Employability...
Employability covers a broad range of non-academic or softer skills and abilities which are of value in the workplace. It includes the ability to work in a team; a willingness to demonstrate initiative and original thought; self-discipline in starting and completing tasks to deadline.
Many now expect to see evidence of these ‘Employability skills’ and achievements that boost someone's attractiveness as a potential employee
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the NUS are providing students with expert advice in a handy publication on what employers are looking for in new recruits and practical tips to help students meet these requirements
Academic Benefits
The knowledge you gain may directly relate to your course and therefore benefit your academic work - on average, students who have gone on placement get higher marks and a better degree classification than those who do not go on a placement.
The opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge real situations and develop ideas for final year project.
Personal Benefits
Taking advantage of placement and internship opportunities doesn't just help your career, you'll also find a lot of personal benefits including:
- Students and graduates who undertake work placements report increased confidence in their abilities.
- You may be paid for the placement - it can be a good opportunity to earn money.
- Opportunity to adapt to workplace culture within a supported environment.
- A placement is an invaluable opportunity to make contacts, as well as learn from the industry professionals around you.
- Trial a career before committing to a permanent graduate job. Even if you decide the sector isn't for you, you’ll have gained valuable, transferrable skills which will enhance your employability in other roles.
Writing your cv and application
From when you start with us!
As soon as you join us, you'll be guided on how to write your CV and applications to the highest standard.
From workshops to career consultants to in seminar guidance, you'll have everything you need to make a great first impression on paper.
Finding the perfect placement
Though securing a placement is ultimately up to you, every effort will be made to help you find and secure your perfect placement.
The Employability team, based in the Student Hub, manages the process of bringing together students looking for a placement and employers looking for students to undertake a specific project. We develop connections with students and relationships with employers so we can find the best and most beneficial placements and for students at Salford Business School.
You should aim to secure your placement between month 2 to month 7 of your course, so for September intakes this would be October to March.
Interview time
Depending on how long it takes to find your perfect placement, you should be attending interviews between month 2 and month 8 of your course. For September intakes this is between October and April.
Support, advice and tips will be provided for through the Employability Team, in seminars and through dedicated employability events.
Applying for a visa (international students only)
If you are an international student, and are accepted onto a 9 – 12 month industry placement, you will need to extend your visa. You should do this three months before the placement is due to start, so that you have enough time for your visa to be processed. Find more information on our Immigration and Visa FAQ page – read the section on extending your Tier 4 visa.
You should be extending your visa 3 months before your start date, so depending on your start date, you should do this during months 6 - 8 of your course. For September intakes, visa extension should happen during February - April.
Starting your placement
Your start date will depend on the needs and wants of your employer. Don't worry! Your links with the University of Salford aren't put on hold!
You will be assigned a Placement Officer/Tutor who will check in, to make sure you are happy in your placement. Your Placement Officer is always interested to hear from you about your placement and encourages communication.
Your placement should start during month 10 - 12 of your course, so for September intakes your placement should start between June - August.
Support from our Employability Team
Our employability team, based in the student hub, manage the process of bringing together students who are looking for a placement with employers who want students to work on a specific project. They develop connections with students and relationships with employers to find the best internships, placements and live projects for undergraduate and postgraduate students at Salford Business School.
All placements are competitive. Though a wide variety of support is provided, you can expect to apply for a number of jobs, be interviewed and attend an assessment centre. You will also need to meet the employer's entry criteria in order to be accepted on any placement route. Click below to read more about the support available.
Writing your cv
Many employers will ask you to submit a CV when you apply for a placement opportunity. A CV is a document which summarises your skills, qualifications and work experience to date.
Our Careers Consultants have written a guide called 'Creating Your CV' which will help you to write and check your CV.
You may also wish to attend a CV Workshop, where you can pick up further tips and advice on putting together your CV.
Information on CV workshops and CV Check Appointments can be found on Improve Your CV webpage.
Completing application forms
You may need to complete an application form to apply for a placement opportunity. Make a copy of the application form and use our 'Application Forms' guide to help you.
If you feel you need to speak to a Careers Consultant on a one-to-one basis about the applications you are making, you can call into a Careers Appointment, where you will be seen on a 1-1 basis for 20 minutes and no appointment is necessary or you can book an appointment, up to one week in advance with a Careers Consultant, to book please contact us on +44 (0)161 295 0023 (option 5).
Interviews
Reading our 'Interviews' guide will help you prepare yourself for interviews. You can also book a mock interview with a Careers Consultant to help you practice ring +44 (0)161 295 0023 (option 5).
Careers consultant appointments
Any current students or graduates of the University can book an appointment to see a Careers Consultant to discuss their application form, personal statement, interview skills and career planning. A Careers Consultant will listen to your ideas, help you identify your strengths, weaknesses and skills and assist you in relating all of these things to the world of work. You can make appointments by calling +44 (0)161 295 0023 or booking online.
Careers workshops
Careers and Employability run regular workshops covering everything from writing a CV to making speculative job applications to impressing employers in interview. Details of the sessions can be found here.
Industry Placement Stories
Sweta is completing a paid industry placement as part of her Masters in Fraud and Risk Management. Here she tells us about her experience, the best bits and what she learnt from it all.
The industry placement experience
I work with the Salford City Council’s Internal Audit team as a Graduate Counter Fraud Intern where we fight economic crime in Salford. Salford City council is a local government body which works hard to deliver the highest quality services to its residents for the betterment of their community.
This opportunity came to me through the Business School’s Employability Hub. I have been assisted by Careers and Enterprise team in putting together my resume and teaching me with the importance of developing my LinkedIn profile. The employability hub then distributed my resume to their industry contacts. Based on the university’s long-lasting relationship with Salford City council, the school pitched me as a potential intern for the council and arranged for an interview. With this support and the correct contacts, I was able to bag this prestigious opportunity.
Due to the current pandemic, my internship was almost called off. It was a combined effort of members of the employability hub and my ICP Supervisor to get on a call with the Salford City council officers to discuss if they could convert the internship into a virtual internship program to make sure I did not miss out on this opportunity.
Placement highlights
I have received exposure to the types of Fraud Local governments in England face, and their measures in tackling crime. This has helped me apply my theoretical learning into practice and simultaneously develop my knowledge over my core subjects. The culture at Public sector companies is quite different from that of private sector companies and this experience has helped me to gain the confidence that I will be able to fit into both public and private sector companies in my future.
The thing that makes me look forward to Mondays is the challenging tasks that I'm assigned. It makes me feel valued as a resource contributing to their firm. Considering the limitations in a virtual internship, the council has been very understanding of my zest to learn as a student. They are very open to questions; they take time out of their busy schedules to get on frequent calls with me to discuss work and they make efforts to give me a hands-on experience surrounding current affairs. I enjoy the video conferences as that is the closest that I can get to human interaction at work during this pandemic.
Prepared for life in industry
What the university offered to me was something beyond just textbook material. By the end of my final module, I had the experience of having worked in teams, submitted assignments which improved my problem-solving skills, critical reviewing techniques and moulded me to adapt to changes quickly which are all key skills that help me in my work. Salford Business School has many international students like me who hail from different parts of the world. Interacting with these students helps us become more inclusive which are very important qualities that one must master as a professional.
