Sandwich courses in UK are courses that offer professional expertise and industry exposure in the form of an internship or professional experience. You get the opportunity to spend time away from the classroom in an industrial or business setting where you get exposed to real problems and solutions.
International students studying in the UK can gain work experience while they are studying sandwich courses in UK. You get to work in the industry or corporate setting for a period of 9 to 12 months between your academic years. It is an easy way to develop and enhance your skills besides building a strong network that will make your job search easy. This will also put you in a better place in the eyes of employers after you get complete your course.
So, should you take a sandwich course in the UK? Find out here, in this detailed guide covering all aspects of sandwich courses in the country.
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What is a Sandwich Course in UK?
The placement opportunities that you get while studying your course are defined as a filling-in sandwich and the courses that offer a few months of training in a professional setting amidst the academic sessions are called sandwich courses.
The concept of sandwich courses originated in the UK in the 1950s. It is the brainchild of Alexander Russel who advocated for industrial training with theoretical training. Since then, other parts of the world have picked it up.
During your study in the UK, you get a scope to work in a study abroad placement, project or internship along with your regular classroom education. The sandwich year in the UK is generally placed between the beginning and end of the course.
For example, if you are studying a 3-year bachelors sandwich course in UK, you are involved in classroom learning for the first two years and in the third year, you go for a sandwich placement and again in the fourth year, you rejoin the university to complete your academic course.
On the other hand, if you study for a 1-year postgraduate taught sandwich course in UK, you get an additional one-year placement opportunity which is referred to as the 1+1 PGT sandwich programme.
That said, you should remember that only a limited number of programmes offer sandwich courses in UK.
Difference Between a Sandwich Course and a Full-time Course in the UK
It is important for you to know the difference between a sandwich course and a full-time course in the UK to make important decisions about your career path. Here, we have put a comparative analysis of both sandwich courses in UK and full-time courses in the country:
|
Key Parameters |
Sandwich Couse in UK |
Full Time Course in UK |
|---|---|---|
|
Course Description |
A placement or work experience year is present |
Does not include any internship or placement opportunities. Even if you get it, the duration is small |
|
Course Duration |
Longer than regular bachelors or masters course |
3 years for bachelors 1 year for masters |
|
Placement Duration |
9 to 12 months |
Maximum 12 weeks |
|
Placement Attendance |
Mandatory |
Not compulsory |
|
Job Opportunities |
More due to work experience |
Have to start as a fresher |
Benefits of Studying Sandwich Course in UK
Sandwich courses in UK can add auxiliary value to your resume. We have listed below the numerous benefits which you can derive if you study a sandwich course in UK:
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Industry Exposure: A sandwich year at a workplace gives you hands-on experience and you know how things work. You are equipped with both theoretical and experiential proficiency. You will learn new skills at work. For example, computer engineering students get placed with top software companies.
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Financial Help: What is more fun than getting a stipend for your work during college days? You get paid for the internship or work placement you will be performing.
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Personal Grooming: You will get to know the insiders' secrets of businesses. You will also develop communication skills and other soft skills essential to thriving in the workplace. Your confidence increases.
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Job Experience: This is the best advantage of sandwich courses in UK. When you graduate, you will already have a job experience in your kitty that would make you more employable than your peers who do not have work experience. You may be even offered a permanent placement where you have done an internship.
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Networking Opportunity: When you are at the workplace, you get to meet and interact with a lot of people. This increases networking opportunities where you can spread the buzz about your skills.
Types of Sandwich Courses in UK
Not all sandwich courses in the UK follow the same curriculum or structure. There are two different types of sandwich courses in UK which can be differentiated in the ways given below:
|
Parameters |
Thick Sandwich course in UK |
Thin Sandwich Course in UK |
|---|---|---|
|
Structure of Sandwich Course |
1st and 2nd year: Theoretical training 3rd year: Placement 4th year: Theoretical |
A shorter period of placement between two years. For instance, if you are in the 2nd year, you get a 6-month placement and again the same is repeated in the 3rd year |
|
Duration |
9 to 12 months at a stretch |
Each placement is 3 to 6 months |
|
Work Opportunity |
Available across various sectors |
Available in select sectors |
Eligibility Criteria for Sandwich Courses in the UK
The eligibility criteria for sandwich courses in UK are the same as normal full-time bachelor's or master's courses. Here are the common entry requirements for sandwich courses in UK:
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60% marks in high school or at least 3.0
-
English language proficiency test certificate of IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo
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GMAT/GRE scores for master's degree
-
Personal statement demonstrating an interest in the subject
-
Academic resume or CV
-
Portfolio (for some degrees)
Sandwich Courses in UK Universities
Many universities across various disciplines offer sandwich courses in UK. Here is a comprehensive list of the UK universities offering sandwich years:
|
UK University |
Course |
Duration |
|---|---|---|
|
Aerospace Engineering (MEng) |
5 years full time including sandwich year |
|
|
Computer Science (MComp) |
5 years full time with a sandwich year |
|
|
Architecture (BSc Hons) |
4 years including thin sandwich years |
|
|
Banking and Finance (Bsc Hons) |
4 years with placement |
|
|
Business Logistics and Transport Management (BA Hons) |
5 years with a sandwich |
|
|
Bioengineering (BEng Hons) |
4 years full-time with placement year |
|
|
Planning (MPlan) |
2 years |
|
|
MBA |
2 years with a 12 months placement |
|
|
Staffordshire University |
Fashion (BA Hons) |
4 years with 1-year placement |
|
Middlesex University |
Business Accounting (BSc Hons) |
4 years full-time with placement |
Careers After Sandwich Courses in the UK
The global job market is getting competitive and only getting a degree will not help you get a lucrative job. The fact that you have relevant work experience will look great on your CV.
Sandwich courses in UK help you gain insight into a particular job role in the industry. You get to use the skills acquired during the internship in the real world. After placement, you will get to work on a real-life project to benefit your company.
Some companies even offer a pre-placement offer to students after they have finished their course. With a year of job experience, you can apply to the top MNCs not just in the UK but in countries around the world.
A sandwich course in the UK is designed in a way to accelerate the careers of academically-competent applicants. You can definitely opt for sandwich courses in UK if you wish to gain some experience before officially kickstarting your career.
If you are still divided between pursuing a sandwich course or a full-time course in the UK, please write to us at abroad@collegedekho.com.
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