Work Experience/Placements

The Work Placement Team is dedicated to working with you, the employer, to develop work experience opportunities for Aberdeen students. 

 

Services

We can help you with arranging and supporting a range of placements, from Easter and Summer work placements to the full, 1-year industrial placement.

The Work Placement Team will work with you to develop the scope of the placement (if necessary). We will then advertise the placement on your behalf, collate applications and aid in the interview process, if required.  To register your placement opportunity, please complete the Placement Registration Form and email it to us.

We will remain in contact throughout the placement, and will visit the student and employer at the mid-way point to review progress.  For further information, please email the Work Placement Team.

 

Employer Guidelines

To help you get the most out of engaging with an Aberdeen student, please view our guidelines.

 

Testimonials

Aker Solutions:   Euan Petrie (MEng Electronic/Electrical Engineering with a Diploma in Management) undertook a supported placement with Aker Solutions in their Research and Development Department, where he worked on developing and designing brand new technology for implementation in the field. 

Euan writes:  "the placement showed me business awareness and how a company like Aker fits into the industry.  It was a real confidence boost to have my own project to work on, and to see this develop into a product.  I would recommend every student to try and get a placement just for the experience.  It doesn't matter if it's a couple of weeks or a couple of months, it will help you decide your future and cement your career choice."  As a result of his placement, Euan was offered a place on Aker's graduate training scheme.

Cameron + Ross:    Megan Johnston (MEng Civil and Structural Engineering) undertook a supported placement in with Cameron + Ross, a civil and structural engineering consultancy firm with offices in Aberdeen and Glasgow.  During her placement, she applied British Standards and Eurocode of practice to make structural recommendations on a number of different structures, mainly timber frame construction houses. 

Megan writes:  "My 3rd and 4th year structural design and structural analysis module definitely helped me in my placement.  I had all my notes at work with me over the summer for reference!  Try and take as much out of the experience as possible - ask loads of questions and make sure you listen to all the information you are provided with.  I thoroughly enjoyed being given the responsibility to work on real jobs, providing me with the knowledge of how the industry actually works. I liked how every job was different, meaning I never got bored and was constantly learning."

 

Past Employers

The Careers Service would like to thank the following companies for offering dedicated placement opportunities to our students:

  • 2H Offshore
  • A S Mosley, Oyne
  • Aberdeen Scientific Services Laboratory (Aberdeen City Council)
  • Aberdeen City Council
  • Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership (Kincardine and Mearns Area Office)
  • Aker
  • Aberdeen International Youth Festival
  • Atkins
  • BP
  • Burness
  • Broomhill Nursery Charity
  • Cameron + Ross
  • Canadian Natural Resources (CNR)
  • Champion
  • Chevron
  • Craigton Lodge
  • CSE Controls
  • DNV
  • Demys
  • DIT, University of Aberdeen
  • EnviroCentre
  • Finesse
  • Friendly Technologies
  • Fugro
  • Grampian Credit Union
  • Grampian Police
  • Halliburton
  • ITF
  • J & S Ltd
  • Joseph Robertson Ltd
  • KMAP
  • Les Enfants
  • Novabiotics
  • Paradigm Flow Solutions
  • Perigon Solutions
  • Poyry
  • Saftetec Ltd 
  • Saltire Foundation
  • Senergy
  • Scottish National Party
  • Shell Upstream 
  • TechFest, University of Aberdeen
  • Tesco Corporation
  • Tritech International
  • The Spires 
  • The University of Aberdeen
  • WA Fairhurst, Aberdeen
  • Wood Group.

 

Glossary of Terms

Work placement: A period of work experience, which can be paid or unpaid. This can be arranged through the university with an employer, or by the student directly, and is for an agreed period of time, often during the summer vacation period. 

Sandwich (or industrial) placements: these paid placements often last for one year, and are assessed by the University.  The placement has a credit value, is part of the degree programme, and recorded on the degree transcript. 

Work-based projects:  A specific piece of assessed work for a course, undertaken in collaboration with an employer or organisation.   This may, for example, form part of an MSc degree and replace the traditional University based research project.  This can be arranged by either the student or in some cases, the relevant Programme or School (please refer to "Work Based Projects" in the Engage Aberdeen section).