Work and placement opportunities

Gain some experience while studying to boost your CV and make yourself more employable once you graduate. Here are some of the ways you can find a job through Kent or Kent Union. 

Careers and Employability Service vacancy database

You can use this database to search for placements, internships and graduate vacancies with employers outside of the University.

It only takes a couple of minutes to register and you can get targeted email alerts for vacancies specific to your interests.

University of Kent vacancies

The University of Kent advertises a wide variety of vacancies, some of which are suitable for students to do while they are studying.

The University also advertises graduate vacancies.

Kent Hospitality vacancies

Kent Hospitality provides housekeeping, catering, bar and reception services at the University of Kent.

There are vacancies for term time and also for the summer holidays.

Students seeking casual work during term time should talk directly to the manager of the Kent Hospitality outlet they are interested in working for.

Kent Union Jobshop

Jobshop is a service provided by Kent Union to help you find employment while you study.

Jobshop is for students studying at the University of Kent in Canterbury and Medway.

It costs nothing to join and only takes one click!

There's a wide variety of vacancies advertised including retail, administration, catering, IT and childcare.

You can join a mailing list to receive regular updates on the latest vacancies.

Student Ambassador Scheme

The Student Ambassador Scheme provides students with the opportunity to work with local schools and colleges on a range of exciting projects - both on campus or in schools.

Student ambassadors take part in a range of activities including: campus visit days, open days, school and college open days, HE fairs, subject specific taster days, residential summer schools, mentoring small groups of school students, aspiration raising activities, projects in Brompton Academy (the University’s Academy) and its feeder primary schools.

Opportunities can be paid, credit bearing, or voluntary.

Academic school websites

Look on your academic school webpages because sometimes vacancies are advertised to students on particular courses.

Examples of vacancies could include graduate teaching assistantships, administration work, helping at UCAS days, web design and many more.

Kent Union jobs

Kent Union employs students in all of its shops, bars and other outlets in Canterbury and Medway.

Student staff are able to advance to supervisory positions and some graduates are recruited into full-time positions.

The Employability Points Scheme rewards students for their active engagement with co-curricular activities with experiences of work.

For each co-curricular activity completed, students can claim 'Employability Points', which can be cashed-in for the chance to apply for exclusive internships, work placements, vouchers and more!

A Year in Industry (sometimes called a Professional Placement Year or a Sandwich Year), is your opportunity to put what you have learned into practice.

It enables you to increase your practical understanding of your subject, gain further knowledge and develop skills vital for your future, as well as the opportunity to try out a potential future career.

Going abroad as part of your degree is an amazing experience and a chance for you to develop personally, academically and professionally.

As a Kent student, a world of study abroad and work placement opportunities is available to you – from China, Hong Kong and Thailand, to the US, Latin America and Europe – and we’ll support you every step of the way.

At Kent you have the opportunity to add a year to your degree in a different subject to broaden your experience. You can take the year either after stage 2 or after the final year of your degree. Consider taking a year in:

Computing - learn how to code and create computer systems that people engage with.

Data Analytics - Get the skills you need to create and interpret data in the real world.

Journalism - Learn the essentials of reporting, multimedia Journalism and media law. 

Student enterprise consists of a range of innovative activities designed to enhance students' skills and abilities, while providing them with additional core skills required by a fast-paced employment market. These activities include:

• Enterprise competitions
• Enterprise skills awards
• Enterprise champions

If you would like to set up a business or learn how to make the most of your talents and improve your confidence, we can help you develop a range of skills to overcome challenges and make your ideas happen.