Every student’s experience will be very different, even if you’re taking over from a previous placement student from the year before. You have a lot of opportunity to influence what you get out of a placement.

Every placement includes the following:

1. Work given to you by your line manager

Your work should be based on the responsibilities within the job description, or in similar documentation if your placement is part of a work experience module. In both types of placement, this should be what you were expecting when you requested approval for your placement.

You will need to set short, medium and long-term goals and objectives for your placement with your line manager for the whole placement. If you haven’t started your placement yet, find out more on the Placement checklist.

2. Academic work and applied learning

Throughout your placement you will apply relevant aspects of academic learning to your current role and work environment in support of the organisation's priorities and objectives. In addition to your role on placement, you will have work to complete set by your module team or your course team. This will be on your placement or module Blackboard site, along with the deadline and submission details.

If you’re on a sandwich placement that includes the Applied Professional Diploma, your work should help you to demonstrate your professional development within the synoptic portfolio.

3. Professional behaviour

You will need to identify and deploy professional behaviours, including integrity and ethical practice to achieve personal success. Whilst you are on placement, you will still be classed as a student of Sheffield Hallam; this means you have a responsibility to act professionally to both the University and your Placement Provider at all times – find out more about professionalism on placement.

4. Support from the University

Every student on placement has access to the same support from the University as during your taught studies, but some of the terminology might change depending on your course (e.g. your Academic Adviser might now be your Placement Academic Adviser). Find out more about support on placement.

In addition to support from the University, while you are on placement you should be supported by your Placement Provider. So if you’re struggling on placement generally, or if it’s a specific piece of work, talk to your line manager and your academic.

5. Safe working environment

During the approval of your placement you will be asked to make sure you have completed the Health & Safety: Professional Preparation for your Placement training module and to discuss the health & safety aspects of your placement with your Placement Provider. So, nothing on placement should be a surprise to you.

You should receive a full health & safety induction at the earliest opportunity and no later than after the first 2 weeks of your placement – find out more about safety at work.

6. Evaluation & feedback

Depending on the type of placement you’re on, you will be sent an evaluation form to complete so we can get feedback from you, your Placement Provider and your academic.

If you’re on a placement that’s part of a work experience module, this will usually be collected by your module team.

For sandwich placements, we’ll do this at the end of Semester 1 (December) and at the end of Semester 2 (June). Before we do this, we’ll ask you to confirm that the people you initially identified when you requested approval for your placement haven’t changed, one month before.

You should still contact the Work Experience Team if your placement details change.