Chemistry Degrees - with a little extra!
Year in Industry or Year Abroad
Dr Steven Henderson
The University of Edinburgh
Caveat
• All of the information in this presentation relates to Edinburgh Chemistry degrees –other universities may adopt different practises.
Year in Industry
• Available on the MChem degrees – not BSc.
– Makes the degree five years in duration
• UNLESS your exams results allow entry into second year.
• The Year in Industry is taken in year 4.
• By the time you are on placement, you have an ordinary degree – means you know enough Chemistry to be useful to an employer!
Year in Industry
• In 2011-12, the average salary was £16,700
• The placement is a full year in duration
• You work in an industrial research lab on a defined project
• You are visited twice by your academic supervisor for assessment purposes
• On your return, you present your work to your peer group and staff - assessed
Year in Industry
• The placement marks contributes 20% to your final degree classification – the same contribution as your from year 3.
• Placements are competitive – the Industrial company decide which students they will take.
• Placement locations are all over the UK and abroad
– USA, Europe and Far East
Year Abroad (with Industry)
• Year Abroad degrees are based in Universities*
• Within Europe, under the Erasmus scheme
• Elsewhere, normally as exchanges.
• Normally the exchanges are with other Universitas 2 institutions
* Singapore NTU combines with Industry
Why take the extra year?
• Gives extra value to your CV
– Industrial placement let you see if you like Industrial Chemistry as a career
– Many companies are multinational
• Shows that you are capable of moving out of your comfort zone
• The company gets to have a year long interview!
• So do you!
Why take the extra year?
• Year abroad can allow you to experience cultures which are new to you
• If the language used is not English….
• Opportunity for further travel when not working
• Tremendous fun!
Overall
• The best reasons for doing an integrated Masters degree (in my opinion)
• 100% satisfaction from our students
• Industrial students earn money!
• Quote “the best year of my life, I didn’t want to come home!”
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