Placements

Recruiting a placement student is a great way to access new skills and to identify and review a potential future employee.

A Sussex student intern talking to a group of colleagues

Free vacancy advertising

You can advertise any placement opportunity over 10 months long, as well as other job vacancies, via our free online jobs portal (CareerHub).

Register or log in to advertise your placement vacancies with CareerHub

How it works

Your placement student will work within your organisation for one year, between their second and third year of study.

The placement opportunity is open to students studying all subjects, so you can find someone who has the right skills, knowledge and interests for your job role.

Benefits of employing a placement student

  • identify potential graduate recruits early on - with the opportunity to review their performance over the course of a year
  • be supported by the University of Sussex - with regular contact and feedback from Sussex tutors, your placement student provides a direct link to the collective knowledge of a university that is ranked within the top 20 in the UK
  • gain an enthusiastic member of your team, with up-to-date skills and knowledge developed during their first two years of study.

Employer requirements

To hire a Sussex placement student, you must provide:

  • a clear job description and contract for the placement, signed by yourself and your placement student. The role must be approved by the University of Sussex before the placement starts
  • a named line manager for your placement student, who will be the main point of contact for the University
  • an appropriate induction to the job role, including information about company procedures and health and safety
  • training as required, which could include preparation for the working environment, mentoring, coaching, staff development workshops or learning from colleagues
  • your placement student’s salary for the year as appropriate for the role, sector and location - the national average for placements is £21,264 (Student Recruitment Survey 2022, Institute of Student Employers) per year and Sussex placement students must be paid at the National Living Wage or higher (unless the placement is a voluntary position for a charity or a public service placement)
  • evidence of your liability insurance covering the role.

University support

We remain in contact with your placement student and your organisation throughout the placement period, and provide a range of support:

  • you can advertise your placement opportunity for free via our jobs portal
  • all students have access to a comprehensive placement preparation programme before undertaking their placement year
  • you will have a point of contact at the University within our Placements team, and will receive support in relation to risk assessment and ensuring the placement meets the University’s placement compliance guidance
  • your placement student will also have a designated Placement Tutor who will act as a mentor and monitor their performance, visiting them during their placement if appropriate.

How to recruit a placement student

Hiring a Sussex placement student through our placement programme is straightforward and efficient, as well as providing protection for your organisation and your placement student.

  1. Get in touch with our Placements and Work Experience team if you have any questions
  2. Submit your placement details to CareerHub to be advertised to our students
  3. Once your placement student has been recruited - receive and complete our simple online form.

Contact us

Placements and Work Experience team,
Careers and Employability Centre,
The Library,
University of Sussex,
Falmer,
Brighton,
BN1 9QL

+44 (0)1273 678429

placements@sussex.ac.uk