The University of Manchester has announced plans to offer work placements to all undergraduate students, regardless of their degree subject, in what is believed to be a first for a large Russell Group institution. The initiative aims to provide 'meaningful real-world experience' to students across all disciplines, from classics to chemical engineering.
Vice-Chancellor Duncan Ivison stated that no student should graduate after three years of purely academic study. Instead, every student should have the chance to put their learning into context through an internship, placement, joint project, or exchange. The move comes as graduates increasingly struggle to find work, with many facing debts over £50,000 and often ending up in low-paid hospitality or retail roles.
Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, welcomed the initiative but raised concerns about its feasibility given Manchester's 32,000 undergraduates. He noted that while some universities have always embedded employment into courses, he has not seen a Russell Group university attempt such a scale before. Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, also praised the initiative, highlighting the rapidly changing jobs market and the need for graduates to be well prepared.
Currently, about a quarter of undergraduate courses in the UK offer placements of at least a year. The University of Manchester aims to make work opportunities a normal part of university life, accessible to all students, not just those with personal contacts. The university emphasised its strong links with employers and organisations across the city region.
