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Last modified: 01 May 2026 14:16
This work-based placement elective offers a professional placement with a government/public, industrial, civic or voluntary health and/or development sector organisation. Your placement will involve a range of activities requiring the application of academic skills and will depend on the needs of your host.
You will undertake a ten-week placement with your host organisation, either within the organisation, remotely from Aberdeen, or using a combination of both. Placements are subject to availability and may be offered on a competitive basis.
Please note, however, although we try, it may not be possible to offer you a placement in your chosen specialisation. If you would like to undertake a placement meeting your specific criteria, it is suggested you explore self-sourcing a placement. Please contact the WBL Team for more information on host organisation requirements (wbl_iahs@abdn.ac.uk).
We reserve the right to remove a student from placement should either host or student report inappropriate behaviour or unacceptable work. In the event of removal from placement students will be supported to meet the requirements of their programme of study.
| Study Type | Postgraduate | Level | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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The course aims to enhance the student experience by providing authentic learning opportunities that improve employability and professional development. It enables students to acquire professional knowledge and understanding of the daily work, strategic priorities, objectives, and functions of various organisations, including those in the civic, government, industrial, public, research, or voluntary health and development sectors. Additionally, the course facilitates the application of academic skills in a work environment and offers opportunities for students to strategically develop a range of transferable skills through the MySkills Framework.
This is a work-based placement course, the content and structure of which is student driven. You will be developing your transferable skills during this placement, such as communication, leadership, time management and adaptability and flexibility skills through the application of academic knowledge and understanding.
Engagement, performance and compliance in placement activities will be monitored using a formalised weekly check in system involving students meeting with hosts and reviewing their work together. Students will submit a weekly timesheet and hosts will provide course staff an evaluation of student performance and allowing a follow up where required.
Teaching delivery: Student-led placements with host organisation/University of Aberdeen co-supervision.
Your time spent on the course will consist of:
• 80 hours actively working for your host organisation over a ten-week period (eight hours per week or equivalent);
• 6 two-hour (12 hours) professional development workshops at the University
• 8 hours (minimum) undertaking work-related training with your host organisation and have project-focused and self-development focused meetings with your host organisation lead and Course Coordinator; and
• 50 hours (approx.) on self-study and preparation for assessments.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 41 | Feedback Weeks | 44 | |
| Feedback |
Coursework: Portfolio containing Professional development objective setting, timesheet completing, MySkills Framework/ Appraisal and SEOS (2,000 words). Feedback will be added to MyAberdeen after submission. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Reflection | Apply | Demonstrate autonomy, initiative and ethical awareness throughout the placement, adhering to professional and ethical codes of conduct or practice. |
| Reflection | Create | Create and implement SMART action plans to achieve personal, employability, and academic objectives, drawing on critical self-evaluation of strengths and areas for development. |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Reflect critically on professional development, evaluating achievement of goals and articulating contribution to organisational practice and innovation. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 35 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 39 | Feedback Weeks | 42 | |
| Feedback |
Placement Output (one of the following: report, infographic, poster, slide deck, blog post, podcast, social media campaign or other agreed format - 2,000 words). Feedback will be added to MyAberdeen after submission |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Apply | Apply and evidence advanced academic and professional skills in the workplace for effective communication of outputs. |
| Reflection | Apply | Demonstrate autonomy, initiative and ethical awareness throughout the placement, adhering to professional and ethical codes of conduct or practice. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 28 | Feedback Weeks | 31 | |
| Feedback |
Organisational profile (report), project plan (summary or abstract), roles and responsibilities (summary), placement agreement (1,200 - 1,500 words). Feedback will be added to MyAberdeen after submission. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Create | Critically evaluate the host organisation’s professional context to inform the co-design of placement roles and responsibilities and formalise an agreement reflecting shared expectations. |
| Reflection | Apply | Demonstrate autonomy, initiative and ethical awareness throughout the placement, adhering to professional and ethical codes of conduct or practice. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Part 1. The presentation: Please prepare a presentation that will last for 10 minutes. You may use PowerPoint slides to support your presentation and you should present a summary of how you have met each of the five learning outcomes (above) in turn. You will be asked to talk through these slides at Part 2. Oral examination. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Reflection | Create | Create and implement SMART action plans to achieve personal, employability, and academic objectives, drawing on critical self-evaluation of strengths and areas for development. |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Reflect critically on professional development, evaluating achievement of goals and articulating contribution to organisational practice and innovation. |
| Reflection | Apply | Demonstrate autonomy, initiative and ethical awareness throughout the placement, adhering to professional and ethical codes of conduct or practice. |
| Procedural | Apply | Apply and evidence advanced academic and professional skills in the workplace for effective communication of outputs. |
| Procedural | Create | Critically evaluate the host organisation’s professional context to inform the co-design of placement roles and responsibilities and formalise an agreement reflecting shared expectations. |
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