Tuition fees for optional placement years

What you will need to pay if you choose to complete an optional placement year during your degree
Female intern or student on laptop/computer. student is completing an internship, placement, mentorship or work experience.
 
 
 
 
 
An optional placement year is an opportunity to gain experience working for a company or organisation during your degree.
Most of our undergraduate courses provide you with the opportunity to complete a placement year.
Placement years can also be referred to as a ‘sandwich year’, ‘work placement’ or a ‘year in industry’.
Placement years can last between six and 12 months depending on your course and employer. The majority of placements give you an opportunity to earn a salary while you work.

 

Placement year tuition fees

The placement year tuition fee is determined by the year you are on placement and your level of study.
It is a reduced fee which will not exceed 20% of the standard annual University tuition fee for the academic year you complete your placement.

Why there’s a tuition fee cost for a placement year

A placement year is part of your degree and you are still a registered University of Plymouth student. You will complete assessments and will continue to be supported by the University.
You will also have access to University services such as the library and digital facilities including all online resources, Careers Service resources and personal support through our Student Hub and wellbeing services.
Your placement fee contributes to providing these services to make sure you have the support you need when completing your placement.
 
 
 
 
 

Placement year tuition fees for undergraduate courses

The fee for home undergraduate students completing any part of their placement year in the UK in 2025/2026 is £1,905.
The fee for home undergraduate students completing their whole placement year outside the UK in 2025/2026 is £1,430.

Paying your undergraduate placement year tuition fee

The tuition fee for placement year can be covered by your tuition fee loan.
You’ll need to reapply for student finance each year of your course, so you don’t need to apply for additional student finance until you decide to complete a placement year.
If you apply for a student loan, you will still need to apply for the loan in your placement year, or you will be required to pay the tuition fee yourself.
 
 
 
 
 

Placement year tuition fees for taught postgraduate courses

The fee for all taught postgraduate students undertaking a placement year will be calculated as 20% of your course's 'home student' tuition fee.
  • The 'home' student tuition fee can be found within the 'fees, costs and funding' information on our course pages.
  • The 'home' student tuition fee should be used for all placement year fee calculations (even if you pay international student fees for the taught year(s) of the programme).
  • The academic year you complete your placement should be used to calculate your fee.
Check our postgraduate course pages to calculate the tuition fee you will pay for a placement year.

Paying your postgraduate placement year tuition fee

If you are in receipt of a postgraduate loan and choose to take a placement year your loan may be divided equally across each year of your course.
It could mean that you receive 50% of your loan while studying, with the remainder paid during the placement year.
You will be unable to make an application for any further funding for the placement year.
 

Placement modules

For some courses (such as education and health), you will be expected to complete placement modules as part of your core programme of study to achieve a professional qualification.
These placements are covered by the standard annual tuition fee so there are no additional tuition fee costs for completing them.
Architecture work placements work experience 

Still have questions?

If you are a UK student with questions about loan options for an optional placement year, please contact student funding advice.
If you are an international student with questions about visa considerations for the optional placement year, please contact international student advice.