Careers and Employability Service
Services for current students

Nottingham Micro-placements

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Two-week micro-placements from the Careers Service, powered by Practera.

You will be part of a small team of Nottingham students partnered with a real business on a short, impactful project designed to build your professional confidence, expand your skillset, and give you something powerful to talk about on your CV or LinkedIn.

The Practera app supports you along the way, keeping you on track with your project milestones.

*final year and/or 1-year Masters students will have priority should applications be over-subscribed. 

Express your interest

Complete the form above to receive updates and be alerted when applications open.

 

"It was incredibly rewarding, both professionally and personally. The programme gave me the chance to step in to a leadership role, apply project management strategies in a real-world context and collaborate with a diverse team"

 

96%

of students say they will reference their experience in their next interview

89%

of students enhanced their social and professional networks post programme

200+

students participated in the 2024/25 programme

 

How do I apply for a micro-placement?

You’ll apply to one of two streams then rank your top three themes within that stream.

How to apply

Applications are made through a short application form.

In the form, you will:

  1. Select your stream (you can only apply to one)

  2. View and rank your top three themes

  3. Indicate a preference for UK or overseas businesses

  4. Confirm that you can attend all required orientation sessions and programme dates

 

Business, strategy and growth stream

From crafting effective growth strategies and navigating international markets to mastering funding and finance, building strong talent and culture, and leveraging data analysis for smarter decisions — this is your opportunity to gain the skills and insights that drive success in today’s global economy.

5 themes to chose from:

  • Growth strategy
  • International business
  • Funding and finance
  • Talent and culture
  • Data analysis
 

Technology, innovation and impact stream

Dive into sustainable impact, public policy, megatrends, technology innovation, and data analysis to understand how ideas become solutions and how innovation drives change. Build the knowledge and skills to influence progress in a rapidly evolving world.

5 themes to chose from:

  • Sustainable impact
  • Public policy
  • Megatrends
  • Technology innovation
  • Data analysis
 

What do I need to know about the micro-placements?

Micro-placements timeline


  • Applications open - Monday 23 February
  • Applications close - Sunday 15 March
  • Onboarding - Wednesday 25 March 
  • Orientation workshop (mandatory) - Wednesday 8 April, 11am - 12.15pm
  • Project briefing workshops (mandatory) - Monday 13 April 11am - 12.15pm
  • Micro-placements running - Monday 13 April – Sunday 26 April
 

What should I expect from the micro-placement?

During the programme, you will operate as a virtual student consultant team.

Your team will: 

  • receive a project brief and collaborate to understand your industry client’s context 

  • be supported by a mentor, who will provide advice and feedback on all your key deliverables 

  • present your findings and recommendations in a professional report and final presentation

You will need to: 

  • operate as an effective team member 
  • commit 25 hours per week over the two-week experience 
  • attend a virtual launch/orientation event 
  • attend a project briefing with your mentor and industry client  
  • attend weekly project workshops
  • share your deliverables with the industry client 

You will receive:

  • extra-curricular experience in supporting a real organisation on a real project.
  • a digital certificate upon completion
  • support to reflect on the experience, when adding it to your CV and LinkedIn profile

*Ethical and responsible use of AI will be central to how your team collaborates and delivers solutions for your client—ensuring innovation is balanced with integrity and impact.

"the blend of practical experience, mentorship and the opportunity to collaborate on complex projects has left me feeling well-equipped for future leadership roles and more prepared in today’s competitive job market"

 

 

Frequently asked questions

Do I get to choose the project I work on?
No, projects will be assigned to teams. We ensure clients submit projects that are interesting and achievable within the programme timeframe.
 
Do I get to choose my team?
No, all teams will be assigned randomly to allow for diversity to occur.  
 
Who will be my industry client and mentor be?
Your industry client will be a UK or international organisation. You can express your preference for project themes and UK v.s. international employers in your application form, but we cannot guarantee a perfect fit. Your mentor will be a professional with three or more years business experience, who has volunteered to coach your team through this experience.  
 
Will the project be related to my degree?
It could be, but if it isn’t, that’s fine too. The projects are structured in a way where you do not need specific technical knowledge. The main goal is to develop your employability skills through a professional project experience. The projects are structured in a way where you do not need specific technical knowledge. 
 
Will I be paid to work on this project?
No, you will not be paid to work on this project. This is first and foremost a learning experience.  
 
Can I skip the orientation and briefing session?
No, the sessions are compulsory. They are where you will meet your team, mentor and client. Students who do not attend without providing prior notice by emailing microplacements@nottingham.ac.uk may be removed from the programme.  
 
Do I get recognition for taking part?
You will receive a digital badge which can be displayed on LinkedIn upon completion of the project, as long as you have met all programme requirements (time commitment and active participation). 
 
Do I need to register with the Practera platform before the induction session?
Once you’ve been selected to take part in the programme, Practera will send you a registration link in order to access the platform. You will be invited onto the platform two weeks ahead of orientation to complete your enrolment.  
 
Do I have to be in the country?
No. This programme is suitable for remote working conditions with fully virtual industry and team engagement, so you aren’t required to be physically in the country to participate. You will be required to use Zoom to engage with the programme. 
 
What if I have other commitments such as a part-time job?
It is fine if you have a part-time job, but you must be able to commit a minimum of 50 hours of work on the project over the two weeks of the programme. You will need to coordinate with your team to ensure that you’re able to attend meetings and contribute equally to all deliverables.  
 
What support will I receive?
You will have access to project learning instructions, content and collaboration functionality through the Practera platform. Each team will also be assigned a mentor who will meet with you weekly to support your research and report writing. 
 

Please be aware that study abroad, compulsory Year Abroad, optional placements/internships and integrated year in industry opportunities may change at any time for a number of reasons, including curriculum developments, changes to arrangements with partner universities or placement/industry hosts, travel restrictions or other circumstances outside of the university's control. Every effort will be made to update this information as quickly as possible should a change occur.

 

In partnership with

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Careers and Employability Service

University of Nottingham
Portland Building, Level D
University Park
Nottingham, NG7 2RD

email: careers-team@nottingham.ac.uk