Undergraduate student placements and internships

A group of people sitting in a meeting

Every year, we have over 200 undergraduate students available to participate in placements with organisations.

Placements can be three, six or twelve months long, and students are assessed as part of their course. They can enhance your workforce by bringing enthusiasm, energy, curiosity, up-to-date expertise, diversity and motivation to a wide variety of roles and sectors worldwide.

Why is hiring a placement or internship beneficial?

  • Students can provide a fresh perspective
  • Students can bring an open mindset and lots of enthusiasm
  • Students can work on projects you may not currently be able to resource in your team
  • Allows staff members the opportunity to develop managerial, leadership, or mentoring skills
  • A placement or internship can form part of your talent pipeline
  • A placement or internship can create a collaborative relationship between the employer and the university, providing more opportunities in the future

About our placements

At Lancaster University Management School, a placement is an assessed part of a student‘s degree programme. Students are required to complete a full-time, 10 to 12-month placement during the third year of a four-year undergraduate degree. 

This placement can be made up of:

  • A maximum of three short-term, full-time internships, adding up to 10 months minimum
  • Two separate six-month-long internships
  • One long-term placement with a fixed-term contract

About our internships

At Lancaster University Management School, an internship is a short-term work opportunity of between 1 and 16 weeks.  Internships typically occur in the summer or during a vacation period (see Lancaster University’s academic year dates for more information). For some of our students, an internship may be an integrated and assessed part of their chosen degree course. 

Hiring a placement or internship student

Our LUMS Placements and Internships Team is here to support your recruitment journey every step of the way. Whether you need help promoting opportunities, coordinating interviews, or providing feedback to students, we’re ready to assist.

Preparing to recruit

Before advertising a placement or internship, it’s important to define the role clearly. Students need key details to make informed decisions, including the role title and description, duration of the placement, salary, and location. Once you’ve outlined these essentials, we recommend reaching out to our Placements Team early. We can guide you from the initial planning stages and help you maximise visibility through careers fairs, networking events, and placement and internship showcases. These events offer valuable opportunities to connect with potential candidates and introduce students to your organisation and its offerings.

Designing an application process

Recruitment methods vary, but the most common approach includes a written application (CV and optional cover letter), an interview, and sometimes an assessment centre stage. When planning your process, please consider the student experience. Many students are managing full academic workloads, and overly complex applications may discourage them from applying. For many, this may be their first professional recruitment experience, so a little flexibility goes a long way.

Making an offer

Once you’ve selected your candidate, we encourage you to communicate outcomes promptly. Students often apply to multiple roles, and delays could mean missing out on your preferred candidate. For those not selected, offering constructive feedback is highly appreciated. It helps students grow and reflects positively on your organisation’s commitment to development and professionalism.

"The students embraced my enthusiasm and delivered on time. They were excellent – and I’d recommend them to anyone, for their enthusiasm and the time they put in."

Joe O'Connor, Sanctuary for Veterans

Student placement

Meet the team

Charlotte Robinson

Charlotte Robinson

Placements and Internships Manager

+44 (0)1524 595235 A127, A - Floor, Management School
Emma Gardner

Emma Gardner

Placements and Internships Coordinator

+44 (0)1524 522121

Contact us about placements

To discover more about placements and how they could benefit your organisation, please get in touch.

Email the LUMS placements team