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Last modified: 06 Mar 2026 16:46
This enhanced work-based placement course provides students with the opportunity to undertake a professional placement within a government, public, industrial, civic, or voluntary organisation in the health and/or development sector. During the placement, students will apply their academic knowledge and skills in a real-world workplace setting to contribute to the project goals of their host organisation.
Students will undertake a ten-week placement with a host organisation, either in person, remotely, or through a combination of both. Please note, although we try, it may not be possible to offer a placement in your chosen specialisation. University sourced placements are subject to availability and may be offered on a competitive basis. If you would like to undertake a placement meeting specific criteria, it is suggested you explore self-sourcing a placement. Please contact the Work-Based Learning Team for more information on host organisation requirements and support available (wbl_iahs@abdn.ac.uk).
| Study Type | Postgraduate | Level | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Summer School | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 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 to 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 in alignment with the MySkills Framework.
This is a work-based placement course, the content and structure of which is both host organisation and student driven. Through the application of academic knowledge, skills and understanding, students will have the opportunity to develop transferable skills such as communication, leadership, time management and adaptability and flexibility.
Engagement, performance and compliance in placement activities will be monitored using a formalised weekly check in system involving students meeting with hosts and reviewing work together. Students will submit a weekly timesheet and hosts will provide course staff an evaluation of student performance, allowing for progress monitoring and follow up where required.
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.
Teaching delivery: Ten-week professional placement with host organisation/University of Aberdeen co-supervision and weekly professional development and placement support workshops.
Your time spent on the course will consist of:
In addition, compulsory pre-course work will be required during the two months prior to the course commencing to support the student-host placement matching process and placement preparation.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
One of the following: report, infographic, poster, slide deck, blog post, podcast, social media campaign or other agreed format. Marks will be awarded using a tailored marking rubric, and written feedback will be available on MyAberdeen. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Reflection | 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 | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Organisational profile (report), project plan (summary or abstract), roles and responsibilities (summary), placement agreement (unmarked), reflective questions (reflective writing). Marks will be awarded using a tailored marking rubric, and written feedback will be available on MyAberdeen. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Create | Critically evaluate an organisation’s professional context to negotiate placement roles and responsibilities, assess risks and needs, and develop a placement agreement reflecting mutual expectations. |
| 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 | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Word Count: 2000 Marks will be awarded using a tailored marking rubric, and written feedback will be available on MyAberdeen. |
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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 and placement experience, evaluating achievement of goals and articulating contribution to organisational practice and innovation. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 5 | Feedback Weeks | 6 | |
| Feedback |
Outcome will be communicated by email. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Reflection | Apply | Apply and evidence advanced academic and professional skills in the workplace for effective communication of outputs. |
| Procedural | Create | Critically evaluate an organisation’s professional context to negotiate placement roles and responsibilities, assess risks and needs, and develop a placement agreement reflecting mutual expectations. |
| 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 and placement experience, evaluating achievement of goals and articulating contribution to organisational practice and innovation. |
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