Placements can feel daunting but here's your Guide to Real-World Learning at Salford!!
Placements are one of the most transformative parts of the student journey. They give you the opportunity to apply your learning in real environments, work alongside professionals and understand what your future career could look like. Whether you’re on a Health & Society programme or another discipline entirely, placements help you build confidence, develop essential skills and discover what type of work environment suits you best.
Why Placements Matter?
Placements help you experience the world of work in a way that lectures, seminars and assessments alone cannot. You’ll see how teams collaborate, understand how professionals make decisions and witness the impact your work can have on real people and situations.
Our Health & Society Employability & Placements Officer, Corinne Curley, puts it best:
“Placements are your chance to step out of the classroom and into the real world of work and that’s where so much learning happens. Placements are an opportunity for you to build essential skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving and time management, while getting a real feel for how industries and organisations work day to day.
You’ll meet people, grow your professional network and start to understand what workplaces are actually like. Additionally, placements give you the chance to figure out what you truly enjoy (and what you don’t) which is valuable feedback when you’re thinking about your future career or next steps.
Placements can build confidence, boost motivation and even lead to job opportunities after you graduate. Yes, it can boost your CV, but ultimately it boosts your employability and provides key insight into your next steps.”
Professor Neil Withnell, Salford SU Trustee and Professor Emeritus at the University of Salford, adds:
“Placements are a vital part of education as they provide opportunities for learners to put into practice what they have learnt in University. Working in real life situations with other professionals provides support, constructive feedback and assessment of skills that ensures learners are competent practitioners.”
These reflections highlight what students consistently tell us, that placements bridge the gap between studying a subject and becoming a professional in it.
What Placements Actually Involve?
Although every placement is different, students can expect a combination of learning, guided practice and meaningful contribution.
Hands-on Experience
Placements allow you to apply your knowledge in real settings. You may begin by observing but students often progress quickly to supervised tasks that help them build confidence and independence.
Working with Professionals
You’ll learn from experienced staff who support you, answer questions and help you understand the reality of working in your sector. Many students say this is one of the most valuable aspects of their placement experience.
Developing Your Professional Identity
Placements help you understand not just the work itself, but the culture, expectations and behaviours that are important in your field. You begin to see where your strengths lie and what kind of environment you might want to work in after graduation.
Realistic Insight Into Roles and Responsibilities
You’ll gain a clearer idea of what certain jobs involve day to day, which helps you make informed decisions about your career direction.
What Do Health & Society Placements Look Like?
For Health & Society students, placements can take place across a wide range of environments, reflecting the diversity of the sector. This may include:
- NHS wards, clinics or specialist services
- Community health teams
- Mental health settings
- Social care organisations
- Early years or educational settings
- Public health and voluntary sector roles
Health & Society students often work directly with patients, service users, families or community groups, giving them a realistic picture of what it means to work in health or social care. These experiences help develop key interpersonal skills such as communication, empathy, active listening and teamwork.
Students frequently tell us:
“I was able to develop my confidence and communication skills by working directly with patients. I felt supported by the team which made it easier to take initiative.”
The Impact of Placements on Your Future
Placements help you understand what you enjoy, what motivates you and what kind of career you might want to pursue. They also give you real examples to discuss in interviews and applications, something employers value highly.
Many students finish placement with a clearer sense of direction, a boost in confidence and, in some cases, connections that lead to future opportunities.
Placements aren’t just a requirement of your course, they’re a chance to explore, grow and take meaningful steps toward your next chapter.
👉 Learn more about placements at Salford