You may be torn between doing a degree or an apprenticeship, but the good news is you don’t have to choose between studying or working.
Here are top five courses that have on the job training embedded into them, leaving you graduating ready to take on the world of work.
BSc (Hons) Economics (with a placement year)
Hands-on training is embedded into the course. You will learn to use Bloomberg Professional in the Bradford Trading Room, which simulates a real trading environment so you can get a feel for making real investment decisions and learn how to deal responsibly with financial and economic market data.
Zareen Khan did her placement year at the Government Economics Service in the Department for Work and Pensions in London.
“Having this experience was life changing for me. No one treated me as a student, they invested so much in me. I was responsible for making a performance pack for the minister which was a big responsibility. It helped me learn and grow as an economist.”

BSc Forensic Science (with industrial experience)
This Forensic Science degree focuses on the processing and analysis of physical evidence from crime scenes.
The course provides you with a sound knowledge of how scientific techniques can be used within forensic investigations, and allows you to explore a challenging area of applied science.
There are wide-ranging career opportunities, including the health service, the forensic science or police scientific support laboratories, the Health and Safety Executive, and the public analysts’ laboratories.
MChem Chemistry (with industrial experience)
Love science but don’t know what kind of jobs you can go into? Our MChem Chemistry programme could be for you.
Elizabeth Guest did her year in industry at Orean Personal Care, an independent cosmetics manufacturer.
“For me, the most valuable year was my fourth and final year, which was spent on a placement. It has allowed me to apply my chemical knowledge to real situations, whilst also giving me an invaluable insight into the working world.”

BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering (with a placement year)
If you are interested in a career in mechanics, our Mechanical Engineering degree may be for you. The course is professionally accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and you will be using equipment that you can expect to find in industry. You will also benefit from Bradford’s strong links with the automotive industry.
Sarah-Jane Tonks did her placement year for Nissan.
“My placement helped me understand where my knowledge and experience as a student fits into a global company. Sometimes the most elegant engineering solutions won’t work in a competitive market, and there’s nothing more competitive than the automotive industry right now.“
Many of our graduates have gone onto roles at leading companies including Jaguar Land Rover, Ford Motor Company, Horiba MIRA and Cummins.
All of our Engineering courses offer this type of real-world experience, so you’re not limited to which course you’d like to do.
BSc (Hons) Business and Management Studies (with a placement year)
Are you itching to get out into the world of work but aren’t really sure what area you want to work in? Our business and management studies degree covers a range of topics from accounting to marketing.
Elliot Morrell did a placement year at Samworth Brothers and went onto do an Operations Management graduate scheme at Ocado.
“My degree was heavily related to my industrial placement year as well as the graduate scheme I am now on. Studying subjects such as Operations Management, Strategic Management and Human Resource Management have all lent themselves to my work experience when managing both people and different types of operations.
My degree gave me the chance to put good solid learning into practice once I was working full time.”
Find a course that’s right for you
These are just some of the courses that offer industry experience – we have tons! Take a look at all of our courses in Clearing for 2018 entry.
Call our Clearing helpline 0800 073 1225 to discuss your options.

Author: Alice Gill
Alice works in the Content Team at the University of Bradford, and creates great content to help students make decisions about their future. Alice studied Marketing at university and one day hopes to adopt a panda.
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