Industry engagement and work experience

Going to university isn’t just about a degree. It’s about graduating with the skills, knowledge and experience to thrive in a global job market and achieve their goals.

Lancaster has a long history of working with industry to support our students in becoming attractive job candidates; from internships and work experience, to co-designing degrees and developing careers programmes.

There are lots of opportunities for students to engage with industry and professionals, some of which may be built into your programmes and others facilitated by the Careers team or even student societies.

  • Year in Industry

    Many of our degrees have a four-year variant that includes a year spent in industry. This valuable experience gives you the opportunity to apply what you learn and get a feel for what working life will be like.

  • Internships

    We can help you explore shorter internship opportunities outside of your course. These are great ways to try a job you’re interested in and allow you to gain valuable real-world work experience.

  • Part-time work

    Most international students are eligible to work part-time while studying. Many employers advertise jobs through our in-house recruitment service and we hire a lot of students ourselves.

  • Volunteering

    Volunteering is a great way to gain experience and support a good cause that you’re passionate about. The Students’ Union can help you get involved in causes and projects.

  • Projects and competitions

    Our courses are designed to ensure students are in a strong position to achieve their goals. Some of our degrees offer opportunities to work on real work projects or take part in industry competitions. These are a great experience and look great on your CV.

  • Student societies

    Student societies are another great opportunity to gain new skills and experience. With over 200 to join, there are lots of chances to take on roles such as treasurer, publicity officer, project manager and more. Societies also invite guest speakers onto campus.

  • Guest speakers

    Departments, the Careers service and the wider University often invite guest speakers from industry to deliver workshops, lectures and other events to students. You can build your network and gain valuable insights.

  • Enterprise centre

    Our community of innovators, entrepreneurs, problem-solvers and change-makers provide a fantastic forum to network, share ideas, get feedback and host events and workshops. They provide support and resources for business start-up and development.