Opportunities during your degree

There are many options for work experience and placements. You can also apply to study abroad in year 3.

Study Abroad

When studying with us, you can apply to do your third year abroad. Our students go all over the world and have an amazing time.

Christian went to Texas, USA

"My courses are going well and I'm very excited for spring break next week as I'm heading down to Mexico to go fishing with a few friends. The picture is from when I went on a trip to a national park right out in the west of Texas called Big Bend national park. There were incredible landscapes, wildlife and we had lots of fun."

Maria went to Melbourne, Australia

"My favourite thing about being in Melbourne is that not a weekend goes by that there isn't a festival, street market or event that I want to go to. I love how welcoming and inclusive Melbournians are, the amazing foodie culture and the Australian tradition of having BBQs and parties at the beach every other week."

Looking out from the front seat of a car, you can see the dashboard and a long straight road ahead.
Student sat looking at the view, there are hills and forest and a valley with cliffs.

Student exchanges are managed by the Study and Work Away Service at the University of Edinburgh. Find out more about applications and where you can go on their website.

Student exchanges

Work experience

You will have opportunities for work experience, both in the UK and abroad, during holiday periods. You can arrange this yourself, or with help from the University's Careers Service.

This work experience could include:

  • working in a variety of sectors
  • completing an internship in a research lab or in industry
  • conducting fieldwork
  • volunteering

MyCareerHub is a website run by the Careers Service exclusively for current students and recent graduates of the University of Edinburgh. Many opportunities are advertised on this site and there are lots of resources to help with applications, interviews and personal development too.

Careers Service

Year-long placements

Employers seek a diverse range of skills and experience in the graduates they employ. Placements help you to develop valuable transferable skills that can be applied in numerous job sectors.

MBiol programme

We offer a 5 year integrated Masters programme known as an MBiol. If you choose to study this programme, your final year will focus on an independent research project. This could be with one of our industrial partners or at a university in the UK or abroad.

MBiol programme Degree Finder

Additional year out for a placement

Some students can apply for a placement of up to 12 months between years 3 and 4 of the degree. An industrial placement year can offer invaluable work experience, but it is independent of your studies and does not contribute towards the final degree classification. Each year we support a small number of students to find and apply for opportunities. In the past this has varied from an internship with a large pharmaceutical company to volunteering at a wildlife conservation centre in Africa. 

If you apply for a placement, are successful at interview, and wish to accept a 12 month placement, you would take what is known as an interruption of studies. You would then return to the University of Edinburgh to complete your studies after the placement year. 

There are complexities involved in taking an interruption of studies for international students studying at the University on a Student Visa. Visa advice for international students can be provided by the Student Immigration Service.

Student Immigration Service

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