Placement Year or No Placement Year?

msmyth18

Hello,

I am doing a computer degree, and have the opportunity to do a placement year at the end of this academic year.
I currently am on my second summer internship (insurance) so have 6 months of placement experience.

Ideally my aim is to join the Royal Navy as an officer, although going on the spending cuts I doubt there will be much demand for this by the time I come to graduate.

Should I do a placement year with a company to advance my experience?

The Navy will always be there as an option, maybe with the extra year recruitment could have picked up? Even if not then when it comes to applying a job I would have a extra years experience for my CV.

Lokolo

I did mine at IBM and loved it.

A couple of people went to Germany to work for Eurocopter and HP. Another friend worked at Kew Gardens.

Was fun and the money was awesome.

sfdoctor

One really important thing to consider here is that students on placement years are only eligible for a reduced rate of student maintenance loan (around £2,300 per year).

I've spent the whole working with two students who have just started their unpaid placements this year, and are already wondering how they will be able to finish due the placement due to receiving such a low student loan.

The loan is actually the same regardless of whether the placement is paid or unpaid, so that should certainly be a key consideration before deciding.

Taiko

Indeed, unless a placement meets the criteria under Regulation 38(5), which is unlikely for a computing placement.

If you can get a paid placement, then I would consider it. If not, then you're better completing your degree.