Please refer to the Psychology Placement Year Handbook.

Students must be registered on an undergraduate psychology award, and have passed enough credits at level 5 to be able to progress on to the placement year.

1. The ability to evaluate different approaches to solving problems amenable to analysis from a psychological perspective whilst on placement, and to propose appropriate solutions to issues and problems identified during placement.

2. The ability to communicate ideas, supported by evidence, within a workplace context and to communicate those ideas to a range of audiences.

3. The ability to apply knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and skills within a variety of workplace contexts whilst on placement.

4. The ability to exercise increased personal responsibility and decision making to undertake self-directed study and to reflect on personal development in the workplace whilst on placement. To identify how transferable skills and abilities have developed whilst on placement, and to evaluate these with a view to future learning and employability.

5. Successful completion of an approved nine-month placement demonstrating the application of skills, as evidenced by a placement activity log.

You are required to submit two pieces of related assessment at the end of your placement year.

1. Reflective Account (LO 1-4) 50% weighting
This 3000-word report will focus on student learning experiences during the placement, how they have applied their knowledge and skills within the workplace, and how this has contributed to their continuing professional development whilst also evaluating their future development needs.

2. Placement Activity Log (LO 5) 50% weighting
Consisting of:
- a log of activity which has been signed on a monthly basis by the Workplace Supervisor
- An assessment by the Workplace Supervisor of the students’ performance on placement

The placement (sandwich) year is a structured work experience opportunity which enables you to develop your skill set and to develop your employability confidence. The purpose of the student placement is to enable students to learn and to gain valuable experience within a work environment. Some examples of tasks that you may be involved with (but depends entirely on the placement) include working with and supporting children and their families, supporting young people, contributing to the improvement and development of wellbeing and pastoral services, and supporting academic staff with research. Placements can be undertaken abroad. You will be encouraged to source your own placement with support from the university. This experience is designed to integrate with and complement the academic studies that you undertake as part of your Psychology degree.

Placements take place between levels 5 and 6 of our undergraduate degrees and last for a period of 9 months (typically from September to June) with students working for a minimum of three days per week. The Placement Year is an assessed, pass/fail, year that is added to your existing programme of study.

Throughout your placement period you will be supervised by a Workplace Supervisor (usually your line manager) within the employing organisation, and you will maintain contact with the University through a Placement Supervisor (these will be appointed at the start of the first term and will normally conduct a first visit around Christmas). Your Placement Supervisor will establish contact via telephone, e-mail, or video conference. You will normally receive three visits from your Placement Supervisor during your placement year. These visits will usually be conducted remotely but can be in person if deemed necessary and appropriate by your supervisor or line manager.

Academic staff are responsible for briefing students prior to the placement, monitoring the placement and debriefing the student after it. They are also responsible for marking assessment work in respect of the placement. Whilst the staff of the placement provider are responsible for day-to-day supervision, students on placement will be visited (remotely OR in person) by academic staff and regular communication will take place to assess student progress. University staff will also be available to respond to problems of a more urgent nature which may arise between visits and meetings.

Students on all undergraduate Psychology awards can opt to undertake a placement (sandwich) year; a structured work experience opportunity which enables you to develop your skill set and to develop your employability confidence. The purpose of the student placement is to enable students to learn and to gain valuable experience within a work environment. Placements can be undertaken abroad. You will be encouraged to source your own placement with support from the university. This experience is designed to integrate with and complement the academic studies that you undertake as part of your Psychology degree.