MSc Professional Placement - 2023 entry

This module will provide you with extensive practical work experience in a work environment that is of direct relevance to your development as an experienced professional.

You will get the chance to apply the knowledge and skills you have acquired from taught modules to authentic problem solving in the workplace. Collaborating with your work placement employer, you will identify a suitable project related to your degree that will constitute your MSc dissertation. Ideally, the dissertation should be based on the work that you will undertake during the placement, but this is not compulsory.

The placement will involve a substantial technical role in the host organisation. Individual placements are subject to availability and approval by the programme coordinator.

Pre-requisite and co-requisite modules: None

The module is suitable for non-specialist students. 

 

The professional placement will give you the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills that you have obtained from taught modules to real situations at a professional level. You will be expected to use your own initiative and creativity to integrate the knowledge that you have gained in several areas of your degree programme to deliver appropriate technical solutions and analysis in a professional manner. 

 

On successful completion of the work placement, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1. Demonstrate the acquisition of new knowledge and practical skills, the specifics being dependent on the particular work placement undertaken.

2. Apply academic skills from the degree programme to analyse and identify solution of problems in a workplace setting.

3. Demonstrate wide knowledge and comprehensive understanding of relevant methodologies and the ability to adapt them in unfamiliar situations also identifying constraints including regulatory, ethical, environmental and sustainability limitations.



Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:


4. Select and use appropriate ICT based tools for analysis, design and communication with your audience.

5. Critically analyse and present data to support decision making.

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge:

6. Produce a work-plan appropriate for the particular work placement undertaken.

7. Demonstrate self-management skills, identifying and meeting targets within time constraints (with very little guidance required from project supervisor).

8. Keep a journal focused on the key features of a learning experience, on monitoring the progress, and reflecting critically on your experience.

9. Work constructively as part of a team.

10. Respond positively to work appraisal.

11. Produce a written report conforming to a specified format and to a professional standard.


 

The work that you will carry out during the professional placement depends on the nature and type of placement you are undertaking. However, it is mandatory that your employer gives you the opportunity to work on a substantial piece of work, which you will write about in the placement project report. 

 

Regular verbal feedback from line manager and academic supervisor.

 

Deferrals: Reassessment will be by coursework and/or interview in the deferred element only. For deferred candidates, the module mark will be uncapped. 

Referrals: Reassessment will be by a single piece of coursework worth 100% of the module only. As it is a referral, the mark will be capped at 50%. 

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk




 

Reading list for this module: