All students at the University of Manchester will soon be expected to take part in work placements or exchanges, according to its vice-chancellor, who has stressed that three years solely spent in academia is not enough preparation for the changing world of work.
All undergraduate programmes at the Russell Group university will contain an element of practical experience going forward, Duncan Ivison, who has led the university since August 2024, has announced.
Students will be expected to use the period after exams in the summer term to take part in internships, placements, joint projects or exchanges – across all disciplines.
The move mirrors professional taught degrees in areas such as medicine and teaching, where on-the-job experience is an essential part of the course.
Ivison said that universities needed to equip students with more chances to “put their learning into context”.
