Student guide to work experience
Introduction
The Placement team are here to support you during your studies at the University of West London, by helping you to secure your work experience.
Depending on your chosen course subject this may offer an available work experience, that is an integral part of your course or linked to a specific module. The period you are with an employer is assessed and counts towards your degree.
To find out if your course offers a work experience, please email: Placements@uwl.ac.uk.
If you are studying a Nursing, Midwifery, or Healthcare course, please contact your placement team within the College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare:
- Student.placementseal@uwl.ac.uk (London)
- Student.placementsberk@uwl.ac.uk (Berkshire)
Jump link section
Types of work experience
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Undergraduate Work Experience
Approximate duration: 30-200 hours part-time / 1 day - 5 months.
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Undergraduate placement / internship
Approximate duration: 40-48 weeks full-time / 1 year.
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Postgraduate internship
Approximate duration: 8-30 weeks full-time / 2-7 months.
Starting your search and support available
As a student undertaking a work experience module, you will have access to:
- A designated Placement Officer and Careers Consultant
- Opportunities advertised via the Student Hub.
- Industry-specific careers fairs, employer presentations, networking events and external recruitment fairs.
- Expert advice on search strategies and application support.
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5 steps to securing work experience
- Log into Student Hub
- Start your pathway
- Meet your Placement Officer
- Search for opportunities and meet your careers consultant for applicants
- Secure your placement and complete pathway
Once your work experience is secured your employer will be required to complete a Health and Safety form and Work Experience Tripartite / Partnership Agreement.
If you start your work experience before it is validated by the Placement team, your work experience hours/weeks will not be counted.
Quote
I am so glad I chose to take a Placement year as my Internship at Heathrow Airport exceeded all my expectations. I would encourage students at UWL and beyond to participate in a placement year. It was an invaluable experience and has enabled my career to ‘take-off’, before I’ve even finished University."
- Megan Young, BA Airline and Aviation Management with Placement, Intern at Heathrow Airport Winter Resilience Programme.
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This internship role greatly enhanced my core skills such as leadership, negotiation, problem-solving and communication.
I am grateful to the Placements and Careers teams especially for their dedicated time towards 1:1 meetings, CV building sessions and much more."
- Safwara Jishan Chakawala, Masters in Business Administration, Mayfair Export UK Ltd.
Before I start work experience
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Do I have to go on work experience?
Yes - if you have enrolled on a course with an integrated work experience element, then you are required to do so in order to achieve your full degree award.
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How do I get support in finding work experience?
There are many strategies that can be used to find work experience.
Initially book an appointment to meet with your designated Placement Officer to receive support with finding opportunities and better understand the process of securing a work experience.
Your link Careers Consultant can help with preparing your in your search eg, CV, covering letter, application support and mock interview preparations etc.
The best way to book a meeting is via Student Hub.
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I have been offered work experience. What do I do now?
Congratulations! You will need to firstly inform your Placement Officer as well as your Module Tutor and complete the online Work Experience Details Form on your Pathways on the Student Hub.
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Why does the University need to contact my employer?
As a student of UWL, we have a duty of care to you whilst you are on work experience. This means we need to contact your employer to ensure all the relevant health and safety checks and required documentation are completed to validate your work experience. We also need to ensure that the role itself meets the learning outcomes of your module.
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Is there any paperwork which needs to be completed by me or my employer before I start work experience?
Yes - you will need to have completed the necessary steps on your Pathways, ie, the Work Experience Agreement Form, Work Experience Details Form, and a validated and signed-off Work Experience Tripartite Agreement before you start work experience.
Your Placement Officer can contact your employer via email: placements@uwl.ac.uk
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Can I start my work experience before the company has signed the work experience documents?
No, you must wait until the documentation is signed and returned to the Placement Team. If a company will not sign the documentation, please contact your Placement Officer.
You cannot start your work experience until all steps have been validated by your Placement Officer. If you start your work experience before it is validated by the Placement Team, your work experience hours/weeks will not be counted.
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FAQs: What is considered suitable or unsuitable work experience?
Voluntary Work
Yes. You can use voluntary work for your work experience if the role meets the course learning outcomes. Please note that the organisation in question will still need to comply with our procedures in all other contexts such as agreeing and returning our paperwork.
Work Experience Abroad
You can consider this only if you are a Home/UK student*. This will depend on your ability to both obtain the necessary visa/documentation to travel to that specific country and gain permission from the Placement Officer/Module Tutor.
*Please note that international work experience opportunities are not applicable to international students holding a student visa. If you are a Student Visa student, you can only undertake your work experience in the UK.
Freelance work and/or self-employment
Most freelance and/or self-employment company’s may not be suitable for the purposes of your work experience due to differences in employment rights around pay, working hours, entitlements (i.e., annual leave and sick leave) and general working conditions.
Can I be based in the owner’s property
No. You cannot undertake your work experience in a private residence.
Can I work with more than one company for my work experience
No. You are expected to complete your work experience with one employer.
- Please speak to your Placement Officer/Module Tutor for further guidance if any of the above apply to your chosen work experience offer.
During my work experience
Work experience dos and don'ts
Do:
Introduce yourself to people in the team – tell them who you are and why you're there.
- Be aware of your environment and the company culture.
- Be enthusiastic and helpful and use your initiative.
- Manage your time carefully in order to meet set deadlines.
- Listen carefully to what is being asked of you.
- Ask questions – especially if you’re unsure.
- Notify your supervisor of any absences eg sickness, appointments.
- Make a good and lasting impression.
- Discuss any issues with your Line Manager or HR before contacting Module Tutor/Course Leader/Placement Office.
Don't:
- Be late!
- Spend time on your phone during work hours.
- Forget to tell the employer if you are running late, absent or unwell.
- Take unauthorised breaks.
- Remove anything from the company premises without permission.
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What should I do if I have an issue whilst on work experience?
You are a student of the University and we are here to support you. You should speak with your supervisor/ line manager in the first instance to resolve the issue. You should contact your Placement Officer/ Module Tutor if the issue cannot be resolved with your supervisor. However, please be aware that you are an employee of the company, and will need to adhere to their policies and procedures at all times.
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What is my status during my work experience, am I an employee or a student?
You are both.During your work experience, you are firstly an employee of the organisation, but will still retain your student status. As an ambassador of the University, we expect you to adopt a professional approach at all times throughout this period, allowing opportunities to be available to future cohorts.
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Can I continue working after my work experience has finished?
Yes.You can work with the same employer after your period of work experience has finished. However, this is a separate arrangement between you and the employer. Any additional hours after the agreed work experience end date will not be counted towards your assignment.
After your work experience - what next?
Your career journey is our journey
Once you have completed your work experience and module assignment we recommend you take the steps below to continue your career journey:
- Complete your Work Experience Evaluation Form on the Student Hub.
- Write to your employer and thank them for providing the work experience opportunity.
- Ask your employer if they would be willing to give you a reference for future job applications.
- Identify the employability skills that you have gained.
- Start researching graduate opportunities via Student Hub and external websites.
- See your Careers Consultant to update your CV and discuss future career plans.
Advice for non-UK national students
If your employer has any further questions about your eligibility to work in the UK, please ask them to contact the UK Visas & Immigration helpline on: 0300 123 4699.
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I am a Non-UK National student on the Student Visa route (UWL sponsored) how does my work experience impact the hours of work as stated on my visa?
As an example, your visa may state that you can work up to 20 hours per week. However, when you are undertaking a period of work experience (which is an assessed part of your degree course) you can work full-time hours for the full duration of the work experience. You can also work full-time during official university holiday breaks* (eg summer, Christmas).
*dependent on the structure of your course.
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Can I undertake my work experience through a third party employer e.g. Recruitment Agency?
No.This must be a direct employer and not a third-party agent.
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I have found work experience but the employer has asked for evidence of my student status and the hours that I can work. Is there documentation that the University will provide me?
Yes.The Placement Office (Student Services) can provide a Student Visa Route Visa exemption letter confirming your right to work during your integrated work experience period. You must make a request in writing to placements@uwl.ac.uk. We would also advise you to contact your Course Administrator to obtain a student status letter by emailing your request to studentletters@uwl.ac.uk.
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Can I work part-time in addition to my work experience?
Yes, but this is not encouraged by the University. When you are on your work experience, you must focus on your work experience and completing the learning outcomes of your assignment.
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During my work experience will my employer monitor my attendance?
Yes. As part of UKVI compliance procedures, the University will contact your employer every 14 days whilst you are on your placement to monitor your attendance with them. Any absences such as sickness or holiday will need to be reported to the Placements Team.
Please be aware that you must obtain written permission from the University if you are required to travel abroad (including your home country). For further guidance please email placements@uwl.ac.uk.
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I have not found any work experience by the deadline. What happens now?
If you have not found any work experience by the agreed deadline date you will be required to meet with your Placement Officer, Course Leader, Module Tutor, and Course Administrator to discuss your options e.g. transfer to a non-placement/ internship route or return home to complete work experience.
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Can I continue working for my employer after my work experience has ended?
You can continue working for the same employer after your work experience period has ended, however, in most cases you will revert back to the working hours as stated on your visa. Please speak to your Placement Officer/Module Tutor for further clarification.
If you intend to continue working for the same employer, please be aware that any arrangement you make is a separate arrangementbetween yourself and the employer. No hours accumulated during this period will count towards your work experience hours and/or the learning outcomes of your course.
If for any reason you start your work experience without the permission of the university and are working full-time hours you will be in breach of your Change to Student Visa Route visa status. Any breach of your Student Visa Route visa (such as working more than 20 hours per week when you are not permitted to do so) is considered a serious immigration offence and must be declared on any future UK visa applications.
Disability support, disclosure, and reasonable adjustments
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Is there support available at the University for disabled students who go on work experience?
Yes. All students have the same equal access to opportunities, so together the Placements Team and Wellbeing Team will offer you guidance regarding the support that is available to you. Please visit the Student Hub to book your 1-2-1 appointment to discuss your queries.
Please note that it may be that support or reasonable adjustments offered will be dependent on students disclosing a disability to a work experience provider.
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Should I disclose my disability to my Placement Officer/Module Tutor?
Ideally yes however, you are not obliged to disclose to anyone. If you have a disability, you are encouraged to disclose this to the team in a confidential setting so that we can make an assessment and discuss what appropriate support you may require whilst you are on your work experience. We would never disclose to a third party without your explicit consent.
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Should I disclose my disability to the work experience employer?
Your Placement Officer/Module Tutor can discuss this during your one-to-one meeting.
If you have any concerns about disclosing to your work experience employer do let us know so that we can discuss this with you and offer further guidance. We may suggest that you speak to a Careers Consultant who can offer advice as to when and how to talk about disclosing to your employer at both the application and interview stage of the recruitment process.
In addition, it may also be important to disclose your disability to a work experience employer if your disability is going to impact your work, or if there are any health and safety implications.
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Can reasonable adjustments be made for my work experience?
Support or reasonable adjustments are dependent on the nature of your disability and your work experience, but may include:
- Support with travel arrangements.
- Support at the interview stage, for example, extra time for answering questions.
- Additional rest breaks.
- Access to a workplace mentor.
- Access to specialist equipment or assistive technology.
- Provision of support workers (e.g. British Sign Language interpreter).
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What funding support (if any), is there available for disabled students going on work experience?
Specific funding required for support provided during work experience could be provided by Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) or if you are a paid employee while on work experience, you may qualify for Access to Work funding. If additional funding for support is required, this will be discussed with you.
You can access further information about disclosing your disability to your workplace, from the resources below:
- Disability Rights UK- Telling people you’re disabled
- EmployAbility - Opportunities for disabled and dyslexic students & graduates
- Remploy - Talking about your disability in employment
- UWL Wellbeing Team-contact us on wellbeing@uwl.ac.uk