Placements and work experience

A Professional Training Placement Year is designed to give you the practical experience you need to stand out with graduate employers and be ready for industry as soon as you’ve finished your degree. Our Professional Training Placement Programme is one of the largest in the world, with a network of over 2,000 placement providers both in the UK and overseas. Gain real-world experience and feel UNSTOPPABLE.

With 97% of our students who took placements in work or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2025, HESA), it’s clear that completing a Professional Training Year is a fantastic way to boost your employability during your degree.

If you have questions regarding what it’s like being on placement, the benefits of a placement, practical and financial advice whilst out on placement, or general support available if you decide to undertake your placement abroad, then this page will help answer your questions.

Professional Training resources

Whether you're a placement seeking student, a first year student looking to find out more about a Professional Training placement why not explore our Professional Training Placement Portal.

Find out more about our past placements - where will your year take you?

Resources for students who are considering doing a Professional Training Placement.

Enhance your CV

Advice for students who are in the process of applying for a professional training placement.

EDI and Wellbeing

Explore more on the University of Surrey's approach to EDI and Wellbeing.

Placement experiences

Student at adobe

Surrey Professional Training placement students | Working with Adobe

Frequently asked questions

What is a Professional Training Placement?

Our placements give you a competitive edge, giving you opportunities to gain confidence, maturity and knowledge, find a focus for your final year of study, test out a career path, discover new professional possibilities, become an industry-ready individual, network in your industry, and increase your employability potential.

Visit our about the scheme page.

How much does a Professional Training Year cost?

There is a significantly reduced tuition fee for your Professional Training Year. The amount charged for an undergraduate placement year will be set at 20% of the standard tuition fee. To find full details of the tuition fee reduction, and the maintenance loan you can apply for.

Visit our tuition fees page.

What locations are available for placements?

Our award-winning Professional Training placement scheme gives you the chance to spend a year in industry, either in the UK or abroad.

Discover some of the recent placement destinations Surrey students have undertaken and be inspired by the paths you could follow. 

When do I apply for my Professional Training Year?

Professional Training placements are usually applied for and secured via an open and free-to-all process, within which students can select and apply for numerous opportunities. 

 Explore how to apply for a placement role

Placements will become live for you to access on the Surrey Employability Hub from the September of your second year, and you will receive notification from the Placements Team once these become available.

How can I find out more about current and former students’ placement experiences?

You can visit our Professional Training Placement Experience Blog page to learn more about the experiences of other students undertaking placements as part of their degree. The blog pages follow our current students as they navigate through the Professional Training placement application process, their first days working and their time at their organisation. 

You will discover more about the real experience, how our students found a placement, how they prepared for their placement and their advice on getting the most out of your placement year.

What support is available during my placement?

We're here to help you find a placement that fits your degree and future goals. We'll make sure you're ready for the role by supporting you with the professional and personal skills you need to succeed. Most placements are paid, and we'll be there to support you every step of the way, no matter what placement you choose.

Visit our Professional Training placement support page

Supporting your placement

We are here to make sure your placement experience is a success.

How to apply for a placement

Advice for students who are in the process of applying for a professional training placement.

Practical and financial placement advice

Support available to help you before or during your Professional Training placement.

Professional training charter

An agreement between you, the University and your placement provider. It outlines the University’s expectations during your placement.

Returning from placement

Helping you to have a smooth transition back to university life.

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