Placements to get you hired

Real work experience, real pay packets

Going on work placement while studying for a degree is proven to boost an undergraduate's employability and we work with over 1,000 employers to help you make it happen.

Placements are at the heart of our hands-on, work-based approach to higher education. But why are they so vital?

They not only provide an exciting opportunity to experience what work is really like in your field, but help you build your professional network, meet new people and develop your skills and confidence. They are also the chance to travel and we have secured placements everywhere from the US to the South Pole!

Most of our degrees feature a compulsory or optional placement and what makes them really enticing is that most are paid, so you have an extra income while you are studying.

Duane Saunders, Head of Medical for the Guyana Men’s National Football Team, University College Birmingham Alumni

Students out in industry

Most of our students go on placement, either adding in a placement year or completing a few shorter placements to get a really-rounded experience in a range of settings. Discover some of their stories.

Duane Saunders
Sports therapist to global football stars

Sports Therapy BSc (Hons) Graduate

After building experience as a sports therapist and lecturer, Duane now leads medical support at the highest level as Head of Medical for the Guyana men’s national football team. In this role, he coordinates an expert medical team, helping elite athletes stay fit, recover from injury and perform at their best on the international stage.

From preparing players for FIFA World Cup and Olympic qualifiers to supporting major international tournaments, Duane’s career began at University College Birmingham, where he gained the practical skills and confidence to thrive in a competitive industry - and turn ambition into global success.

Dominic Hanna

Sports Therapy BSc Hons

Dominic was playing for the UCB basketball team when HIRED helped to find him the perfect placement.

As a sports fanatic and sports therapy students, he was thrilled to be able to combine his passions with work at Birmingham Rockets Basketball club.

“This set me up brilliantly, as I’ve continued to work with them since graduation and also secured a role as a graduate sports therapist right here at UCB, where I work pitch side during fixtures at The Maltings.”

Tilly Warren

International Hospitality and Tourism Management FdA

After working as a character attendant on the Disney Cultural Exchange Program, Tilly secured a year-long placement at the Disney World resort in Florida.

Looking after beloved favourites including Cinderella and Aurora, she is responsible for making sure guests are fully prepared before meeting the princesses.

As part of the Disney Academic Exchange Program, she'll be learning even more skills to begin a career in international hospitality and tourism.

Photo credit: Disney

Our subject-specific employability tutors are on hand to guide you before, during and after your work experience or placement, offering advice about the types of roles available, suggesting employers to suit you and helping to prepare you for your time in industry.

We have helped students secure work placements with employers including:

Claridge’s (Mayfair, London)
Ritz Carlton (Naples, Florida and Colorado)
BMW (Germany)
Mondelēz (Birmingham)
Scotland Rugby team

£ 300 m

Investment into campuses, equipment and resources

1,000

Employer contacts to provide valuable placements and excellent careers guidance

90%

In the 2025 National Student Survey, more than 90% of students highly rated our support

It was great to get involved and work with the players, to test my knowledge. I’ve developed my communication, leadership, adaptability and listening skills, as well as my confidence – plus I’ve made friends for life at the club.

Matthew Wilson, Sport and Fitness Studies Placement at Warwickshire County Cricket Club

We can also help you secure part-time or voluntary work.

This is supported by our Unitemps recruitment agency on campus, as well as through our online search tools and meeting organisations at our regular employability fairs.

To learn more about work opportunities, please email unitemps@ucb.ac.uk.

To find out more, visit us in the HIRED suite on the ground floor at Baskerville House or email us.

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Getting you in front of employers

We hold regular employability extravaganza fairs and presentations to give you access to local and international employers – and they could help you find you…

With you beyond your studies

University College Birmingham alumni are entitled to receive ongoing support from HIRED and access to hiredConnect for five years after you graduate.

Alumni

Welcome to graduate life. After working hard to get to this point, you are now automatically a member of the University College Birmingham Alumni network.