One of the most common questions we get from UK students is: "Does my university allow placements abroad?" The answer, in almost every case, is yes. But the process for getting approval varies significantly from one institution to the next, and finding clear information can be surprisingly difficult.
This list is based on direct experience. Every university listed below has had at least one student complete an international placement through our network. We have worked with their placement offices, met their requirements, and know how their approval processes work.
If your university is not on this list, it does not mean they will refuse an international placement. It simply means we have not placed a student from that institution yet. Scroll to the bottom for guidance on how to approach a university that is not listed.
How We Know
We are not guessing. We have placed hundreds of UK students in international internships since we started, and every placement requires formal approval from the student's university. That means we have direct, working relationships with placement offices across the UK.
For each university on this list, we have:
- Successfully placed at least one student in an international internship
- Provided the documentation their placement office required
- Navigated their specific approval process, including any learning agreements, risk assessments, or supervisor reporting requirements
- Received feedback from the university confirming the placement met their standards
We update this list as we work with new universities. If you complete a placement through us, your university gets added.
Russell Group Universities
The Russell Group represents 24 leading UK research universities. The following Russell Group institutions have approved international placements for their students through our network:
- University of Bath - one of the UK's strongest placement programmes. Most courses include an optional placement year, and Bath actively encourages international placements. Their placement office is experienced with overseas paperwork and Turing Scheme applications.
- University of Birmingham - offers placement years across most faculties. Birmingham's careers and placements team has a dedicated international placements coordinator who helps students navigate overseas opportunities.
- University of Bristol - supports international placements through their Year in Industry programme. Bristol has strong processes for risk assessment and learning agreements for overseas placements.
- University of Edinburgh - accepts international placements for eligible programmes. Edinburgh's approach is course-dependent, so check with your specific school or department.
- University of Exeter - actively promotes international work experience through their Professional Placement Year option. Exeter has a well-established international placements track.
- University of Glasgow - supports international placements for courses that include a work placement component. Glasgow's careers service provides guidance specific to overseas placements.
- University of Leeds - one of the largest placement year programmes in the UK. Leeds has extensive experience approving international placements and is a strong Turing Scheme participant.
- University of Liverpool - offers placement years in many faculties and accepts international placements with appropriate documentation and risk assessment.
- University of Manchester - supports international placements across most programmes. Manchester has a large international office that assists with overseas placement approvals.
- University of Nottingham - a leader in international placements, partly due to their own overseas campuses. Nottingham's placement office is highly experienced with international paperwork.
- University of Sheffield - offers placement years in many departments and has clear processes for approving international work experience.
- University of Southampton - supports international placements through their Year in Employment programme. Southampton has strong ties to industry sectors with international placement opportunities.
- University College London (UCL) - accepts international placements for eligible programmes. UCL's approach varies by department, so early conversations with your course administrator are essential.
- University of Warwick - one of the most placement-friendly Russell Group universities. Warwick actively encourages students to consider international options and has robust support systems for overseas placements.
If your Russell Group university is not on this list (for example, Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial, King's, LSE, Queen Mary, Cardiff, Durham, Newcastle, or Queen's Belfast), it does not mean they refuse international placements. Many of these institutions support them but we have not yet placed a student from every Russell Group member. Contact your placement office to ask.
Other Major Universities
Many of the UK's strongest placement programmes are at universities outside the Russell Group. These institutions often have the most structured and supportive placement year systems, with dedicated teams experienced in international placements:
- Bournemouth University - placement years are embedded into almost every course at Bournemouth. Their placement team is one of the most experienced in the country and regularly approves international placements.
- University of Brighton - supports international placements across multiple faculties. Brighton has clear documentation requirements and a straightforward approval process.
- Coventry University - known for strong employer engagement and work-integrated learning. Coventry actively supports international placement opportunities.
- De Montfort University (DMU) - has a dedicated placements team that supports international work experience. DMU is a strong Turing Scheme participant.
- University of Huddersfield - placement years are a core part of many Huddersfield courses. Their team has experience processing international placement approvals.
- Kingston University - offers placement years across most programmes and supports students seeking international opportunities with appropriate documentation.
- Northumbria University - has a strong placement programme with growing international options. Northumbria's careers team provides dedicated support for overseas placements.
- Oxford Brookes University - one of the most internationally minded post-92 universities. Oxford Brookes has well-established processes for approving placements abroad.
- University of Plymouth - supports international placements with a clear approval process. Plymouth is particularly strong in marine, environmental, and tourism-related international placements.
- University of Portsmouth - offers structured placement years with international options. Portsmouth has good experience with European and global placements.
- University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) - has a large placement programme and actively supports international work experience. UWE has clear documentation requirements.
- University of Westminster - based in central London with a highly international student body. Westminster supports international placements across their faculties.
How to Get Your University on the List
If your university is not listed above, do not assume international placements are off the table. Most UK universities will approve an overseas placement if you present it properly. Here is how to approach it:
- Start with your placement office or course leader. Ask specifically whether international placements are accepted for your programme. Get the answer in writing if possible.
- Ask what documentation they need. Most universities require a placement agreement, proof of insurance, a risk assessment, and sometimes a learning contract. Knowing this upfront saves time.
- Present a concrete plan. Universities are much more likely to approve a placement when you show them a confirmed opportunity with a reputable company, rather than a vague idea about going abroad.
- Mention the Turing Scheme. If your university participates, this gives them a financial and institutional reason to support international placements. It aligns with their own funding goals.
- Offer to share documentation templates. If your university has not approved many international placements before, they may not have the right templates. We can provide sample placement agreements, learning contracts, and risk assessments that meet standard UK university requirements.
Our complete guide to getting university approval for an overseas placement goes into much more detail on this process, including email templates you can use when approaching your placement office.
What We Provide to Universities
Part of the reason we have worked successfully with so many universities is that we handle the documentation burden. For every placement we arrange, we provide:
- Formal placement agreement: A signed document between the student, the host company, and us, confirming the placement details, dates, role description, and supervision arrangements.
- Learning agreement: If your university requires specific learning outcomes or objectives, we work with the host company to define and document these.
- Supervisor reports: We coordinate mid-placement and end-of-placement reports from your supervisor at the host company, in whatever format your university requires.
- Insurance documentation: Proof of appropriate insurance coverage for the duration of the placement, meeting your university's minimum requirements.
- Risk assessment: A destination-specific risk assessment covering health, safety, and security considerations for the country and city where you will be based.
- Turing Scheme support documentation: If you are applying for Turing funding, we provide all the paperwork your university needs to process the application.
If your university has specific requirements beyond this list, we are happy to work with them. We have never had a placement rejected because of documentation issues.
If you work in a university placement or careers office and would like to discuss how we support your students on international placements, get in touch. We are happy to provide sample documentation, discuss our vetting process, or arrange a call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my university allow placements abroad?
Most UK universities accept international placements, though the approval process varies. If your university is not on this list, it does not mean they will refuse an overseas placement. Contact your placement office or course leader to ask about their policy. Our university approval guide explains how to approach this conversation.
Will I get academic credit for an international placement?
In most cases, yes. Universities that offer a sandwich year or placement module typically award credit for international placements on the same basis as domestic ones, provided the role meets the learning outcomes defined by your course. We provide learning agreements, supervisor reports, and all documentation your university needs to approve credit. See our academic credit guide for details.
Can I get Turing Scheme funding through my university?
If your university participates in the Turing Scheme, you can apply for funding of up to £690 per month for an international work placement. Not all universities participate, and each has its own application process and deadlines. Check with your university's international or placements office. 2026-27 is the final year before the UK transitions back to Erasmus+. Our Turing Scheme guide has the full details.
What documents does my university need for an international placement?
Requirements vary, but most universities need a formal placement agreement signed by the host company, proof of insurance, a risk assessment, and sometimes a learning contract. Some require regular supervisor reports during the placement. We provide all of these as standard for every placement we arrange through our placement service.
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