Placement learning
Documents
Placement learning
Policy and good practice
- Placement learning policy [pdf]
- Flow diagrams for good practice in placement management [pdf]
- Good practice for placements [pdf] For UG & PGT external curriculum-based placements, PGR placements & UG Extra-ECTS vacation internships. This document includes the roles and responsibilities for a Placement Manager and a Placement Tutor
- Good practice for undergraduate study abroad [pdf] (e.g. year abroad)
- Guidance on academic recognition for study abroad [pdf] practical issues for Imperial College staff only related to achieving academic recognition for study-based placements (curriculum) abroad (use of learning agreements, obtaining transcripts from host universities, communicating marks to Registry et al)
- Emergency procedure for a student on a placement [pdf]
- Student Exchange Partnerships - Procedure for Establishing and Renewing [pdf] for the establishment, renewal and review of student exchange partners. Updated Document (August 2017)
Forms
- Placement provider information form [doc] (compulsory if host organisation is not covered by a student exchange agreement)
- Template student placement approval form [doc]
- Template emergency contacts form and pre-departure (abroad) checklist [doc] Updated Document (June 2019)
- Template student placement feedback sheet [doc]
- Student Exchange Partnerships - Form A Establishment [doc] Updated Document (August 2017)
- Student Exchange Partnerships - Form B (Renewal) [doc] Updated Document (August 2017)
Assessing risk: resources
- Template student placement risk-based assessment sheet [doc]
- A revised template risk assessment form for part or all of a student placement will be available after Easter 2019 on the Safety Dept website.
- HE sector (USHA) Guidance for the Health & Safety of HE students on Placement [pdf] June 2018 (replaced the previous version dated 2009)
Other resources
- Placements Abroad Handbook [pdf] for 2019-20 is now available on the Placements website. Compiled and updated annually by Registry for current Imperial College students (UG & PG) only, always refer to the current version as updates do occur
- Erasmus Learning Agreement (UG Year Abroad) [doc] (for use by Imperial College students) : for UG Year Abroad students going to Erasmus partner universities/colleges. Easier version (June 2019)
- Erasmus Student Charter [pdf]
- Non-Erasmus learning agreement for studies [doc] (for use by Imperial College students) : for UG Year Abroad students going to Switzerland and beyond Europe
- Erasmus learning agreement for a traineeship [doc] (for use by Imperial College students)
- Imperial College's Erasmus Charter for Higher Education
Credit for extra-curricular activities
Policy and procedures
Forms
- Form A - Dept seeking ability to allocate extra-ECTS to a vacation activity [doc]
- Form B - Approval of an individual vacation activity for extra-ECTS by a Dept [doc]
Imperial College allows undergraduate full-degree students* to gain formal recognition (ECTS credits) for specific types of academic work which is not part of the curriculum. The academic work can be linked to research-based or curriculum-related work undertaken in vacations (for example UROP or structured external internships) but must be relevant to the student's degree discipline. The extra ECTS credit does not contribute to a student's degree at Imperial, and the scheme is voluntary.
* The following departments participate:
- Aeronautics
- Bioengineering
- Computing
- Electrical & Electronic Engineering
- Materials
- Mechanical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Physics
For some departments the extra-ECTS scheme:
- is only pursued in relation to internal UROP research experiences.
- supports the delivery of accredited development activities of professional institutes.
The Director of Undergraduate Studies is responsible for implementing the process.
The key features are:
- the internship must be within the easter or summer vacation, and be for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 12 weeks.
- the internship (whether external or internal) becomes a "placement" and should be managed in line with Placement Learning Policy and Good Practice.
- ECTS is calculated for attendance (1.5 ECTS per week of full-time work-place attendance) and is awarded upon successful completion of an assessment.
- Activities must be primarily academic in nature, with clearly defined learning outcomes and criteria for assessment.
- A dept should approve an internship for extra-ECTS ahead of the internship commencing (the credit cannot be applied retrospectively).
- A dept communicates successful awards of extra ECTS to the Registry.
- The ECTS is highlighted on the student's next available transcript, and again in the student's Diploma Supplement at the end of the degree programme.
Enquiries should be directed to the Director of Undergraduate Studies.