Sandwich courses in the UK join academic study and experiential education to offer students what is perhaps one of the most relevant advantages when they enter the labour market. Not simply a traditional program including placement, sandwich courses can offer a consistent pathway for a placement year and many other combinations. In this article, we discuss sandwich courses, detailed definition, how they work, some benefits, and options for you if you decide to take an educational pathway in sandwich courses.
What is a Sandwich Course?
Definition of a Sandwich Course
A sandwich course is also known as sandwich degree and is an undergraduate degree level program, normally a four-year program, which embed work placement or internship into the academics of the degree. The general concept is that practical work experience is “sandwiched” between blocks of academic study. These placements are sometimes referred to as industrial placements or sandwich placements and offer students an opportunity for hands-on experience that relates to their degree program, literally bridging the gap between theory and practice and enhancing their employability as they look for graduate opportunities.
Advantages of a Sandwich Program
The advantages of being a part of a sandwich program are extensive and significant. The most important advantage is the increase in employability. Students gain practical work experience when they do their sandwich year or placement year, and they acquire critical skills and professional networks that make them stand out from students graduating with regular degrees. A work experience is a great advantage for any student job, but it is especially helpful for international students needing practical experience to remain in the UK. In addition, a sandwich placement offers students the emphasis to use their academic knowledge in real-world situations, maintaining their knowledge and building their confidence.
The Key Difference between a Sandwich Course and a traditional Degree
The key difference between a sandwich course and a traditional undergraduate course is that a sandwich course has a work placement element. A traditional degree is based around academic study. A sandwich course has a year-long dedicated placement or work experience, most often stuck in-between the second year and final year of study. This is known as a sandwich year. This moment in time gives students the opportunity to gain relevant practical experience to help improve their job prospects after university, but also has they have a better, deeper understanding of the subject they decided to study. Some universities offer sandwich courses that are ‘thick sandwiches’ with a whole year placement, and some offer ‘thin sandwiches’ with only a couple of months of placement, depending on the university course.
Placement Opportunities in a Sandwich Course
What is a Sandwich Placement?
A sandwich placement, sandwich year or industrial placement is a time of work experience which students undertook as part of a sandwich course. In these placements, students will carry out hands-on activities that could lead up to 12 months and provide them with relevant experience based on their university course. Sandwich courses are academic courses that allow students to make the transition from study into professional practice. Sandwich placements can vary in the amount of time involved, from a few months (thin sandwich) to a full 12 months (thick sandwich) depending on the university course, placement length and structure / program types.
How to Apply for a Sandwich Placement
The application process for a sandwich placement is typically similar to that for applying for a graduate job. Many UK universities have a dedicated career services’ department that help students find and apply for placements. For example, the process often requires:
• Writing and submitting a CV and cover letter,
• Attending interviews,
• Completing assessment centers,
Many international students value this experience as part of their sandwich course in the UK, as they learn workplace soft skills, and ultimately gain valuable experience.
Organizations Providing Sandwich Placements
There are many organizations that offer sandwich placements across a variety of industries and sectors. Many large companies, as well as SMEs and public sector organizations partake in sandwich placements. Sandwich placements are fixed-term work opportunities that offer students the chance to broaden their work experience across a range of disciplines including engineering, technology, business, and marketing. Organizations that help place students on sandwich placements generally understand that it will give them access to a pool of talented graduates to recruit from and as such sees the sandwich program as a rite of passage for their future employees, allowing both the student and employer to get something from the sandwich process.
Selecting a Sandwich Course in the UK
Things to Think About When Selecting
When selecting your sandwich course in the UK, there are a lot of factors to consider. First, it is important to consider how relevant the placement year is to your chosen study path. Look for universities that provide sandwich courses that are aligned with your career goals and offer relevant experience. In addition to this students should consider which city the university is in, how strong the university industry connections are and what kind of support the careers service provides. Students might also want to consider course tuition fees and any additional fees for the sandwich year.
Leading Institutions with Sandwich Courses
Many universities in the UK are known for providing excellent sandwich courses. The University of Bath and De Montfort University have relatively strong industry links, along with high placement rates. These universities provide a high variety of field placements across different disciplines and give students working opportunities outside of university. If you are an international student looking for work, and considering studying as part of a sandwich course as an undergraduate degree, that could be the option for you.
Application Process for Sandwich Courses
The application process for sandwich courses is usually similar to that of regular undergraduate degrees. Students apply through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) detailing their academic profile, their personal statement, and references. When applying for a sandwich course, you should emphasise that you wish to gain work experiance and show that you understand the value of sandwich year. The application to select a sandwich course is significant, and you need to weigh up your options.
Tuition Fees and Financial Considerations
Tuition Fees for a Sandwich Course
If you’re considering studying a sandwich course in the UK, it’s important to know the tuition fees for a sandwich course. Universities in the UK tend to charge different fees, applies to an academic year and placement year. In some cases, when you do go out on placement, you will pay much lower fees to reflect that the use of university resources is less than academic years. As an international student, you will also need to consider the tuition fees, as this may be significantly more than domestic students, when considering your suitability for a sandwich course within your undergraduate degree.
Sandwich year fees
The fees you pay for your sandwich year are normally not the same, fees vary for your sandwich placement from the regular academic year. Generally universities have discounted fees for the sandwich year, because students are not on campus and are obtaining real-world experience in a workplace environment. Fees are cheaper for that reason – the sandwich course becomes more viable financially. Universities that offer sandwich courses also have flexible payment options, while others have written policies on a refund, they could have a cancellation policy if a placement would cease for any reason.
This is why it is very important to inquire with the individual universities service for the countries that offer sandwich course titles, to understand fees for the sandwich year.
Funding Opportunities including Financial Aid and Scholarships
This is how students pursuing sandwich courses can support their course:
• Scholarships for placement years are often provided by the universities.
• Placement employers may offer a salary or stipends.
International students should also check for scholarships from both their home country and UK organizations when selecting their sandwich course in the UK, to help with identifying whether undergraduate study is relevant for their future studies.
Experience Learned During a Sandwich Year
The Work Experience gained during a Sandwich Year
The work experience gained during a sandwich year is ultimately invaluable, and adds substantially to a student’s employability. It is one thing to learn theory in the academic context and another thing to experience your acquired knowledge in a real-world scenario, deepening your skills and understanding of the subject. The sandwich placement also provides students with experiences to further develop key skills in the workplace such as teamwork, communication and problem solving. Many employers are interested in graduates with placement experience as this is indicative they are better prepared for the demands of the workplace. A Sandwich course is a great option.
Skills Developed in the Placement Year
A wide variety of skills can be developed on a placement year, particularly involving technical skills or soft skills. A sandwich placement allows you to develop transferable skills such as; problem-solving ability, being able to communicate effectively, and working in a team with other people. Students will learn to manage their time efficiently and prioritise their time, to work property in a business environment. Students develop the skills employers are looking for and greatly improve the employability of a graduate. This will be the first opportunity to demonstrate relevant real-life practical work experience.
Effect on Future Job Possibilities after Leaving University
The impact of a sandwich course when it comes to job prospects after graduation is significant. Graduates with a year on an industrial placement are often given better salaries and a better chance of being employed sooner after graduation. Employers will place value on the practical experience and skills gained during use of the sandwich year. The placement year also assists in networking within their industry and new job offers in the future. Students who are unable to live and work in the UK will usually find they have a greater number of options when they apply for a sandwich program in the UK, like in the case of many international students.