What modules will I be registered to during my placement year?

During the placement you should complete two-60 credit modules (to be registered for 240 credits in total over two years):

COMP598 MSc Placement Experience
COMP599 MSc Industrial Project.

What assignments will I need to compete during my placement year?

The placement experience module (COMP598) will be assessed in terms of a portfolio (100%) containing a number of documents as articulated in the COMP598 module specification and should be submitted before the end of the placement.

For the project module (COMP599) there are three parts of assessment:

interim report (20%) that it expected after 15 weeks of the placement. The interim report will be assessed by primary supervisor and secondary supervisor (moderator)
the final presentation with a report (20%) and presentation should be arranged at the last month of the placement (assessed by primary supervisor, secondary supervisor and line manager),
the final dissertation (60%) deadline should be submitted at the end of the placement (assessed by primary supervisor and secondary supervisor (moderator)

How long should my placement be?

Your placement should last between six months (26 weeks minimum) and one year (52 weeks maximum).

Should I be paid for my placement?

Yes, a student should be paid at least the living wage for it to be accepted, students cannot complete an unpaid internship as part of the programme.

When can I begin my placement? What if I have re-sits?

You can begin your placement following the release of your Semester 2 results in July. If you have to take part in re-sit examinations in the August re-sit period, you can begin your placement following the release of re-sit results at the beginning of September but only if you have passed all of your resits or only failed up to and including 60 credits.

When is the latest my placement can finish?

Your placement should be completed by 1^st October 2025 at the latest.

What kind of role should I apply for?

The role should be related to Computer Science and take place in an appropriate IT environment. If you are unsure if your placement suitable for the programme, please contact us at CSStudy@liverpool.ac.uk or contact the Year in Industry programme director Professor Igor Potapov (potapov@liverpool.ac.uk) who will be able to advise you.

Is there any support offered by the University to find a placement?

Yes, students can utilise the Careers & Employability Team (careers@liverpool.ac.uk) who can assist you in finding and securing a placement. They also host various events throughout the year such as networking and skills workshops to assist you. We also post any opportunities shared with us to our Careers Resources Canvas page here.

Potential placements are asking me for a letter confirming the parameters of the Year in Industry placement, where can I get this?

Yes, the Computer Science Department can provide a letter confirming the structure of the Year in Industry programme and that you are able to work full-time during your placement year. Should you require a letter, please contact the Student Experience Team (CSStudy@liverpool.ac.uk).

How do I confirm my placement with the University?

If you have received an offer from a potential placement, please send this over to the Student Experience Team (CSStudy@liverpool.ac.uk) for us to approve. You should also remember to update your HandShake profile, for further information regarding HandShake please contact the Careers and Employability Team (careers@liverpool.ac.uk).

What information does the University need to confirm my placement?

Students need to provide the following information to CSStudy@liverpool.ac.uk:

Your full name:
Your Student ID number:
Name of company:
Placement address:
Line manager name:
Line manager details (phone number and/or email address):
Placement start date:
Placement end date:
A copy of the contract or offer letter

If you only have some of this information, please send this and confirm the rest at a later date.

What support will I receive from University whilst I’m on my placement?

Whilst you are on your placement, you will be allocated an academic member of staff as a placement supervisor. Your placement supervisor will be your first point of contact to arrange assignments and deadlines. You will also still have access to the Universities wider Student Support Services which can be viewed on our webpage here https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/studentsupport/.

I have questions regarding my Visa and how this is affected by the Year in Industry programme.

You can contact the International Advice and Guidance Team (iagteam@liverpool.ac.uk) who can offer advice regarding your Visa. Please note that the department is unable to advise regarding Visa aspects.

I have questions regarding the fees associated with the Year in Industry programme.

You can contact the Fees Team (feesenq@liverpool.ac.uk) who can advise regarding your tuition fees. Please note that the department is unable to advise regarding fee aspects.

What happens if I don’t secure a placement?

If you do not secure a placement, we will automatically transfer you to the equivalent one-year programme in September if you have not advised us of your intentions before then. Your options for completing COMP702 will be considered.

When is the latest I can confirm a placement?

We advise to ensure you have a placement secured by July, however, this is somewhat flexible you can contact us up until mid-August with a placement offer and we can advise if it is still possible to accept the position as part of the programme.

I am registered to the Year in Industry programme but I’ve decided I do not wish to go on placement anymore, how do I transfer to the one-year programme?

You can contact the Student Experience Team at any point throughout the year and transfer to the one-year programme. Please contact us at CSStudy@liverpool.ac.uk and we can assist you with this.

I am registered to the one-year programme but I’ve decided I wish to go on placement, how do I transfer to the Year in Industry programme?

You can contact the Student Experience Team to request a transfer to the Year in Industry programme. This is somewhat flexible and we will do our best to accommodate but we do recommend you submit a transfer application before the COMP702 project begins in June. Please contact us at CSStudy@liverpool.ac.uk and we can assist you with this.

I am due to go on a Year in Industry but I can see I’ve been registered for COMP702, why is this?

We automatically register all PGT students to the COMP702 summer project, we do this so student can begin working on a project in case they are unable to secure a placement.

When will I be removed from the COMP702 project module?

You will be removed from COMP702 once you have successfully secured a placement and have received your semester two (in July) and/or re-sit results (at the beginning of September).

Do I need to engage with the COMP702 project module even if I plan to go on a placement?

Yes, we would advise that students do engage with their COMP702 project in case they do not secure a placement. COMP702 project selection typically begins in April.

I have failed some re-sits and am no longer eligible for an MSc degree, can I still go on my placement?

Following the release of re-sit results at the beginning of September, if you have failed 60 credits or less (which are not considered to be in the ‘compensation range’) you may still proceed to the placement year, however, this is subject to approval at the Board of Examiners in September. You can see information regarding ‘compensation range’ and the MSc requirements in the Code of Practice Appendix C.

I have confirmed I am no longer seeking a placement and will be completing the COMP702 project. How does this work?

Students on the Year in Industry will be automatically registered for the extended COMP702 project, this is to allow you to continue to look for a placement right up until the deadline (31^st July) without also completing project work relating to COMP702. The timeline for Year in Industry students can be found below:

Project work begins: tbc

Specification & Design: tbc

Presentation: tbc

Dissertation: tbc

Graduation July 2025

There is also the option to change to the ‘standard’ timeline should you confirm to us that you are no longer looking for a placement. The standard timeline can be found below:

Project work begins: tbc

Specification & Design: tbc

Presentation: tbc

Dissertation: tbc

Graduation December 2024

To move to the ‘standard’ timeline, you must inform us of your decision before project work begins. If you have not informed us of your decision to change to the standard timeline before this date, we are unable to amend your timeline.

I have questions which have not been answered above, who should I contact?

Please feel free to contact us at CSStudy@liverpool.ac.uk if you have further queries.