Year in Industry: Structured work (6-12 months) as part of degree
These are usually fixed terms of structured work experience, typically 6 or 12 months, and form part of the degree programme. Most departments at Imperial now offer the opportunity to undertake an industrial placement. If you are unsure whether you are currently registered on a course that includes an industrial placement, please contact your relevant department admissions team. Review our resources on Industrial Placements for further information. Although these programmes come with university credit the support you will get in finding your industry placement varies depending on the university and department.
Amara: Year in Industry - Applying
Amara is in her third year of MEng Aeronautical Engineering with a year in industry her timeline looks like this.
October – Assumes that her course will help her find a placement so isn’t really worried.
November/December - She starts to find placement years and applies for these, supplying the different application documents and information that each company requests. She uses websites from The Careers Service like Gradcracker, Indeed, Target Jobs, Bright Network.
Over the winter break Amara prepares to take online aptitude tests – many companies require this to pass first round of screening by hiring managers. She also practices video interviews via Shortlist.Me.
She knows she will also need to handle rejection so takes the AA module ‘Failure and Opportunity’
January – After dealing with the disappointment of not getting any positive responses She learns that not just big companies can offer her a year in industry! Many smaller companies and start-ups begin posting placements between January and March.
February – She realises that she needs to focus her search slightly and is drawn to data analysis and statistics rather than traditional engineering and so instead of making multiple applications, Amara only applies to a selection of postings, where she tailors each application. She leverages LinkedIn much more during this time to find opportunities. She builds her network with and reaches out to alumni who have done placements at her target companies and hiring managers to ask thoughtful questions about the role and advice for the application process.
March - By early Spring, Amara is more aware that her placement approval deadlines (June) are fast approaching so she must prepare for the possibility of continuing into her MSci fourth year, in case she doesn’t secure a placement in time.
April - Feeling the pressure and beginning to doubt whether a placement will work out, Amara considers pausing her applications
Instead of giving up, Amara explores how to align her fourth-year MSci project with her growing interest in data science by researching topics that involve data analysis, coding, machine learning, and applications of data science in aerospace or engineering contexts.
May – During the easter holidays Amara hears back from a small company in Bristol offering a data science role in engineering. She does 2 interviews with the company: one with the hiring manager and her second with the lead scientist, where she presents a topic, she’s passionate about. Amara receives an offer the same day as her second interview— She was super excited however, the deadline to get placements approved is in June and the placement is set to start on July 1st!
June – Amara needs to make a decision. She’s still considering pursuing her Meng, especially now that she’s discovering exciting data-driven project options. Financially, she’s unsure if she can afford to relocate to Bristol on such short notice and finding accommodation in Bristol is proving difficult.
She also knows her exams are approaching and she’s feeling overwhelmed by the thought of managing all the placement paperwork and approvals and doesn’t know whether she’ll be able to complete everything in time. She also feels isolated as most of her friend’s are staying at imperial- “What if I regret going?, Should I stay and do my Msci year now?”
Decision Time
Take the Placement
Amara spends a year in aerospace data modelling at a small Bristol-based company. She gains hands-on experience with tools like SQL, Matplotlib, and TensorFlow.
Her confidence grows and she starts to build her professional identity and her network.
She returns to Imperial for her final year, now with industry experience and clarity. And chooses a data science-focused project, continuing to build toward a future in the field.
After completing her degree, Amara is offered a full-time role at the same company where she did her placement. Her strong performance, lasting impression, and newly developed skills made her a natural choice to rejoin the team.
Stay on for Year 4
Amara turns down the placement offer with a heavy heart. She respectfully explains her situation to the company—highlighting how much she enjoyed the interviews and appreciated the opportunity but due to unfortunate circumstances and financial restraints she feels unable and unprepared to join right now.
The company is understanding and supportive, wishing her well and encouraging her to stay in touch.
Amara continues into year 4 and chooses a data science-focused project. She works with a professor on a cutting-edge project simulating turbulence using machine learning—gaining valuable skills in Python, TensorFlow, and large dataset analysis. She makes the most of all of the networking opportunities offered by the careers service to meet and learn more about organisations in the industry.
After graduation, armed with hands-on experience in aeronautical data science and a year of working and saving up, Amara reaches out to the same company. The company remembers her passion and professionalism and offers her a graduate role, impressed by her growth and dedication.