CAREERS support for Business School students
Key to your career success
When you join us at Exeter you can look forward to acquiring the skills and attributes that will help you build a great career – whether you are just starting out or looking to improve your qualifications and experience.
If you do well, you’ll not only leave us with a great qualification from one of the UK’s top universities, you’ll also have the additional employability skills to help you forge a career in today’s highly competitive global marketplace. Leading employers (many of which are in The Times Top 100 25/26) who have recently engaged with the Business School to offer advice and insights into their businesses include:
Running a wide range of employability events for Business School students to give you invaluable and highly relevant career skills, advice and support.
Designing courses that will equip you with the skills that employers need, significantly increasing your chances of getting the job you want.
Providing a dedicated and highly experienced Careers and Employability team, who will work with you from day one to develop your skills for employment.
Supporting the ‘With Industrial Experience’ (WIE) programme and the Business Internships and Placement module.
What do employers say about us?
Our success is built on a history of providing the very best advice and solutions tailored to our clients’ needs. The Business School Careers Team share that commitment to providing first-class service to its academically strong and well-rounded students.
Caitlin Isaacs
Morgan Stanley | Infrastructure
Senior Recruitment and Programme Coordinator
The Careers Team within the Business School are extremely helpful and the relationship between us is incredibly valuable, to the extent that it allows us to form connections with high-potential students who soar to great heights within our organisation.
James Perryman Mars | Graduate Careers
Campus Manager
The benefits of work experience
Our work placement programmes prepare students for finding graduate level work after their degree.
Most employers (77%) agreed that graduates who completed an internship or placement arrived with better skills and attitudes than other graduates.
(Institute of Student Employers (ISE) Student development survey 2025)
Working with the University of Exeter Business School is always a pleasure; the students are engaged, commercially aware and incredibly proactive. The Careers Team at the School are hugely supportive of their students, running a variety of events for all year groups which see high turnout and often adopt a creative flair.
Scarlett Seager
PwC | West and Wales Student Recruitment Manager
Accenture’s relationship wth the Business School is proving ever more valuable in meeting the needs of our business. Both on a graduate and undergraduate level. Their maturity, analytical approach and business acumen puts them in high standing at our assessment centres, and on countless occasions the students at Exeter have proven themselves to be a great fit to a career in consulting.
Francesca Seeley
Accenture | Undergraduate Placements Recruiter
One of the highlights of my placement was the opportunity to manage accounts independently and drive change activities, presenting to over 1,500 customers throughout the year. A particularly proud moment was presenting to a large audience of around 300 people early in my placement. This experience significantly enhanced my public speaking skills and overall confidence, with my work eventually taking me to present at No. 10 Downing Street.
Joel Cardiff, Wales
BSc Business & Management with Industrial Experience
Industrial Placement: Microsoft (Customer Success Manager)
Graduate Job: Marks & Spencer (Retail Management Graduate Scheme)
With Industrial Experience (WIE )
We encourage all of our students to consider spending their third year ‘out in the field’ – either studying abroad, gaining industrial experience, or a combination of these. These opportunities are available in the UK and across the globe.
With Industrial Experience gives you the opportunity to put into practice what you’ve learnt in your first two years. Then you’ll come back to us for your fourth year with practical experience to enrich your studies and a proven employment track record.
Completing a placement year was the best decision I made at university and to have it be at The Walt Disney Company was extremely rewarding. In addition to the amazing experience and breadth of knowledge behind the entertainment industry that I have gained, I am grateful for the network that I have built during my placement.
Ayra United Arab Emirates
I’m really pleased that I decided to do an industrial placement, as it allowed me to develop professional interpersonal skills that I wouldn’t otherwise have had the chance to build in my degree. My placement helped me build my self-confidence and become a much more outgoing person. The support from the Business School Careers Team was amazing… I felt fully supported on my with Industrial Experience journey and I was very well prepared for the placement recruitment process.
Tom Poole, UK
With Industrial Experience – Topics
I wanted to find an internship in a non-traditional sector to fully explore the opportunities that an Economics degree could bring, and to understand how the skills learnt at University could be utilised in a professional context.
Anthony Brighton, UK
BSc Economics with Industrial Experience
Industrial Placement: NHS England (Analytical Support Officer)
Graduate Job: Publicis Sapient (Junior Product Manager)
My placement year at Intel enabled me to put all my learnings from first and second year into practice. It taught me invaluable skills, strengthened my interest in the marketing field and confirmed that I want to pursue a career in the Tech Industry.
Laura Wiltshire, UK
BSc
Frequently asked questions about the with Industrial Experience programme
How do you secure a placement?
Where can I do my placement?
How much do you get paid?
Students follow a comprehensive careers management programme and are supported in their work placement search by the Business School’s Employability Advisers and Programme Director. Ultimate responsibility for sourcing and securing the work placement rests with the student.
You can complete your placement in the UK or anywhere in the world. Placements abroad will be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking a thorough risk assessment into account.
This will vary depending on your placement provider and location. The salary range for 2025/26 is £20,000 - £65,000, with the typical range between £22,000 to £26,000.
How long do industrial placements last?
Placements usually last for 12 months although this can be flexible subject to a minimum placement length requirement of 33 weeks excluding holidays. It may be possible to extend the placement period, depending on the final year start dates.
How long is the ‘with Industrial Experience’ programme?
Four years with your third year out on placement.
What % of placement students go on to a graduate job or PG study?
According to Graduate Outcomes data 2022/23 (HESA, Guardian GDS) 97.3% of WIE students had a positive graduate destination. Many WIE Students receive offers to work in graduate roles at their placement employers, which confirms the value and positive experience of undertaking a WIE placement.
Am I considered a student when I am on a placement?
Yes you would be registered as a student and eligible for the usual student discounts, exceptions and support whilst out on placement for example:
Council Tax
and
Are there any sessions you have to attend?
As part of the With Industrial Experience programme, there are two non-credit bearing modules you must complete. These modules prepare you for the placement search and recruitment process including CVs, interviews, LinkedIn and assessment centres. These sessions are compulsory and will appear on your timetable.
Do you have to pay tuition fees?
Do all applicants get a placement?
What are the academic requirements?
How will I be assessed?
Currently students are charged 20% of their tuition fee for undertaking a full year work placement as part of their programme. However this fee is subject to annual review. Fees cover module assessment and support from your personal and academic tutor, employability advisers, IT services and other student support services. For further information visit: exeter.ac.uk/students/finance/ studentfees
In 2024/25, 68.8% of year 2 students secured a placement. It is a competitive process in an ever-changing labour market, however we adapt our support depending on recruitment trends, to make sure students have the skills they need to succeed: in particular the resilience to complete multiple applications and time management skills to balance this alongside University studies.
Entry tariff is the same as the corresponding 3-year programmes.
Successful completion of the With Industrial Experience taught modules.
The placement year assessment is assessed by a Portfolio of Tasks that focus on your career and professional skills development. You will be allocated an academic tutor to support you during your placement year.
Dedicated Business School Careers Team
In the Business School you will receive dedicated support in your placement search from day one. Our highly qualified team have a wealth of experience and knowledge that will help guide you through the process of finding, applying for, and competing for placements. This includes personal career planning and guidance support, for those of you who are not yet sure what you want to do or what kind of role would suit you.
As well as leading the taught sessions, the team offer 1-2-1 appointments and Careers Chat drop-ins, so that all students have the opportunity for a personalised, face-to-face conversation.
Meet the team at one of our Open Days, or if you have any questions at all you can contact them by email: business-school-careers@exeter.ac.uk
WIE placements help you build invaluable networks
A dedicated WIE Tutor will support you while on placement
I worked at HSBC UK in the Wealth Management and Insurance division, where my key responsibilities were creating Strategic Insight reports and compiling data into weekly commercial trading overviews. My placement was an invaluable experience where not only was I able to implement what I learnt at university in a real job, but I also gained so much insight into the banking sector and confirmed it’s the sector I want to develop my career in.
Georgia Devon, UK
BSc Economics with Industrial Experience
Boost your employability
During your time at the University of Exeter Business School you will have the opportunity to take part in a varied programme of careers events that will build your employability credentials.
Much of this support is lead by the Career Zone’s highly qualified and experienced Careers Consultants and Employability Advisers, and events involve leading graduate employers and successful Business School alumni. We encourage you to take part in as many of these events as you can, to equip yourself with the necessary skills and tools that you will need for the highly competitive graduate job market.
I am very grateful for the support of the Business School Careers Team, who guided me in creating a professional CV which is the starting point of most application processes. After attending 1-to-1 appointments with careers advisors, networking events, LinkedIn photoshoots and mock assessment centres, I felt more confident in my ability to perform well at different stages of the recruitment process. Applying for placements can be a daunting and stressful process that requires resilience, however with the support of the careers team, I was able to develop the necessary skills to compete with others in the application process.
Apolline Bristol, UK
BSc Business and Management with Industrial Experience with Proficiency in Mandarin Chinese
Industrial Placement: Unilever (Customer Account Executive, Tesco Beauty)
Graduate Job: Unilever (Future Leaders Programme, Customer Development)
Typical events and sessions include:
The unique ‘Create Your Future’ programme, which is a personal and professional development programme for all 1st year students.
In-person and virtual interview practice.
Sector and career-specific sessions.
Employer talks and alumni panels.
Series of careers and professional skills development workshops.
Events and fairs.
1-2-1 appointments for careers guidance support or advice on skills development.
I chose the With Industrial Experience programme because I was keen to apply the skills developed in my first two years of university in the financial sector. The opportunity to acquire knowledge and gain experience in the sector was extremely appealing. The support provided by the Business School to students seeking placements is incredibly useful and includes CV workshops, mock interviews and employer presentations.
William Kent, UK
BSc Economics with Industrial Experience
Industrial Placement: Wells Fargo (Corporate Banking and Financial Services)
Graduate Job: Wells Fargo (Corporate Banking Analyst)
Business Internships and Placements (BUS2004)
140 hrs (4 weeks of work placement)
Designed to encourage 2nd Year students to enhance their employability through a programme of career management skills and an internship.
Students are required to participate in an approved internship for a minimum of 140 hours (four weeks).
This module is perfect for students who want to complete their degree within three years or to fit in with the ‘with Year Abroad’ programme.
Employers who have recently offered internships to our business internships and placements students include:
15 credits towards your 2nd year
I chose the Business Internship and Placement (BIP) module as I was already keen on doing a summer internship in the financial sector and wanted to equip myself with the best resources to maximise my chances of a successful application. The BIP module didn’t disappoint with 1-2-1 sessions where you could discuss CV’s, cover letters and practice competency-based interview questions for video interviews and assessment centres. The module provided a good foundation to work from and provides an otherwise unknown insight into how employers assess candidates.
Richard Gower, Wales
BSc Economics
BIP Placement: Mizuho (Financials Credit Trading Team)
Graduate Job: Mizuho (Trading)
Flexibly fits into your 3 years at university or with a year abroad
American Express
AXA SPDB Investment
Centrica
China Construction Bank
Coca-Cola HBC Eurasia
Condé Nast International
Crédit Agricole
Crédit Lyonnais
Deloitte
EY
J Walter Thomson
JP Morgan
Mercedes Benz
Metro
Nomura
Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS)
PwC
Reliance Mutual Funds
Royal Bank of Canada
Smith & Williamson
Thyssenkrupp
Xerox Corporation
WIE Ambassadors and Peer Mentors
Student peer support Community and events
4th year With Industrial Experience (WIE) students are a great source of practical advice, offering unique perspectives and insights to students starting out on their placement journeys.
WIE Ambassadors work alongside the Business School Careers Team to support 1st and 2nd year placement students, helping to allay fears as well as provide support and reassurance. Ambassadors offer hints and tips on how they navigated recruitment processes, secured their roles and made the most of their own placement experiences. In addition, all 2nd years are given the option to be assigned a 4th year Peer Mentor. Each Peer Mentor looks after a ‘Study Group’ of 2nd years, which helps to build peer networks and encourages a sense of WIE cohort community, as well as enabling skills development through knowledge exchange.
The WIE ambassadors were very helpful when I was applying for placements, and I knew I wanted to provide the same support in my final year. It has been so rewarding helping first and second year students by providing them with an insight to my placement at Unilever and application experience.
Ella West Sussex, UK
BSc Business Management with Industrial Experience
Industrial Placement: Unilever (Customer Development)
Graduate Job: Unilever (Future Leaders Graduate Scheme)
Placement students in the Business School are invited to a series of events throughout the year:
The very popular Branching Out events where 4th years from each business sector return to network with current students.
Recruitment events, such as the Careers and Placements Fair in Autumn Term, plus employer talks and alumni panels.
Our 4th year WIE students are welcomed back to Exeter with a returners’ event, which is a celebration but also a chance to be reminded of the continued careers support available in the Business School to help them secure opportunities after graduation.
WIE 4th Year Returners Event 2024
Other work experience
and employability enhancing
schemes supported by the Business School
With Year Abroad
BSc Business
Spend your third year studying or working abroad, or a combination of both, on the ‘With Year Abroad’ programme.
Choose from a wide range of study destinations, with partner universities in 25 different countries.
The majority of our partner universities offer study programmes in English.
Short Term Study Abroad opportunities.
Further information: business-school.exeter.ac.uk/study/ studyabroad/ugstudyabroad
A career-focused business and management programme, including exclusive work placements and fully alligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The programme offers law and entrepreneurship pathways, as well as an exciting opportunity to customise your degree by choosing modules outside of the business discipline.
Based at our Penryn Campus, Cornwall, the programme is designed to address the challenges in growing businesses in the current climate-changing era. We will help you develop a set of graduate skills which are hugely relevant to 21st century businesses, from a local and global perspective.
Further information: exeter.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/ business/businessbsc
IE’s renowned exchange programme meant that I was surrounded by students from various backgrounds. This not only helped me gain a strong global network but also lifelong friendships... In Manila, I developed communication skills and confidence as I supported the project management team... this internship was crucial to my degree, because of how it deepened my understanding of managerial aspects of a business.
Sam
The Philippines
BSc Business and Management with Year Abroad
Other internship schemes at the University
Student Campus Partnerships (SCP)
The University of Exeter offers opportunities across campus, from short-term business and administrative support through to long-term project coordination.
These internships offer a great opportunity to develop your CV, increase employability and can even count towards your Exeter Award!
Student Business Partnerships (SBP)
The Student Business Partnership scheme offers University of Exeter students from all disciplines the chance to gain essential paid work experience with well-respected local businesses, covering a wide range of roles from marketing, research and business planning to web development and more.
Professional Pathways
Professional Pathways is a suite of sector specific training courses and internships. The training will be delivered by industry experts, to provide you with a firm grounding in your chosen career. All programmes are open to students from any discipline, year group and campus. Following the training we will place you in a paid one-week internship.
Graduate Business Partnerships (GBP)
The Graduate Business Partnership (GBP) scheme has been established to create paid opportunities for recent graduates in their chosen career. The scheme offers relatively inexperienced graduates the chance to access challenging roles, increase their employability and develop a rewarding career.
Access To Internships (A2I)
A scheme to help Exeter students (particularly those from under-represented backgrounds) to secure a paid internship with support and funding provided by the Career Zone. Subsidies and grants are awarded on a sliding scale and on a first-come, first-served basis.
Business School Career Zone
University of Exeter Business School Rennes Drive
Exeter, EX4 4PU UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: +44 (0)1392 722576
Email: business-school-careers@exeter.ac.uk
Web: business-school.exeter.ac.uk/careers/about
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