As part of the Suffolk Business School we want to position ourself as a hub for developing graduates who are ‘business ready’, we have introduced an optional sandwich year between Levels 5 and 6 of the following courses:
- BA (Hons) Business Management
- BA (Hons) Event and Marketing Management
- BA (Hons) Event and Tourism Management
- BA (Hons) Marketing Management
This distinct proposition will allow you to complete work experience, internships, placements and/or study abroad as an integral part of your course and will provide you with an invaluable opportunity to put theory into real-life practice.
There are three possible options for the sandwich year:
- spending the whole year in a professional placement setting (or settings)
- spending the whole year undertaking study abroad
- spending half of the year in a professional placement setting and the remainder of the year undertaking study abroad.
Benefits of a professional placement
Work-based learning provides a valuable opportunity to ensure that you are equipped with the skills and knowledge to succeed in your future career. For those of you seeking to stand out from the crowd after graduation, the benefits of a professional placement include:
- Acquisition and development of vocational skills and knowledge
- Analysis of employability skills
- Opportunity to apply knowledge gained on the course to work
- Informs course content in an applied context
- To introduce and develop the concepts of personal and professional development and encourage you to take individual responsibility in your own development planning
- Networking to support future career opportunities
- Broadens the curriculum experience
- Greater motivation for academic studies
- A reference from your placement provider to support job applications for your future career in the business sector
Benefits of study abroad
In a time of increasing emphasis on ‘graduate attributes’ (the skills, knowledge and attributes that employers are looking for) and ‘global citizenship’ (people with a broad viewpoint and awareness of their own and other cultures), study abroad is a great opportunity for you to spread your wings and open your hearts and minds whilst enjoying a prolonged immersion into a different world that is the host country. The benefits of participating in study abroad include:
- Developing relevant, marketable skills – problem-solving, communication, self-reliance, patience and perseverance, determination, self-motivation, flexibility, ‘cultural capital’
- Academic or subject-related reasons – experience a different academic environment and way of teaching and learning
- Enhanced career prospects – employers more likely to choose you if you have additional experiences other than just your degree
- Language and culture – opportunity to be genuinely immersed into another culture rather than just being a traveller
- Personal development – increased confidence and ability to deal with new or difficult situations and unfamiliar surroundings
- Contacts – build worldwide relationships that can last a lifetime and benefit you in years to come
- Enjoyment – 99% of students that have studied abroad say that it is the best year of their lives!
Above all, the benefits are in personal growth, enjoyment of discovery, lasting international friendships and a heightened awareness of the global community.
Requirements for undertaking a sandwich year
You must confirm your intentions for the sandwich year by the end of December in your second year of study. This deadline is designed to allow you sufficient time to organise and gain approval for your intended professional placement and/or period of study abroad, particularly if you are intending to apply for funding for study abroad.
Eligibility criteria for sandwich year with professional placement
In order to register for the sandwich year with professional placement, you must have successfully completed 120 credits at Level 4 and attained an overall average Level 4 mark of at least 50%.
To progress to the professional placement at the end of Level 5, you must have:
- successfully completed all 120 credits at Level 5 (you cannot commence your professional placement with outstanding deferred or referred assessment)
- secured approval for the professional placement setting
Eligibility criteria for sandwich year with study abroad
In order to register for a sandwich year incorporating a full year of study abroad, you must have successfully completed 120 credits at Level 4 and attained an overall average Level 4 mark of at least 50%. Achieving an overall average level mark of at least 50% means you are eligible to apply for study abroad, but it does not guarantee that you'll be selected to study abroad at one of your preferred destinations.
To progress to the year of study abroad at the end of Level 5, you must have:
- successfully completed all 120 credits at Level 5 (you cannot commence your study abroad with outstanding deferred or referred assessment)
- met the language requirements of the host institution (where the language of delivery and assessment is not English)
- been allocated a place at one of your preferred universities
Eligibility criteria for sandwich year with professional placement and study abroad
In order to register for a sandwich year incorporating a professional placement and study abroad, you must have successfully completed 120 credits at Level 4 and attained an overall average Level 4 mark of at least 50%. Achieving an overall average mark of at least 50% means you are eligible to apply to study abroad, but it does not guarantee that you'll be selected to study abroad at one of your preferred destinations.
To progress to the sandwich year at the end of Level 5, you must have:
- successfully completed all 120 credits at Level 5 (you cannot commence your study abroad or professional placement with outstanding deferred or referred assessment)
- secured approval for your professional placement setting
- met the language requirements of the host institution for your study abroad (where the language of delivery and assessment is not English)
- been allocated a place at one of your preferred universities for study abroad