LW5113 - Northumbria Law School Placement Year

What will I learn on this module?

The Northumbria Law School Work Placement Year module is a full year 120 credit module available on degree courses which include a work placement year which is taken as an additional year of study between levels 5 and 6 (the length of the placement will be determined by your programme but it can be no less than 30 weeks and no more than 52 weeks). You will undertake a guided work placement at a host organisation. This is a Pass/Fail module and so does not contribute to classification. When taken and passed, however, the Placement Year is recognised in your transcript as a 120 credit Work Placement Module and on your degree certificate in the format – “Degree title (with Work Placement Year)”. The learning and teaching on your placement will be recorded in the training agreement signed by the placement provider, the student, and the home University (Northumbria).

How will I learn on this module?

The learning and teaching methods will be dependent on the placement. The learning and teaching on your placement will be recorded in the training agreement signed by the placement provider, the student, and the home University (Northumbria).

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Pre-placement: You are required to attend the pre-placement presentation and meet with the Academic Placement Co-ordinator.
On-placement: You will be monitored continuously through regular contact between the Placement Tutor and the Workplace Supervisor. The
Placement Tutor (where possible) will visit you at your place of work mid-placement to discuss your progress with you and your Work Based
Supervisor. In addition you Placement Tutor can provide you with additional support through virtual meetings where necessary.
You will be supported throughout by our experienced team of placement co-ordinators in the Student Employability Centre. The team will
help you find the right placement for you and will help you prepare for interviews, assessment centres and psychometric tests. Once you are
out on placement the team will continue to maintain regular contact with you and will continue to support you throughout the year.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
• You will gain a better understanding of how organisations work and how your studies fit into the real work environment. You will acquire and develop technical knowledge and skills associated with the nature of your work.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• You will develop the interpersonal skills required to work efficiently as a member of a team trying to achieve organisational goals and acquire and develop technical skills associated with the nature of the work.
• You will develop personal organisation skills which will enable you to receive, quickly understand and carry out instructions to the satisfaction of the host organisation as a means of developing towards the completion of more responsible work.
• You will have the opportunity to reflect on your experiences and demonstrate your employability skills in the portfolio. It is envisaged that you will draw on this portfolio when applying for graduate positions in your final year. The placement experience will enable you to make better informed decisions regarding your graduate career path.

How will I be assessed?

1. Formative Assessment: You will be
allocated a placement tutor who will be
available for formative assessment
throughout the year

2. Summative Assessment: The module
assesses both your performance on placement and your reflection on the
placement experience. You will be required to produce a Portfolio (3000-4000 words)
based on your work experience and a
reflection on your time out on placement.
The portfolio will provide you with the
opportunity to demonstrate your self-development, research and analysis skills
and critical reflection.

This is a Pass/Fail module and an overall
pass grade leads to the award of 120 credits.
The Work Placement does not contribute to
your degree classification. When taken and
passed, the Placement Year is recognised on
the degree certificate in the format – Degree
title (with Work Placement Year).

Pre-requisite(s)

• None

Co-requisite(s)

• None

Module abstract

In an increasingly competitive graduate recruitment market you’ll need more than a good degree to get the job you want. Graduate
employers are increasingly looking for evidence of relevant work experience as well as academic achievement in candidates. A year out in
industry enhances your employability prospects, making you more appealing to graduate employers.
You’ll get practical experience in your chosen field whilst developing many of the skills that you will need in the workplace. You’ll gain a better
understanding of how organisations operate and you will be able to apply this knowledge directly to your studies. Indeed, research suggests
that placement students perform better academically, in many cases by one classification higher.
Most of our programmes now include a placement year as standard, but even when they don’t, we strongly recommend that you consider
taking up a year-long placement. So what are you waiting for?

Course info

UCAS Code M102

Credits 120

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad

Department Northumbria Law School

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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