What Is A Sandwich Course In The UK: Work & Experience

Written by Aaliya Shaikh

A piquant and humorous writer with the love to scrawl and create. For me writing is supreme. To believe that I can give words to my thoughts and connect to people through it is extraordinary.

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October 8, 2021

Sandwich course in the UK is a degree programme in which you work for 9 months to a year before returning to classes for the remainder of the programme. These courses are considerably longer than a conventional degree, but the benefit is that universities usually provide you with a placement, and this work experience is quite valuable when you finish and begin looking for a job.

What Is A Sandwich Course & Why Is It Different From A Full-Time Course?

Students who desire to complete their degree without taking time off for work experience should enrol in a full-time programme. Many universities in the United Kingdom have implemented mandatory placements for particular subjects.

While there may be internship chances in a conventional course, they are usually only for up to 12 weeks. This is another difference between a full-time and a sandwich course in the UK. Working for at least 9 months, if not a year, is required for a sandwich degree.

Recommended Read: FAQs about the UK education system

Pros And Cons Of A Sandwich Course In The UK

Here are the advantages:

In a tough job market, you must take advantage of every possible edge. Industry experience will help you stand out from the crowd of other college grads looking for the same position.

You may not need to apply for entry-level employment if you have a year of industry experience.

Employers are always on the lookout for educational credentials as well as industrial experience.

There’s also a chance that the placing firm you worked with could give you a full-time job.

Check out: Scholarships that cover the living expenses in the UK

Here are the disadvantages:

One of the drawbacks of sandwich programmes in the UK is that you must apply for placement while studying. The entire procedure can take months, and remember that you are studying while applying and attending various levels of interviews.

Before accepting an offer, inquire about the level of assistance offered by the institution in finding a job. It’s also crucial to have a diversity of positions.

Make sure you understand how the industry year is assessed so you can prepare.

Make certain that having your education disrupted by an industry year is not an undesirable interruption.

The Two Different Type Of Sandwich Programmes In The UK

In the United Kingdom, not all sandwich courses are represented equally. They could be ‘Thick’ or ‘Thin’ in nature. A four-year degree usually includes a Thick Sandwich Course. The first two years are spent studying, followed by a year placement in the third year.

You might work in the EU while finishing your last year of study at a sister university there. This is the Erasmus programme, which is administered by the British Council in the United Kingdom. Erasmus is the European Community Action Scheme for University Student Mobility in its entirety.

Recommended Read: What is the Cost to study in the UK?

On the other hand, the three-year degree programme is the “Thin” Sandwich Course. The work placement in this type of sandwich degree is broken into two halves, with 6 months of practical experience in your first year and another 6 months in your last year.

Universities That Do Sandwich Courses In The UK

Staffordshire University

Course: Mechanical Engineering (BEng and MEng)

Course duration: 4 years full-time

Placement year: 1 year

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Manchester Metropolitan University

Course: Banking and Finance (BSC Hons)