Have you ever heard of sandwich courses? Well, in the recent trends, sandwich courses are something that has gained popularity among international students. From combining academic learning with real-world work experience, these courses are the new reality in UK. These courses include a paid or unpaid internship usually taken between the second and final year of your studies. To make it more clear, we have penned down this blog for a detailed guidance on the top UK universities offering sandwich courses. After all, Uninist is the student hub to find everything, from information to student accommodation. So, let’s get right into it!
What is a Sandwich Course in UK?
Starting with the basics, here is what do we mean by sandwich courses in UK for students:
- Meaning: A sandwich course is a degree programme with an integrated placement year, this internship usually lasts 9-12 months and the placement is completed between year 2 and year 3. This sandwich course is commonly available in business, engineering, IT, media, and science courses.
- Why it is popular: These courses are popular because students gain practical industry exposure and it enhances CV and employability rate as well of students. This not only helps you gain knowledge but also makes you understand UK work culture and increases chances of post-study job offers.
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What Are the Benefits of Studying a Sandwich Courses with Internship?
Here are the top reasons to study sandwich courses in UK:
- High Academics: They apply classroom knowledge to real business situations and provide better understanding of industry-specific challenges with improved final-year academic performance.
- Endless Career Opportunities: The career benefit of sandwich courses is that they provide 1 year of UK work experience before graduation with strong networking with employers. It has a higher employability after course completion and even some internships are paid which helps in covering living costs
- Visa and Further Education: The internships are allowed under student route visa and strengthens the profile for graduate route jobs. The employers always prefer candidates with UK placement experience.
Which Are the Top Universities Offering Sandwich Courses with Internships?
There are many universities offering sandwich courses with internships. Some of the top UK universities include:
- University of Manchester
- Manchester Metropolitan University(MMU)
- University of Leeds
- University of Birmingham
- University of Nottingham
- University of Sheffield
- Coventry University
- Northumbria University
- University of Surrey
University of Manchester
- Why University of Manchester: It is ranked among the top UK universities globally with strong industry connections across sectors and dedicated Careers & Employability Service.
- Popular Sandwich Courses Offered: The popular courses are BSc Management (industrial experience), BEng Mechanical Engineering with placement, Computer Science with industrial experience, and Business Analytics with professional placement.
- Internship Support: Help with CVs, interviews, and placement search and have Partnerships with multinational companies with a strong Alumni network support.
Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU)
- Why MMU Is Ideal: It is known for practical and career-focused education with strong links with local and national employers and has a high placement success rate.
- Popular Courses with Internship: Popular courses are BA Business Management with placement, BSc Marketing with professional placement, BSc Computer Science with industrial placement, and BA Fashion Business with placement year.
- Key Advantage: Affordable tuition compared to Russell Group universities and excellent support for international students.
University of Leeds
- Reputation & Industry Exposure: The university is a member of the Russell Group and has strong employer partnerships across the UK.
- Top Sandwich Courses: BSc Accounting & Finance with industrial placement, BEng Electrical Engineering with placement, BSc Economics with professional placement, and Management with industrial experience.
- Placement Highlights: Placements with top firms like Deloitte, PwC, HSBC and career mentoring throughout the internship year.
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University of Birmingham
- Why Birmingham Stands Out: It is globally recognised Russell Group university with excellent graduate employability outcomes.
- Courses Offering Placement Year: Business Management with industrial placement, Mechanical Engineering with placement, Computer Science with year in industry, and International Business with placement.
- Internship Benefits: Strong employer branding on CV and support from Birmingham’s careers team.
University of Nottingham
- Academic Excellence & Practical Learning: Top-ranked for business and engineering and Strong global employer network.
- Popular Sandwich Degrees: Management with placement year, Finance, Accounting & Management with placement, Engineering courses with industrial experience, and Data Science with professional placement.
- Internship Opportunities: Paid placements common and opportunities in UK and international companies.
University of Sheffield
- Why Choose Sheffield: The university is known for engineering and technical courses and has strong research-industry collaboration.
- Sandwich Courses Offered: Mechanical Engineering with placement, Electrical Engineering with industrial experience, Business Management with placement, and Computer Science with year in industry.
- Placement Support: They have dedicated placement officers and pre-placement training workshops.
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Coventry University
- Career-Focused Education: It is famous for industry-aligned programmes and has a high emphasis on employability.
- Courses with Sandwich Option: International Business with placement, Automotive Engineering with placement, Digital Marketing with professional practice, and IT & Cyber Security with placement.
- Key Advantage: One of the best universities for placement support and strong employer engagement.
Northumbria University
- Why Northumbria Is Popular Among International Students: The university is popular among students is because of their excellent employability rankings and has a strong focus on practical learning.
- Popular Sandwich Courses: Business Management with placement, MSc International Marketing with internship, Computer Science with professional placement, and Engineering courses with industrial experience
- Internship Support: Career guidance throughout the placement year and good record of paid internships.
University of Surrey
- Known for Employability: They consistently rank high for graduate outcomes and have strong corporate partnerships.
- Sandwich courses Offered: Business Management with placement, Economics with industrial placement, Engineering with Professional training year, and Hospitality & Tourism with placement
- Placement Advantage: One of the longest-running placement programmes in UK with a strong employer reputation.
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What is the Eligibility Criteria for Sandwich Courses in UK?
There are some eligibility criteria for sandwich courses in UK. Here are those:
- Academic requirement: The criteria is obviously the academic requirements which are completion of class 12 for UG or PG degree and good academic records.
- English language requirements: You will need a score of IELTs between 6.0-6.5 overall and some universities even accept duolingo or PTE.
- Placement year requirements: The students must apply for placements separately and the performance you show in first and second year matters. Also, strong CV and interview skills are required.
Conclusion
The sandwich courses with internships are one of the best study options in UK for international students right now. Some of the top universities like University of Manchester, University of Birmingham, University of Leeds, etc are offering these sandwich courses with string placement support. While these courses take an extra year, the career advantages, employability boost, and the industry exposure makes this course very valuable and worth it.
FAQ
Which universities in the UK provide sandwich courses?
The universities in the UK that provide sandwich courses are:
1. University of Manchester
2. Manchester Metropolitan University(MMU)
3. University of Leeds
4. University of Birmingham
5. University of Nottingham
6. University of Sheffield
7. Coventry University
8. Northumbria University
9. University of Surrey
What is a sandwich course?
The sandwich course is basically a degree programme with an integrated placement year, this internship usually lasts 9-12 months and the placement is completed between year 2 and year 3.
Is doing a sandwich course from the UK expensive?
Doing a sandwich course from the UK is not typically expensive but it can cost more than the standard degree because it is one year longer than the regular degree. This is not a concern though because the placement year often balances the cost.
Is the sandwich course something new?
Yes, sandwich course is something new introduced in the education sector and it is slightly different from the standard degree.


