Each of our degree programmes may be taken with a Sandwich Year. This year is between the second and final year of study and is suitable for students who wish to experience working life in a research environment. There are several advantages to undertaking a Sandwich Year, including the opportunity to earn a salary for a year, the chance to experience a research laboratory first-hand and the opportunity to gain new skills and expertise that will enhance your future employment potential. We support you in your application and you will maintain close contact with your personal tutor and the School throughout your year away from the University.
Placements are usually with pharmaceutical companies, hospital research laboratories, forensic science laboratories or government research institutes. As well as in the UK, students can apply for placements in Europe and further afield which is an ideal way not only to gain new skills but also to experience a new culture. During the placement you work as a junior scientist and are paid accordingly by your employer.

The Sandwich Option is a popular choice because it allows students to gain experience as working scientists. If you are interested in taking the Sandwich Option, you should apply for the our courses with a sandwich year, but this is not a binding decision. Those who subsequently decide that they want to undertake the Sandwich Option may be able to do so if their academic achievement in the first year is good and they are successful in securing a place. Our sandwich degrees have operated very successfully now for over 25 years.

Sandwich students 2009. The companies they worked for include: Pfizer Global Research and Development (Sandwich, UK), GlaxoSmithKline (Harlow, UK), Aesica Pharmaceutical (Queenborough, UK), BASF (Suffolk, UK), The Bridge Centre (London, UK), Lonza Biologics (Berkshire, UK), BayerCropScience (Monheim, Germany), Solvay Pharmaceutical (Weesp, Netherlands).

 

 

Taking a sandwich year was the best decision I made. It gave me a great insight into the pharmaceutical industry and helped me decide what I want out of a career and it's helping me stand out from other graduates when applying for jobs. Plus I made some great friends!

Holly Baldock

My internship was a great work experience. I learned so much, not only science skills, but also communication skills, as I had the opportunity to do a few presentations, and working skills which made me a more mature student so that in the final year I was willing to work hard to achieve higher grades

Filipa Botelho-Moniz

It gave me valuable experience that proved very useful in the final year in terms of the final year project and general knowledge of my course where I believe it helped improve my degree result. I think the work experience was a huge help in finding a job after graduation as employers prefer candidates who have prior experience

Rosanna Davies

Undertaking a year in industry was thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding. I now have a greater appreciation for the practical importance and application of the theory I have learnt, and have also had experience in applying my knowledge in a vocational setting. I strongly recommend a year in industry for anyone that is considering and passionate about a career in the pharmaceutical industry

Rebecca Eaton

The placement offered me different experiences in all aspects of laboratory work. I learnt the importance of good communication when working in a team and how to develop my time management skills. I gained an understanding of how to design and facilitate a project experiment. I was able to build on skills I had obtained during my course as well as develop new ones. I have gained transferable skills that industry requires and that will benefit my future employment prospects

Jan Francklin