Key Facts

• Manchester University plans to give every undergraduate student the chance to do a work placement, internship, live project, or community work.
• This is a first for a large Russell Group university to offer this across all subjects, from classics to chemical engineering.
• The university’s vice-chancellor wants students to gain practical experience, not just academic study, before graduating.
• Many graduates face difficulty finding jobs related to their studies and often work in low-paid roles instead.
• Experts say the plan is important but challenging because Manchester has 32,000 undergraduates and it takes time to find enough placements.
• Some universities have always included work experience in their courses, but this is new for a major research university like Manchester.
• Around one in four undergraduate courses in 2024-25 already offer the option of a placement lasting a year or more.
• Manchester wants to make these opportunities a normal part of university, easy to access for all students, not just those with good contacts.