Summer Placements
Information for Students
Summer Placements
Each year, SEPnet arranges for undergraduates in their 2nd and 3rd year at SEPnet partner universities to carry out eight-week paid placements. The scheme not only provides a transfer of knowledge across the South East of England, it increases the employability of physics and maths students too.
Why do a Summer Placement?
Why do a Summer Placement?
A summer placement offers invaluable hands-on experience, allowing you to apply your academic knowledge in a real-world setting, develop key skills, and enhance your employability. At SEPnet, our Summer Placement Scheme connects physics students (and now maths students) with leading employers in the South East, offering opportunities to work on exciting projects in either a commercial company or research institution.
A wide range of organisations are already involved offering placements in a variety of physics-related disciplines. Students have enjoyed placements with QinetiQ, the National Physical Laboratory, Symetrica, the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, the Met Office and many other employers.
Meet the students who have previously participated and discover how these placements have shaped their careers, provided industry insights, and expanded their professional networks.
A summer placement offers invaluable hands-on experience, allowing you to apply your academic knowledge in a real-world setting, develop key skills, and enhance your employability. At SEPnet, our Summer Placement Scheme connects physics students (and now maths students) with leading employers in the South East, offering opportunities to work on exciting projects in either a commercial company or research institution.
A wide range of organisations are already involved offering placements in a variety of physics-related disciplines. Students have enjoyed placements with QinetiQ, the National Physical Laboratory, Symetrica, the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, the Met Office and many other employers.
Meet the students who have previously participated and discover how these placements have shaped their careers, provided industry insights, and expanded their professional networks.
A summer placement offers invaluable hands-on experience, allowing you to apply your academic knowledge in a real-world setting, develop key skills, and enhance your employability. At SEPnet, our Summer Placement Scheme connects physics students (and now maths students) with leading employers in the South East, offering opportunities to work on exciting projects in either a commercial company or research institution.
A wide range of organisations are already involved offering placements in a variety of physics-related disciplines. Students have enjoyed placements with QinetiQ, the National Physical Laboratory, Symetrica, the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, the Met Office and many other employers.
Meet the students who have previously participated and discover how these placements have shaped their careers, provided industry insights, and expanded their professional networks.
SEPnet Annual Student Expo
SEPnet Annual Student Expo
Each year we celebrate students’ achievements at the SEPnet Students’ Expo held in London. The event offers students the opportunity to give presentations and display posters about their summer projects. Over 100 students, academics and employers attend this networking event to hear from inspirational industry speakers and visit employer stands.
Each year we celebrate students’ achievements at the SEPnet Students’ Expo held in London. The event offers students the opportunity to give presentations and display posters about their summer projects. Over 100 students, academics and employers attend this networking event to hear from inspirational industry speakers and visit employer stands.
Elibibility
Eligibility
The scheme is for physics and maths undergraduates in Year 2 and Year 3 at SEPnet partner universities (Hertfordshire, Portsmouth, Queen Mary, Royal Holloway, Southampton and Sussex). Year 1 SEPnet students are eligible to apply with permission from their Heads of Department. NB: you can only carry out one SEPnet summer placement per year.
SEPnet PhD students and students who have confirmed PhD or MRes places at a SEPnet university beginning in the same year are eligible to apply for some of the placements.
Applications
Applications
You will receive a PDF booklet with placement details at the beginning of March. You will need to apply direct to organisations with your CV and covering letter and will need to register your details online with SEPnet when you apply so we can keep in touch with you and ensure you understand the terms and conditions. You will not be able to take up a placement until you have registered.
Contact your Employability Adviser (EA) or email summerplacements@sepnet.ac.uk if you have any queries.
You will receive a PDF booklet with placement details at the beginning of March. You will need to apply direct to organisations with your CV and covering letter and will need to register your details online with SEPnet when you apply so we can keep in touch with you and ensure you understand the terms and conditions. You will not be able to take up a placement until you have registered.
Contact your Employability Adviser (EA) or email summerplacements@sepnet.ac.uk if you have any queries.
What Next?
What Next?
The individual organisations review the applications and will get in touch with you direct if they wish to offer you an interview. Unfortunately, we can’t cover travel expenses for interviews but organisations will usually cover this. All placement opportunities are filled by May.
The individual organisations review the applications and will get in touch with you direct if they wish to offer you an interview. Unfortunately, we can’t cover travel expenses for interviews but organisations will usually cover this. All placement opportunities are filled by May.
Is There Any Help With Accomodation?
Is There Any Help With Accomodation?
We advise students to consider placements near to their university or home if possible. If you are successful in securing a place and need to rent accommodation, you can ask your placement organisation for advice on where to find accommodation or try the websites below:
SpareRoom is the UK’s busiest shared accommodation site with rooms to rent in student flats and houses all over the UK.
AccommodationforStudents has been helping students to find accommodation since the year 2000 and is the UK’s largest student property portal. They provide a valuable free service and feature all types of student accommodation.
StuRents advertises properties in several regions throughout the UK and lists a wide range of summer lets. It offers a live support service during the day to help students find short-term accommodation over the summer period.
We advise students to consider placements near to their university or home if possible. If you are successful in securing a place and need to rent accommodation, you can ask your placement organisation for advice on where to find accommodation or try the websites below:
SpareRoom is the UK’s busiest shared accommodation site with rooms to rent in student flats and houses all over the UK.
AccommodationforStudents has been helping students to find accommodation since the year 2000 and is the UK’s largest student property portal. They provide a valuable free service and feature all types of student accommodation.
StuRents advertises properties in several regions throughout the UK and lists a wide range of summer lets. It offers a live support service during the day to help students find short-term accommodation over the summer period.
Want to Find Out More?
Want to Find Out More?
Your SEPnet Employability Adviser (EA)/Placement Tutor will be able to support you through the placement process. They will brief you about the scheme, the sorts of projects that will be offered and how to get further support from your careers service with your CV and applications.
Your SEPnet Employability Adviser (EA)/Placement Tutor will be able to support you through the placement process. They will brief you about the scheme, the sorts of projects that will be offered and how to get further support from your careers service with your CV and applications.
