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Our placement schemes are focussed on developing your employability and helping you to gain the experience you need to succeed in the workplace.

Placement-linked dissertations

  • This scheme places students (usually 8-10 a year)  in organisations, where you will complete a piece of geographical research for your dissertation, as well as gaining work experience.
  • Placements are awarded competitively after completing an application
  • Past placements have included the British Antarctic Survey, British Geological Survey, Royal Botanical Gardens Kew and the Royal Geographical Society.
  • You  receive funds to help cover your costs.
  • You also need to write a blog post about your experience

Student-organised placements

  • Staff will assist you in finding your own placements within organisations of your choice
  • Students have undertaken placements ranging from wildlife conservation to the Royal Geographical Society and the Houses of Parliament

Departmental Placement Research Assistants

  • Second-year students can undertake paid work with a member of staff for 2-4 weeks in the summer.
  • There is a competitive application process, and students are provided with support on CV and cover letter writing.
  • Timing is flexible and pro-rata, to be most convenient for you and the member of staff.

Amanda did such an amazing job at ensuring all of our days were jam packed! Our days involved meeting lots of people from many different departments of the company and them getting to explain to us what they do and the daily tasks that they do. We also got to ask any questions we had. I found out so much about insurance and how to pursue a career in this field.

A usual day in my placement involved talking to Tim or another member of the Ecology Team about the task I was set and then independently working on it. I undertook a variety of activities throughout the two weeks. These included researching about invertebrate distribution, habitats and life cycles. As well as completing a method statement and risk assessment, for an ecological assessment of a site in London.

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