Explore how students can find internships and placements, gain prac...
Summary
Explore how students can find internships and placements, gain practical work experience, develop professional skills and prepare for future employment.
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University study can give you strong academic knowledge, but practical experience can help you understand how that knowledge is used in the workplace. Internships and Placements at Exeter University give students opportunities to gain work experience, develop useful skills and learn more about professional environments.
Exeter provides several ways for students to find work experience, including university internship schemes, placements and opportunities advertised through its careers platform. This guide explains how these opportunities work and how students can prepare for them.
What Are Internships and Placements?
An internship is a short period of work experience where a student works in a professional environment and develops practical skills. At Exeter, internships can be paid and may take place during term time or university holidays. The University's internship schemes include opportunities on campus and with external employers.
A placement is usually a longer or more structured period of work experience connected to a student's degree or professional development. Some Exeter degree programmes include work placements as part of the course, while other students may find placement opportunities through the University's careers services.
The two terms are sometimes used together, but they are not always the same.
Can involve a longer period of professional experience
May take place during term time or holidays
Can form part of some degree programmes
Can be paid
Placement arrangements vary by programme and opportunity
Can help students explore professional work
Can provide deeper experience in a workplace
May be available through Exeter's internship schemes
Can include credit-bearing work placements
The exact structure, eligibility and length can vary depending on the opportunity and course. Students should always check the requirements before applying.
Finding Work Experience at Exeter
Exeter uses My Career Zone as its main career development platform. Students can use it to discover employers and opportunities, submit applications and engage with Career Zone services.
From February 2026, Exeter states that its internships are advertised through My Career Zone. Students can search the platform for available opportunities and apply to roles that match their interests and eligibility.
This gives students one central place to start looking instead of relying only on external job websites.
Students can also subscribe to Exeter's Internships Bulletin, which provides updates about the latest Student Campus Partnership and Student Business Partnership opportunities. The bulletin is sent every Friday.
University Internship Schemes
Exeter offers several internship schemes. These are designed to give students practical experience while supporting their development.
Some of the University's schemes include:
Student Campus Partnerships (SCP)
Student Business Partnerships (SBP)
Access to Internships (A2i)
Professional Pathways
The University's internship page states that its schemes offer paid and flexible employment during term time and summer. They are available to both UK and international students, although individual schemes have their own eligibility requirements.
Student Campus Partnerships
The Student Campus Partnership scheme provides paid work opportunities across Exeter's Exeter and Penryn campuses.
Students can work with academic or professional services teams and develop skills in areas such as research, project management, marketing, IT and analytics. Current vacancies are advertised through My Career Zone.
This type of experience can be particularly useful for students who want to gain professional skills without needing to leave the University campus.
Student Business Partnerships
Student Business Partnerships provide internship opportunities with recommended external employers in the area. These roles give students the chance to gain experience outside the University while continuing their studies.
Students can find relevant opportunities through My Career Zone and the University's internship information.
Another Exeter option is Professional Pathways. This programme combines sector-specific training with a paid internship.
According to the University, the programme includes training delivered by industry experts followed by a paid 35-hour internship. Current pathways include areas such as Arts, Culture and Heritage, Charity and Development, and Marketing.
The programme is designed to help students gain knowledge and experience in a chosen sector. It can be useful for students who want to understand a particular area of work before moving towards future employment.
Professional Pathways also gives employers a role in student development. Employers can provide training, set business projects and offer internships through the programme.
The availability of individual pathways can change from year to year, so students should check the current University information before making plans.
Placements and Placement Preparation
For students whose degree includes a work placement, Exeter provides specific placement support.
The support can include advice from a Module Lead or Programme Director, as well as appointments with Employability and Placement Advisers or Employability and Careers Consultants. Students can also receive help with applications and placement-related questions.
Exeter also provides employability sessions covering areas such as:
Choosing a suitable placement
CV preparation
Interviews
Assessment centres
Placement applications
General placement preparation
Students can access online employability resources and recruitment tools as part of the placement support available to them.
This preparation matters because getting a placement is not simply about finding a vacancy. Students need to understand the role, meet the application requirements and be ready for the recruitment process.
For some placement appointments, students can also have their CV, covering letter, application form or LinkedIn profile checked before applying.
What Skills Can Students Gain?
Work experience can help students develop skills that are difficult to build through classroom study alone.
The skills gained will depend on the role, but Exeter's internship information highlights experience in areas such as research, project management, marketing, IT and analytics through Student Campus Partnerships.
Students may also develop broader workplace abilities such as:
Communication
Teamwork
Organisation
Problem-solving
Professional behaviour
Project management
Time management
Using workplace technology
The value of an internship is not only the job title. Students should pay attention to what they actually do, what they learn and how they can explain that experience later.
For example, completing a real project can give a student a practical example of problem-solving. Working with a team can provide evidence of communication and collaboration skills.
These experiences can then become useful examples when students apply for future opportunities.
How Work Experience Supports Employability
Practical experience can help students understand what professional work is really like. It can also help them connect academic learning with workplace situations.
Exeter's Professional Pathways programme, for example, aims to give students experience and knowledge within their chosen sector while helping them build on existing knowledge and experience.
Work experience can support employability by helping students:
Understand the workplace: Students can see how organisations operate and how different roles contribute to a team.
Develop practical skills: Academic knowledge can be applied to real tasks and projects.
Build evidence: Students can use genuine examples from their experience when discussing their skills.
Explore career interests: A work experience opportunity can help students decide whether a particular type of work suits them.
Improve confidence: Working in a professional environment can make the transition from university to employment less unfamiliar.
The important thing is to treat work experience as a learning opportunity rather than simply something to add to a CV.
Opportunities for International Students
International students can also use Exeter's career services to search for internships and work opportunities.
The University states that international students are welcome to use the Career Zone service. My Career Zone can be used to search for jobs, including internships and part-time work. Exeter also provides additional careers and visa-related workshops for international students.
International students should check the relevant UK work and visa rules before accepting work. The University provides dedicated information to help international students understand employer requirements and working in the UK.
This is important because eligibility for an opportunity can depend on immigration status and the specific conditions attached to a student's visa.
How to Start Looking for an Internship or Placement
Students can take a simple approach when looking for work experience.
1. Set Up My Career Zone
Create and maintain your My Career Zone profile. The platform is the University's central place for career opportunities, applications and career services.
2. Search Regularly
Opportunities can change, so students should check My Career Zone regularly rather than searching only once.
3. Check Eligibility
Read the full opportunity description before applying. Check requirements such as your year of study, course, student status and any other conditions.
4. Prepare Your Application
Use Exeter's available resources to prepare your CV and application. Placement students can also access specific application support.
5. Apply Before the Deadline
Do not leave applications until the last minute. Give yourself enough time to understand the role and prepare a relevant application.
6. Use Career Zone Support
If you are unsure about the application process, Exeter's Career Zone can provide relevant support and resources.
Resource:Forage is a virtual work experience platform referenced by the University of Exeter for gaining insight into different companies and areas of work. It can be useful when students want to explore a sector before applying for opportunities.
Support for Bangladeshi Students
For Bangladeshi students planning to study at Exeter, finding work experience is only one part of preparing for the UK university journey.
Shabuj Global Education (SGE) helps students manage the wider process of studying in the UK.
How SGE Supports Bangladeshi Students
Expert Guidance: Help choosing a suitable Exeter course based on academic background, entry requirements and future goals.
Application Made Easy: Support with document checks and personal statement review.
Visa and Pre-Departure Help: Step-by-step support for the UK student visa process and preparation before departure.
Ongoing Support: Continued guidance after enrolment as students progress through their UK study journey.
For students planning ahead, understanding the available university support before applying can make the transition to Exeter easier.
Internships and Placements at Exeter University give students practical ways to gain experience while developing skills outside the classroom. Through My Career Zone, university internship schemes and placement support, students can search for suitable opportunities and prepare for professional work.
The smartest approach is to start early, check eligibility carefully and treat every work experience opportunity as a chance to learn, develop skills and understand the workplace.
ReadCareer and Employability Support at Exeter for the wider picture of Exeter's career services. This guide focuses specifically on work experience, internships and placements, while the parent article covers the full range of employability support.
