Module Information

This module provides students with an opportunity to engage in a period of placement in an organisation or business equivalent to a minimum of 36 weeks, and to gain first-hand experience of professional arts practice. Depending on the specific placement, this might involve theatre management, administration, or marketing, arts or event management, theatre or festival producing, theatre making (incl. devising, performing, directing, or playwriting), stage management or technical production, or independent artistic practice.
During the placement, students will have an opportunity to acquire and develop personal and professional skills, and to make links between their degree studies and professional contexts. The module aims to develop students’ ability to recognise and reflect upon the skills they build in the workplace, to enhance their ability, and to capitalise on that experience. Students will not be directly assessed on the placement, but on their reflection on the placement experience.

With the assistance of the Careers Service and the module leader, students will seek and secure appropriate full time employment (paid or unpaid) equivalent to a minimum of 36 weeks. During this time they will be expected to gain extensive experience of the workplace through undertaking a professional working role. Before the placement commences, students will be assigned an academic supervisor and, in consultation with the supervisor, will set guidelines and objectives for the placement. During the placement students will be monitored and guided by means of email and telephone communication (or electronic means such as Skype) and a visit (mainland UK only) from the academic supervisor. Students will submit three pieces of coursework during the placement in which they will contextualise and investigate the organisation or company they are working for and reflect on their personal and professional development. An employer’s report will form a compulsory part of their final assessment, but will not be directly assessed.
During Years 1 and 2, all students will be briefed about the module (via online notices, a presentation and the tutorial system) and about the need to identify suitable work or voluntary opportunities. The placement should be equivalent to 36 weeks of full-time, approved employment, to be completed over a 12 month period following successful completion of Year 2 and prior to commencing the Final Year (Year 4). Placements will be assessed and approved on a case-by-case basis by the module coordinator (and appropriate checks made on health and safety aspects and insurance cover). The aim is to accept as broad a range of opportunities as possible in line with the stated academic aims of the module and the student’s programme of study.