What’s the process when I have secured an insight day/internship or placement year?

Please get in touch with us as soon as possible at stemplacements@brighton.ac.uk as we will have health and safety to send to you and we would like to add it to your Careers Connect employment record. These health and safety checks are normal and employers are used to them.

Do I get support during the insight day/internship/ placement year?

Our office, as well as your Academic Placement Tutor, are also  here to SUPPORT you for any non-academic issues you may experience while on placement year . So if you experience any difficulties please contact us:

Email: stemplacements@brighton.ac.uk

MS Teams: Contact Sarah Goddard or Emma Mills.

STOP! – If you are having issues with your placement/covid affects it, do not speak to your employer first, speak to us or your academic placement tutor – YOU ARE NOT ALONE with any issues, we are here to help and can talk to the employer with you.

Internships/Insight days – You do not get an academic Placement Tutor for internships/insight days but you can email us in the STEM team to talk about your issues.

Do I have to pay fees for the placement year/internship/insight day?

The reduced fees for placement year are as follows: Home Students: £1,300 International Students: £2,100

Please note that this may change with inflation.

Your fees cover:

• Academic subject expertise in facilitating the placement year so that it integrates with a student’s entire learning process. Includes expertise in setting learning criteria, assessment, and feedback
• Tutor visit and course leader support and guidance
• Full access to university facilities including e-mails, Student-central etc. Access to the Careers Centre. Access to online resources such as online libraries, JSTOR journal libraries, Box of Broadcasts multimedia libraries (which all require subscription fees)
• Administration of the student, including liaison with the Student Finance via various channels.

For Internships and Insight Days you do not need to pay any fees.

Am I eligible for student finance?

For placement year, you can still apply to the STUDENT FINANCE COMPANY for your student loan to  pay your fees during your placement year, and for a maintenance loan, although at a  reduced rate. If you require any further information follow the link for the Student Loans Company:

Student Loans Company – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

To find out more about your fees, funding and for advice on how to pay your fees, go to:

https://www.brighton.ac.uk/current-students/my-finances/fees/index.aspx

Contact the fees team on fees@brighton.ac.uk if you need  clarification.

You will not need student finance for an internship/insight day as you will be using your normal student finance for that year.

Am I exempt from council tax?

As an enrolled University of Brighton student, you are EXEMPT from COUNCIL TAX charges.

• If you are staying as a Brighton resident for your placement year, you can register for Council Tax and make your exemption applications through the Council’s website. Follow the link :- Council Tax discounts for students (brighton-hove.gov.uk) where you will find a  form set up for students. Just fill in your details online and click ‘submit’ and that’s all  you need to do!
• If you are moving outside Brighton and Hove you will be able to obtain a council tax exemption certificate from Academic Services, once you have re-enrolled. You can either go to the Academic Services Office, Watts Building in person or call  (0)1273 64 3847 and they can post it to you.

What happens if I do not get a placement? When is the deadline?

If you do not secure a placement, you will be automatically brought to your final year. The deadline to secure a placement varies but a good rule of thumb is the beginning of September.

How much will I earn?

Placement years – Salaries do vary from employer to employer and from discipline to discipline, as well as on the degree of responsibility involved in the job and the location you will be working in. As a rough guide, though, the average salary for a placement year is between £16-£21k.

Internships – Again, salaries do vary especially with internships and you will find most of the bigger employers will provide a salary but some smaller employers might not be able to pay a salary and will pay expenses or living costs. We ideally look for internships that pay the minimum wage per hour at the very least but we can talk with you if there is an internship you want to take which is not paid to discuss what your options are and affordability.

When will my placement/internship/insight start?

Placements generally start between mid-June and the end of September.

Internships usually start between June and July and end in September.

Insight Days are usually in the Spring term or Summer.

Will I have to enrol for my placement year ?

All students undertaking a placement year MUST re-enrol.

Can I still use the library and My Studies/My Brighton whilst on placement year?

As a registered student you still have access to use all university facilities including the library, email and My Studies/My Brighton.

Should I disclose my disability?

You are under no legal obligation to do so, and it is for you to choose if and when you disclose, but we would recommend you do disclose. The companies we work with are all very supportive and want to give anyone applying to them an equal chance if succeeding. And they want anyone they employ to have the best experience possible. If you choose not to disclose a disability at the application stage, you may do so at a later stage. Find out more about your rights in the workplace here.

The STEM Placement & Internship Team!

Email us at: stemplacements@brighton.ac.uk

Visit us: M24 Careers Zone, Cockcroft Building, Mouslecoomb Campus, University of Brighton, Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 4GJ