Sandwich Courses in the UK 2026: Placement Year, Visa Rules and Universities

What Is a Sandwich Course?

In a sandwich course, you study at university, spend a period working in industry, and then return to finish your degree. The work period is the “filling” between periods of study. Universities call it a placement year, year in industry or industrial placement. Some master’s courses use shorter placements of a few weeks to several months.

• Longer duration: most bachelor’s sandwich degrees take 4 years instead of 3, and the placement usually sits between the second and final years.
• Credit-bearing: a placement that is part of the course is assessed, often through a report or reflective portfolio.
• Student responsibility: many universities expect you to find and apply for your own placement, with support from the careers team. Sussex, for example, says students find their own and move to the non-placement version if they cannot secure one (Sussex MComp).

Benefits of a Sandwich Course

• Real work experience: you build a CV that shows UK industry experience before graduation.
• Contacts and references: a placement employer can become a referee or a route to a graduate job.
• Applied learning: you test classroom theory on live projects before your final year.
• Possible pay: placements are often paid, but pay depends on the employer and the placement agreement, so there is no guaranteed salary.

Sandwich courses do not guarantee a job offer or a visa after graduation. They improve your profile, and you still have to find the role and meet visa rules.

Sandwich Courses and the UK Student Visa

The rules matter more than the course names, so check these points with your university’s international team before you accept an offer.

• Integral to the course: the placement must be assessed as an integral part of your course and be recorded on your CAS. The Student visa guide also says no separate work visa is needed and the employer does not need a sponsor licence (placement year on a Student visa).
• Length limit: the general limit is one third of the course. It rises to one half for degree-level courses at higher education providers with a good compliance record.
• Work hours: the weekly term-time limit does not apply to hours worked on an approved placement, but other work stays limited. Self-employment and some jobs, such as professional sportsperson, are not allowed (GOV.UK Student visa work).
• Approval first: universities usually require approval before you start. Sheffield Hallam, for instance, requires pre-approval, at least 21 hours a week for undergraduates and 30 for postgraduates, and some on-site working (Sheffield Hallam placement rules). Other universities set their own rules.
• Placement abroad or in India: a placement outside the UK can affect your visa sponsorship. Ask your university before you apply for one.

Also Read: Dual degree courses in the UK

Examples of Sandwich Courses in the UK

These courses were listed on our earlier version of this guide. Course titles, placement rules and fees change, so confirm each one on the university’s own page before you shortlist.

Other universities with strong placement cultures include Loughborough, Bath, Surrey, Nottingham Trent and Kingston. Ask each university for its placement rate and employer list.

Also Read: 1-year masters in the UK: cost and education loan

Fees: What to Check

• Whether the placement year carries a tuition fee, and how it compares with a study year. Universities set this individually.
• Whether the fee on the course page is per year or for the whole course.
• Your living costs while on placement, and whether the placement is paid.
• The Immigration Health Surcharge and visa fee for the full length of your course, which is longer than a standard degree.

See visa application process for UK masters for the visa steps.

Also Read: 1-year MBA in the UK

Advantages and Disadvantages

How to Apply

• Undergraduate: apply through UCAS and pick the course version that includes the placement.
• Postgraduate: most universities take applications directly on their own portal.
• Documents: transcripts, English test scores and a personal statement or SOP. See SOP for the UK.
• After your offer: ask how the placement is supported and approved, and what happens if you cannot find one.

After the Degree: Graduate Route

Graduates can apply for the Graduate Route if they meet the rules. The route lasts 2 years for applications made on or before 31 December 2026 and 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027 (placement year guide). Check the current rule on GOV.UK before applying. See is the UK still a good choice for Indian students.

Related Articles

• 1-Year Masters in the UK: Cost and Education Loan
• Visa Application Process for UK Masters
• Is the UK Still Good for Indian Students?
• SOP for the UK: Samples and Format

Planning a UK degree with a placement year? Talk to a GradRight counsellor about shortlisting universities and an education loan that covers the full course length.