Earn Work Experience While You Study with Sandwich Programmes
The idea of a “sandwich course” gained prominence across the globe after it emerged in the UK in the 1950s. These courses basically add a year of placement opportunity such as an internship or job to the actual course duration of your selected undergraduate/postgraduate programme. For example, if one has chosen to pursue a BSc in Fashion Design programme with a Sandwich year, it will become a four-year degree instead of a three-year degree.
The placement year, known as the filling of the sandwich, is typically added after the second year. Therefore, the student will now complete two years of academic sessions at the university first. Then, the university will provide the student with a placement in a relevant organisation, conferring them with a golden chance to apply their acquired knowledge in real-world settings, gain a practical understanding of the field and interact with industry leaders to form meaningful connections. After the completion of the internship which may last from 9 months to a year depending upon the course and the university, the student returns to the university to pursue the final year of their degree. It is worth noting that a few universities may mandate internships to complete the degree in their regular courses, they are not the same as a sandwich year.
Some salient features of this course are the following:
- The students do not pay tuition fees to the university during the placement year, or they pay a reduced amount in some cases.
- Students are usually paid a stipend during this period, although the employers are not legally bound to do so.
- The stipend range crucially depends on various factors such as the field, business, location, etc.
- Placement years become mandatory in a sandwich programme, students must complete their placement to complete their degree.
- Not all UK universities provide a sandwich course. Even if your targeted university provides a sandwich course, one needs to check if they provide the same in their chosen field of study.
There are two types of sandwich courses, i.e., a thick sandwich course and a thin sandwich course. The following table highlights the basic differences between the two:
| Details | Thick Sandwich Programme | Thin Sandwich Programme |
|---|---|---|
| Course Structure | Usual Structure: One continuous year-long placement. First and Second Year: University Academic Session Third Year: Placement Year Fourth Year: University Academic Year | Usual Structure: Two or more short periods of placement. This may include internships or work experiences alternating with academic sessions. |
| Placement Opportunities | Various options to spend a year while working in the industry or collaborating with a partner university. | Experience-based courses with universities providing internships in relevant organisations. |
A few popular fields to pursue sandwich courses include Computer Science & IT, Health & Social Care, Design & Creative Arts, Hospitality & Tourism, Media & Communications, etc. Highly reputed universities such as the University of Birmingham, Aston University, the University of Manchester, the University of Bath, the University of Sussex, the University of Leeds, Swansea University, the University of Liverpool, the University of Kent, Newcastle University, etc. offer such courses.
Eligibility for a Sandwich Course in the UK:
The eligibility criteria to pursue a sandwich course in the UK differs from university to university, determined by the requisites of certain fields. However, the following can be referenced as the general eligibility criteria to secure a seat in such prestigious courses:
- Academic Score: The students must secure a minimum of 60% in their qualifying exams. Some courses require students to score higher to be admitted.
- English Proficiency Test Scores: Scorecard of English proficiency tests like TOEFL/IELTS needs to be attached.
- Test score: GMAT/GRE for master’s programmes.
- Letter of Recommendation (LOR)
- Portfolio/CV (for specific courses)
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Work Experience: Some universities also require their students to possess industrial experience to be eligible for their courses.
Advantages of Pursuing a Sandwich Course in the UK:
There are several advantages to pursuing a sandwich course in the UK such as the following:
- Gain Real-World Experience: The biggest advantage of pursuing a sandwich course is the opportunity to gain real-world experience while still pursuing your undergraduate/postgraduate degree. It exposes students to the practices of industry, helping them learn through experiments and gain hands-on skills adding to their theoretical knowledge.
- Networking Opportunities: Such courses have proved highly beneficial in increasing employability of a candidate by associating with professionals. Sometimes students end up joining high-profile projects or research initiatives which proves highly favourable for students.
- Potential job offers post-graduation: Performing well during placement years may also help students in securing job offers post-graduation. They build confidence in employers regarding students’ skills and abilities, sometimes leading to pre-placement offers.
- Earn while studying (in most cases): These placement years also allow students to earn while studying covering their living costs and other expenses.
Conclusion:
Therefore, it is safe to say that sandwich programmes offer a valuable opportunity for students to combine academic study with practical work experience, enhancing both their skills and employability. These courses aimed at integrating real-world placements into the course structure allow students to gain industry insights, build professional networks, and often secure job offers before graduation. Irrespective of the field, these courses equip students with a competitive edge preparing them to navigate complex situations in the workplace.
FAQs on Sandwich Course in the UK:
The duration of the sandwich course depends on the actual length of your chosen programme. If one has chosen to pursue an undergraduate programme that is usually three years long, a sandwich programme will add a year of placement opportunity to it, making it four years long. Similarly, if you are pursuing a master’s degree in the UK, which is usually a year long, a sandwich programme will add another year to it, i.e., the industrial placement year.
For example, if one has chosen to pursue a BSc in Fashion Design programme with a Sandwich year, it will become a four-year degree instead of a three-year degree.
The general Difference between a normal year and a sandwich course is the placement year. The sandwich course includes a year of work experience while the normal course only includes continuous academic sessions. Placement years become mandatory in a sandwich programme, students must complete their placement to complete their degree. The placement year, known as the filling of the sandwich, is typically added after the second year. Therefore, the student will now complete two years of academic sessions at the university first. Then, the university will provide the student with a placement in a relevant organisation, conferring them with a golden chance to apply their acquired knowledge in real-world settings, gain a practical understanding of the field and interact with industry leaders to form meaningful connections. After the completion of the internship which may last from 9 months to a year depending upon the course and the university, the student returns to the university to pursue the final year of their degree. It is worth noting that a few universities may mandate internships to complete the degree in their regular courses, they are not the same as a sandwich year.
There are no disadvantages of a sandwich course except for the fact that it adds a year to the duration of your course. The students who wish to complete their chosen course at the earliest should not opt for sandwich courses. Apart from this, the students do not pay tuition fees to the university during the placement year, or they pay a reduced amount in some cases. Moreover, although the employers are not legally bound to do so, they are usually paid a stipend during this period which helps them bear their living costs during this time. Kindly note that the stipend depends on heavily various factors such as the field, business, location, etc. and therefore, there is no uniform range for it.
The eligibility criteria to pursue a sandwich course in the UK differs from university to university, determined by the requisites of certain fields. However, the following can be referenced as the general eligibility criteria to secure a seat in such prestigious courses:
