This document provides guidelines for organizations hosting undergraduate student placements from the University of Bath's Department of Social & Policy Sciences. It outlines the degree programs, placement objectives, roles and responsibilities, and assessment process. The guidelines aim to help placement providers design productive placements that allow students to gain practical experience and professional skills while contributing meaningful work. Regular communication between students, supervisors, and university tutors helps ensure placements meet expectations and students' learning needs.

1. Guidelines for Placement Providers
Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Undergraduate 3rd Year Placements

2. www.bath.ac.uk/soc-pol

3. Guidelines for Placement Providers
THE DEGREE PROGRAMME
BSc (Hons) Social Policy
(previously named Social Policy and Social Policy
Administration) (previously named Social Policy and Administration)
The degree is designed to enable students to analyse
BSc (Hons) Social Sciences
the new developments that are transforming the Welfare
BSc (Hons) Sociology State - and creating a more diverse system of welfare
BSc (Hons) Sociology and Social Policy - and to relate these changes to societal, technological
and economic changes in Britain and Europe.
BSc (Hons) Sociology with Human
Resource Management
Social Sciences
The degree offers a broad-based training in the Social
Sciences. It is especially appropriate for students who,
INTRODUCTION while interested in the social sciences in general, do
not wish to specialise in one particular discipline. In the
first year students can follow units in sociology, social
The Department of Social & Policy Sciences is policy, psychology, economics, politics and languages.
internationally recognised with a strong focus on Students may specialise in the later years.
policy and practice and a commitment to contribute to
social well-being and social justice. We draw together
academic staff with backgrounds in Social Policy, Sociology
Sociology, Social Work and International Development
Sociology is concerned with the study of society in all its
and work closely with colleagues in Psychology,
aspects - how society coheres, how social institutions
Economics and Health. The Department has an
develop and operate, and how societies change.
international reputation, having been rated excellent in
both teaching and research assessment exercises. Through an appreciation of sociological concepts and
theories the student develops a critical and historical
In addition, University of Bath is The Sunday Times understanding of social relationships.
University of the Year for 2011/12.
About two thirds of our students take up the opportunity Sociology and Social Policy
to do a four-year sandwich degree course, which The main aims are to enable students to develop a
includes a one-year placement. Students spend their critical understanding of how social institutions develop
third year working in a public or private company or and operate and how societies change; to enable
organisation. students to analyse the new developments that are
transforming welfare provision (in the UK and in other
These guidelines are not intended to be definitive, but countries) and to relate these to changes in wider
incorporate ideas and feedback gained from placement society, technology and the economy.
providers and students as to what constitutes a
successful placement. We hope this information will be
useful, especially if you have not employed a placement Sociology with Human Resource Management
student before.
This is a programme that combines the study of
sociology with theory and practice in human resource
In some cases the placement may be the first real job a
management. The degree shares many of the
student has undertaken; he or she may not have been
part of a formal organisation before. The guidelines laid core elements of the degrees in Sociology, but is
out here represent good employment practices and as distinguished by the compulsory requirements it makes
such will already be followed by you. in the second and final years and by the fact it offers
units taken in the School of Management.
The Department of Social & Policy Sciences is part of the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences 1

4. Guidelines for Placement Providers
SKILLS THAT A STUDENT CAN OFFER STUDENT PLACEMENT OBJECTIVES
• All students will have completed two years of their These can be divided into five main areas:
degree, during which time they will have gained
a solid grounding in social research methods, policy 1. To gain practical experience in the application
making issues or human resource management and usefulness of knowledge gained at university.
• All students are competent in using a variety of well-
2. To develop personal and transferable skills such as:
known business software, spreadsheet packages
and research tools such as SPSS • Communication – speaking/writing/listening
• They are able to demonstrate initiative, to assimilate • Planning and time management
information quickly and to take on an increasing • Problem solving and analytical skills
degree of responsibility
• Decision making
• They are effective communicators with good
analytical skills, and are well accustomed to working • Working as part of a team or responding to
in teams leadership
• They will have undertaken oral, visual and written • Initiative and creativity
presentation of research topics
3. The further development of business skills such as:
• They will have developed both qualitative and
quantitative research skills • Using computer packages and databases (including
in-house systems) to analyse and interpret data.
Creation of graphs, charts and similar methods of
displaying data, possibly web site creation, desktop
publishing etc
• Undertaking research
“Katie’s HR models, along with • Writing reports in a professional manner
research and evaluation techniques • Making presentations in a business setting
aided a fast start in her placement role • Undertaking business correspondence
and were relevant skills and experience • Project management
to bring to bear in practice. She has • Attending team meetings, seminars etc, and listening,
been a delight to work with and has and listening, evaluating and contributing where
appropriate
impressed our HR department and
the business unit that we serve. Katie 4. Learning as much as possible about the profession
shows much potential and I hope she in which they are working.
will be successful in finding a future 5. A dissertation is an optional part of the degree
career with IBM.” programme. Some students may wish to base their
dissertation on an aspect of their placement. It is
IBM, London much appreciated if they can be assisted with this
where possible.
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5. Guidelines for Placement Providers
RECENT PLACEMENT PROVIDERS WORK CONTENT OF PLACEMENT
Social Research & Policy The work programme devised for students should
NHS Trusts give them the opportunity to learn and develop, and to
Police forces assume an appropriate degree of responsibility, so that
House of Commons & House of Lords they can maximise their contribution to the organisation.
Central government departments
Eurochambers A significant amount of the work should be relevant to
Local government departments the student’s degree programme, although it is accepted
Citizen’s Advice Bureaux that most placements will also involve some more
Charities routine work.
Market research companies
Social research consultancies In past placements, students have conducted research,
British Chambers of Commerce presented findings in the appropriate form, given talks,
Hewlett Packard organised events and meetings, taken notes, set up and
IBM administered databases, taken responsibility for projects
and generally alleviated the workload where needed.
Human Resources
John Lewis TIMING OF PLACEMENT
Morgan Stanley
Estee Lauder Students start to apply for placements during October,
GE Healthcare with a view to starting work during the following summer
Pfizer (between July and October). The minimum duration for
Syngenta a placement is 30 weeks, but most students complete
Amazon a whole year. The time can be split between two
Intel departments or two different organisations. The student
Swindon Borough Council is expected to work a conventional working week of at
Willis least 30 hours.
Simmons & Simmons
CYTEC
Price Waterhouse FINANCE IN THE PLACEMENT YEAR
GlaxoSmithKline
The HR Dept Ltd Students are currently required to pay a tuition fee of
Microsoft £675 for the placement year. This will change to £2,500
IBM for students starting degrees in 2012. They are eligible
3M Healthcare to receive a proportion of the student loan.
REMUNERATION
Most employers pay the student a salary commensurate
with age and experience. In the business and finance
sector, the majority of salaries currently range from
£16,000 – £26,000 per annum.
In the political and charity/NGO sector, students
sometimes undertake unpaid placements, but we ask
that in such cases an allowance is provided to cover
their daily travel and subsistence costs.
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6. Guidelines for Placement Providers
THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS OFFERS OF EMPLOYMENT
Students start to seek their placement at the beginning Students selected by the employer can be contacted
of their second year. The Placements Officer has by mobile phone initially. A written offer should follow,
an initial briefing meeting with the whole group and and a contract of employment provided, setting out
individual meetings with each student. The student terms and conditions. In the case of unpaid or overseas
discusses the type of placement for which he/she would placements, a placement agreement is drawn up by the
like to be considered and any general location choices/ Placement Officer.
requirements.
Normally, the supervisor and student agree start and
finishing dates, holidays. The Placement Officer can
JOB DESCRIPTION liaise with the employer to set up a suitable work
programme.
Placement providers are required to supply a brief
(single page) job description and web links. It should list
the main duties and also the skills or attributes required. PRE-PLACEMENT BRIEFING
It might also describe the company/organisation
and its function. It will be displayed on the University Before going on placement the students are briefed on
placements website. their responsibilities to the employer, work etiquette,
ethical issues, the correct use of internet and email at
Students apply for those placements in which they are work and areas such as confidentiality at work. The
interested under the guidance of the Placements Officer. briefing also informs students about the reports we
require from them, and how to keep in touch with the
University over the placement year.
MAKING APPLICATIONS
There are two main methods of application: TRAINING
• Sending a CV and covering letter to the employer by
email. The Placement Officer can collect and email all It is particularly useful if students can be helped to
applications in one batch, if preferred. attend training courses in IT and other areas relevant to
the work they are doing. Visits to other departments, if
• Applying online through the employer’s website time permits, are also very useful, enabling students to
see the wider context of the work.
INTERVIEWS
Interviews are usually conducted at the company
premises as this gives the students a chance to see the
workplace, although they can be arranged on campus
if the employer prefers this. Occasionally, telephone
interviews are a practical alternative.
Interview travel costs, if agreed, should be reimbursed
to the student(s) on production of travel receipts.
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7. Guidelines for Placement Providers
ROLE OF THE SUPERVISOR & INDUCTION ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY WHILE STUDENTS
ARE ON PLACEMENT
It is important that the student has an induction to the
organisation in whatever form is appropriate. Aspects All students are assigned a Placement Tutor with whom
which have proved most useful in the past have been: they should keep in regular contact. If any problems
arise, both student and supervisor are urged to contact
• A handover period between the existing placement the Placement Tutor as soon as possible.
student and the new one, if possible.
• An overview of the entire host organisation,
VISIT BY PLACEMENT TUTOR
explanation of departmental structure, an introduction
to members of staff and an explanation of their roles
The Placement Tutor will visit the student (if UK-based),
and the communication channels.
usually between November and February. In place of a
• An introduction to the use of equipment, e.g. visit, students overseas will be contacted by telephone
computers, copiers, scanners, books, resources, and/or e-mail.
telephone system
• Expectations about punctuality, attendance and a The visiting tutor will arrange the visit in advance with
clarification of working hours. both the student and his/her supervisor to ensure
sufficient time is set aside for it, normally not more than
• Sickness and absence reporting, how to book any
one hour. The student is expected to liaise with the
leave, appropriate dress and other practical issues.
visiting tutor and organise this as part of the placement
Disciplinary and grievance procedures should be
experience. Students will also have been informed about
explained. Most problems on placement arise
the purpose and format of the visit and are encouraged
because expectations about such ordinary aspects
to be prepared to discuss the points listed below with
of day-to-day behaviour are not made explicit.
the tutor and the supervisor.
• Supervisors should, very early on, discuss with
students their expectations about the work During the visit, the tutor will usually ask to speak to the
programme, set aims and objectives with the student separately first and will then, if appropriate, also
students and allow time for regular reviews. speak to the supervisor separately. That is followed by
• Supervisors should integrate the student into project a joint meeting with both student and supervisor where
or teamwork, and facilitate contacts with colleagues progress can be discussed.
in related fields, providing a level of social contact.
The visit is designed to help the student and placement
• Often it is valuable for the supervisor (who may be
provider to identify opportunities for learning, for doing
the director of the project or unit) to delegate the
useful work for the host institution and for the student to
day-to-day supervision of the student to another
relate the placement to the degree course.
member of the staff, with whom they may more
readily relate and who may be more available.
The visit is an important means of keeping students in
• It is good practice if the student and the supervisor touch with the University during the placement period,
can meet on a regular basis to discuss progress to inform them of any changes which may affect their
of the placement, any future plans, how the work is final academic year and generally to offer advice and
developing and to monitor progress. support.
• Students will need guidance about background
reading, and information on where they can acquire
the skills that will be of use in their placement work.
Students are expected to develop their own initiative and
find out what is going on in the place of work, but they
may need help initially in their new environment.
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8. Guidelines for Placement Providers
The main purposes of the visit can be summarised as: ASSESSMENT OF PLACEMENT
For the Student The placement year is assessed on a pass/
fail basis.
• To enable the tutor to see how the student has
settled with the host institution. First Placement Report
• To check that a work pattern has been established, A two-part form to be completed by both student
mutually agreed by the student and supervisor and supervisor after about 10 weeks, describing the
• To ensure the work programme is suitable and student’s work, their progress and plans for the rest
contains sufficient variety and responsibility. of the placement. This report will form the basis of
discussions during the visit.
• To discuss the development of the work programme
over the remaining months
Final Report
• To ensure that relationships with the supervisor and A 2000 word report to be written by the student at the
co-workers are satisfactory, and offer advice on how end of the placement
to resolve any difficulties if they have arisen.
• To make sure that practical matters, such as Employer’s Placement Appraisal
accommodation, travel, etc., are satisfactory. A few weeks before the student finishes the placement,
• To discuss any plan the student may have formulated the Supervisor will be sent an Appraisal form. The
for their final year dissertation. Supervisor is asked to set aside some time to go
through the appraisal form with the student and
complete the form. The student will benefit from this
process and can also add comments at the end in the
For the Placement Provider student section. This is a very useful learning process for
the student, and helpful for the department.
• To establish closer links with the University Social &
Policy Sciences department
• To discuss whether the arrangement is progressing Placement Poster Event
satisfactorily and is one which maximises the Students are required to create a poster in PowerPoint,
student’s contribution to the organisation. describing their placement experience. This is displayed
to prospective placement students and academic tutors
• To discuss whether a satisfactory supervisory at the beginning of the final year.
relationship with the student has been established.
• To identify any problems and discuss possible action. In summary, to pass the placement, the student must:
• To explore the possibility of taking further placement • Complete 30 weeks minimum
students, either in the original department or in other • Submit the first and final reports on time
areas of the institution
• Submit a placement poster
It is hoped that good two-way communication between • Receive a satisfactory appraisal from the employer
student and supervisor will be established early in the
placement and that there will be time for regular reviews,
formal or informal, of the student’s progress. However,
should any problems have arisen, the placement
visit can be extremely valuable in clarifying any
misunderstandings that may have occurred regarding
the suitability of the student’s work programme and in
general improving the communication flow between the
two parties, so as to ensure that both receive maximum
benefit from the placement.
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9. Guidelines for Placement Providers
PLACEMENTS ABROAD INSURANCE
Students may do their placements overseas, but they For the purposes of Employment Law, students, whether
must already be fluent in the language used by the host paid or unpaid, should be deemed ‘employees’ and be
organisation. Overseas placements are subject to visa included on the Employer’s Liability Insurance Schedule.
requirements being met The University of Bath carries indemnity insurance
which covers injury or damage to a third party caused
by any negligence of placement students. A copy of the
ACCOMMODATION schedule is available on request. The University provides
no cover in relation to the legal liability or negligence of
It is the student’s responsibility to find suitable the placement company.
accommodation. However, any help employers can
provide is appreciated. If you have other students HEALTH & SAFETY
working with you, we suggest you make students aware
of this so that they can arrange to link up to find shared Students must be provided with a safe environment in
accommodation. which to work. They must be informed about health and
safety regulations that apply to your premises; fire exits
and emergency procedures, first aid facilities, accident
reporting procedures etc.
Any accident must be reported in accordance with your
organisation’s procedures.
We send placement providers a Health & Safety form
and letter, which must be returned within two weeks
of the placement start, signed by the student and the
“Peter has been involved in a wide supervisor.
range of policy and research projects
across a range of our theme areas,
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES/ ANTI-HARASSMENT
from economic and social policy angles
including health, children and young The University of Bath has an Equal Opportunities policy
people, sport and third sector. I’ve which states that ‘It is the University’s aim that students
are treated fairly on the basis of merit regardless
been very impressed by Peter: Good of age, disability, family responsibilities, gender,
attention to detail, very perceptive, HIV status, marital status, mental health problems,
good attitude, both efficient and nationality, race, religious or political views or affiliations,
sexual orientation, socio-economic background or
effective. He’s at the forefront of my transsexualism’. Further details are available at:
mind whenever looking for capable
staff.” http://www.bath.ac.uk/universitysecretary/equalities/
policies/08dignityrespectpolicy.html
ECORYS Policy & Research, The University also has an Anti-Harassment code of
Birmingham practice. We ask that employers uphold these policies
with regard to placement students.
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10. NOTES
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11. THE PLACEMENTS TEAM
If you would like further clarification or any additional
information, please contact:
Aste Dahl
Work Placements Officer
Email: A.Dahl@bath.ac.uk
Tel: 00 44 (0) 1225 384099
Department of Social & Policy Sciences
University of Bath
Building 3 East
Bath
BA2 7AY
http://www.bath.ac.uk/soc-pol
www.bath.ac.uk/soc-pol

12. Department of
Social & Policy Sciences
www.bath.ac.uk/soc-pol