Placements

Placements provide practical experience of working in industry and research, and put your learning into context to give you a head start in the careers market - employers increasingly look for evidence of practical work experience, as it demonstrates a genuine interest in your chosen specialism.

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University of Sheffield students discuss their experiences of summer, industrial and year long placements.

MEng 5-month industrial placement

With all our MEng courses, as part of the course structure and alongside industrial projects and interaction, students take up a guaranteed 5-month industrial placement to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding within an employment context, as well as building relationships with contacts for future career opportunities.

We aim to match your interests within materials science with one of our industrial partners, to provide an experience that's useful, rewarding and engaging - many employers can use this time as an extended trial for offering a permanent job. Some placements have been taken up as far away as Mexico and New Zealand.

Philips Research, Eindhoven

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As part of our MEng four year courses, students complete a 5-month placement in their third year of study.

Jaguar Land Rover, UK

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As part of our MEng four year courses, students complete a 5-month placement in their third year of study.

BEng Year in Industry

Alongside three years of teaching, this course allows BEng students to undertake industrial experience. You'll pay a reduced fee to the University for that year and get paid a salary.

It is the student's responsibility to secure the placement for the year, but you'll receive comprehensive support and guidance from the Department, the University's Careers Service and Faculty Employability Team both prior to and during your industrial placement.

The Employability Team will support your journey providing:

  • Help with finding your industrial placement
  • Bookable CV and application sessions with the team & the careers advisers
  • Regular updates on Year in Industry preparatory sessions & events
  • Provision of Year in Industry materials, supporting your professional development during your placement year
  • Regular support and monitoring throughout the year

Summer placements

Internships with industry

Students often apply for internships to gain valuable insight into the engineering sector, and experience to enhance their employability skills upon graduating.


I think that if you are able to gain experience away from your own country it gives you a much wider perspective of the world, and improves your adaptability.

Euan Gray

Internship with BK AsiaPacific in Hong Kong


Read all about Euan's experience working in Hong Kong on our departmental blog.

Research scholarships

You can apply to spend part of a summer in one of our research laboratories completing a 6-8 week-long placement.


I didn’t know what I wanted to do as a career but always had an interest in nuclear so I applied for the summer placement. I really enjoyed it and it gave me insight into life as a researcher.

Steph Thornber

Summer placement with Nucleus Immobilisation Laboratory


Top in the Russell Group

We are the top-ranked Russell Group university for Graduate Prospects in Materials Science and Engineering. (The Times Good University Guide 2020)

Four students laughing while sat at a bench, outside the Students' Union

International Merit Scholarships

We offer a generous package of financial support for international students including 75 undergraduate scholarships worth £10,000 towards the annual tuition fee and 125 postgraduate taught scholarships worth £5,000 towards the tuition fee. Applications are now open for existing offer holders.