Securing your talent pipeline: Master’s student placements

The College of Engineering, Environment and Science at Coventry University have added a ‘work placement’ option* to a range of master’s programmes. They provide industry with a fantastic opportunity to recruit a range of highly skilled postgraduate talent.

The Extended Master’s is designed to be an optional pathway which changes a 12-month master’s to a 24-month master’s.

Benefits

The majority of current employers we engage with highly value taking on master’s students on professional experience*. There are a range of benefits associated with this, including:

• Additional resource to complete specialist projects and short-term objectives
• Access to motivated students with specialist knowledge and ideas
• A means of identifying potential future employees
• A low-risk recruitment method for developing internal talent
• An opportunity to develop closer links with Coventry University

What courses are eligible?

Visit the Extended Masters' Work Placement page to view eligible courses.

What are the key dates?

The below table provides an outline of the usual key timeframes for recruiting an Extended Master’s Student.

Please note that the timeframes outlined in the table above are subject to vary and change.

How to engage?

Coventry University’s Talent Team can provide free advice and guidance to organisations looking to recruit Extended Master’s students; this can include:

• Help with creating effective job adverts
• Advice on best timelines for attracting students from the most relevant courses, depending on your organisational needs
• Guidance around average wages, dependent on course and work experience routes
• Help with initial CV collation

Frequently asked questions

• How long is a placement?

  The normal duration for a placement year is 9-12 months. Most companies offer a 12-month contract. The minimum duration for Student Route Visa holders is 11 months in line with the International Compliance Regulations.

• How many hours a week can a placement be?

  A placement must be full-time working hours, with a minimum of 30 hours per week.

• Are these placements paid?

  The majority of placements are paid positions – guidance can be provided around suitable salaries.

• How do I know if my role is suitable for a master’s student?

  We will use the job description you provide to assess a student’s suitability, in consultation with their course director. This will help to ensure the placement offers the chance to adequately enhance the students’ academic experience.

• Where can the placement be located?

  The place of work must be a registered commercial office. We cannot approve a placement based at a residential address. Student Route Visa holders must be based on site for a minimum of 3 days each week and will be subject to meeting applicable visa requirements.

• How should a placement student be treated during their placement?

  A placement student undertaking full-time paid work within an organisation should have the same rights as an employee, and would therefore be subject to the same policies and procedures as other staff in your organisation (for example, annual leave entitlement, sickness policy, and code of conduct).

• What documentation is required to confirm a placement?

  Contract

  Both the company and the student must sign a contract or offer letter on a company letter headed document. It must include:

  • The full name and address of the company
  • Start and end date of placement
  • Location of role
  • Hours of work

  Job Description

  This should be a summary of the required duties during the placement.

  Master's Internship Agreement

  The paperwork associated with taking on a professional placement student is not supposed to be onerous. The Talent Team will prepare a standardised Master’s Internship Agreement - a tripartite agreement between the organisation, student and Coventry University, which all parties should agree and sign before the professional placement starts. This includes health and safety assurances to approve the placement.

  Student Route Visa holders Student Policy

  Under the University’s Educational Sponsor License, UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) requires us to monitor our overseas students studying on Student Route Visas. This includes when out on professional placement with employers. If the student that you are taking on a professional placement falls into this category, the university is required to obtain updates of attendance from their line manager for each fortnight of the placement. The Talent Team will notify you prior to the start date of the professional placement and discuss this with you if you have any queries.