FAQs

Gap year students – for those wanting to travel and also return home with experience related to their future degree or career. The experience we arrange with one of our host companies will open doors to interviews with universities and future employers. 

Undergraduates – many of our interns are university undergraduate students who must complete a placement year, “sandwich year” or internship as part of their degree. They often require long durations (between 6 and 12 months) and usually start during the summer or autumn.

Graduates – we also welcome recent graduates and people with several years of work experience. They often want to gain additional skills to help develop their CV and career before settling into a permanent job. 

We accept all nationalities and degree subjects.

You can join our programme any month of the year. Tell us your ideal start date and we will agree one as close as possible.

1 to 12 months – it’s your choice.

Our short-term internships in Australia, Nepal and the UK are available for 1 to 3 months. These can fit into a summer holiday or part of a longer trip during a gap year or after graduating. 

All other placements are available for up to 12 months. These are great for people wanting to integrate into their chosen destination and host company at a deeper level. The longer you stay the more likely you are to gain extra responsibility at work, better understanding of the local culture and potential job offers from your host company.

Send your CV to info@placement-year.org to check your eligibility.

Make your CV stand out by adding international experience.

Push personal boundaries as you adapt to a different culture and potentially learn some new language skills.

Make contacts to help your future employment. We can never guarantee job offers from our partner host companies but it does happen from time to time if a host company is really impressed by an intern.

It could also be a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience life in your chosen destination – how often can you work in Sydney or on a tropical island in the Maldives?

We’re confident that all our destinations are safe places for foreigners to live and work. We take advice from the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and we have staff in the UK and in our destinations who thoroughly check arrangements before you arrive.

We only work with reputable host organisations located in safe neighbourhoods. Before you leave home we’ll send you profiles of your work and accommodation including a full work description, contact details and photos of your work supervisor, photos and a description of your accommodation and so on.

If you join as part of your degree we will help your university placement or employability office with all their health and safety documents. We brief you about safety as part of your orientation and are on hand if you have any concerns during your stay.

Australia – you must speak good English. 

China – it’s not necessary to speak Mandarin before you arrive in China. You will do a short Mandarin language course as part of our programme. This is included in the price and will be completed before starting your placement. Learning Mandarin will help you at work and in your day-to-day life in China. It’s also a fantastic language to know for the future. If you already speak Mandarin then you will study Shanghainese or Cantonese instead.

Maldives – you need to speak good English. Knowledge of Mandarin, Cantonese or other European languages are a bonus.

Thailand – you don’t need to speak any Thai to join us in Thailand. You must speak English, which is widely spoken and other languages like Mandarin, Cantonese, Russian, French or German will be useful, especially if you do a Hospitality placement where you will meet many international guests.

UK – you must speak at least good conversational English to join our host companies in the UK.

This depends where you go and what you do!

Teaching in China is paid around £1,100 / month and in teaching in Thailand around £650 / month. 

Hospitality in the Maldives, Thailand and Vietnam are paid around £200 / month and include accommodation and food so the salary covers your normal monthly social costs. 

Business in Australia, Nepal and Thailand are not paid. We can arrange flexible hours if you want a local part-time job on the side. 

Business and Hospitality in the UK are paid normal UK salaries except for the short-term UK placements which are unpaid. 

We charge a £200 Acceptance Fee when you complete our registration form to ensure you are committed to the programme. This is 100% refundable if we can’t arrange a suitable placement. Full details of our Placement Fees can be found on the Prices page.

You can read more about what’s included on our What’s Included page.

It depends on the destination and programme you choose.

Please see a full list of what’s included and not included on our Prices page – scroll down to the relevant destination and programme. 

We recommend applying several months in advance so we can confirm your place and start arranging a fabulous placement or internship.

Most people join 6 to 9 months in advance so they can relax and leave us to arrange everything for them. The minimum is normally 3-4 months but we can sometimes arrange it faster.  

If you are joining as part of your degree please check your university deadlines for confirming the placement year or internship. You should normally allow at least 1-2 months for your visa application (depends on destination).

There is limited availability because we only offer placements and internships in very good host companies so there is competition for places. The sooner you join, the sooner we can confirm your place so you can carry on with your life, knowing we are arranging everything for you. 

We keep it simple.

Step 1: Submit your CV and covering letter via our application form

Step 2: We’ll contact you to arrange a short video interview.

Step 3: If you’re suitable, we’ll confirm an internship placement with one of our partner companies and start arranging your trip.

Yes. We’ll tailor your work placement to your skills, interests and personal requirements.

All your requests will be shared with our colleagues in your chosen destination to help them arrange the type of company and role you want. If you request something impossible, we’ll give you a full refund!

Get in touch so we can discuss options with you.

The chance of getting a job offer at the end of your placement or internship really depends on the quality of your work, the relationships you develop with your colleagues and if the host company has a suitable opportunity at the right time. 

We can never guarantee a permanent job with your host company but it definitely happens from time to time. There is now an alumni of previous interns living and working in Australia, China and Thailand. 

You never know where your placement may lead!

Yes. If you join as part of a university degree, please tell us your university requirements before starting work.

We’re happy to talk to your course tutors if they need specific information. If you have to write a Final Year Project we will discuss this with you before starting your placement or internship and will make sure you are allocated time for this.