Should I pick a UK biotechnology course with a placement year, and which universities offer one?
Several UK universities run biotechnology with placements: Manchester offers a full placement year, Greenwich has a 2-year MSc with a placement year, Strathclyde includes a minimum 10-week placement, and Reading offers a 3-month placement. Check whether each is guaranteed, competitive or self-arranged before you apply.
Yes, a placement course is worth considering if you want industry contacts, but only when the placement is built into the course and supported. You should compare the length, the support offered and whether you must find the employer yourself.
UK biotechnology courses that include a placement
| University | Course | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| University of Manchester | BSc Biotechnology with Industrial/Professional Experience | One-year placement as Year 3 of a four-year course, with a university partner organisation or an employer you arrange, subject to School approval |
| University of Greenwich | MSc Biotechnology with Placement Year | Two-year course; the second year is an industrial placement of typically 11 months (35 to 48 weeks), with placement search support for international students, and you can still graduate without the placement if you do not secure one |
| University of Strathclyde | MSc Industrial Biotechnology | Minimum 10 weeks of placement within a 12-month course |
| University of Reading | MSc Biotechnology | Three-month industry placement or lab-based research placement, taken in the second or third semester; industry places need an interview and depend on market conditions |
What to check about UK placements before you choose
A placement is rarely guaranteed, so check these points.
- Find out whether the placement is guaranteed, competitive or self-arranged for international students.
- Check the pay: ask whether the placement is paid and how many months it adds to your course and to your fees.
- Check the length against the Student route rule, which generally caps work placements at a third of the course length, or half for certain degree-level courses at qualifying providers.
- Ask how many students secured a placement in the last cohort.
- Read the gov.uk Student route guidance before you accept an offer.
My Advice
Compare a placement-year course with a one-year MSc that has a shorter placement, then weigh the extra tuition and living costs for the extra year. Ask the admissions team in writing how the university supports international students in finding placements.
This information is available on: gov.uk, manchester.ac.uk, gre.ac.uk, strath.ac.uk, reading.ac.uk
Looking for a specific course in the UK?
We will find the universities that offer it, and whether you will get in.
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