Careers support
Work related learning
With our work related learning approach, we’ll support you to connect what you learn in your academic studies with real world applications.
At York St John University, we understand the value of hands on and project based experience. That's why work related learning is at the heart of our teaching.
Depending on your course, this could include field trips, work experience, responding to live briefs with employers, consultancy work, pitching business solutions, or networking with alumni.
Here are just a few examples of exciting work related projects our students have been involved in.
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Graphic Design graduate Fi won our Athena Swan design award for her creative campaign to promote gender equality at York St John. Her work has been brought to life on posters, banners, badges and more to promote the campaign. The Athena Swan Charter supports gender equality in higher education, and York St John has been accredited with a Bronze Award.
“I hope the designs connect with people. I want them to have a positive impact, inspiring people to shift from being a passive bystander to getting involved, and supporting and effecting positive change.”
Fi, Graphic Design
“As a work experience project on my course, I was part of a team who produced the first modern edition of ‘The Parrot’, a satirical, feminist periodical from 1746. l’m so grateful to have worked on this project! While Eliza Haywood is just one female writer among many still to be discussed, I’m happy we’ve played a part in sharing her work. It has definitely been challenging to balance editorial decisions with maintaining the spirit of the text, but we’ve all worked very hard to make it accessible to everyone with an interest in 18th-century literature.”
Lauren, English Literature
“Work experience opportunities have been one of the highlights of my time at York St John. I was the Administrative Director of the Takeover Festival at York Theatre Royal, took part in a Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) sustainability internship, and went to the Pagoda Projects Sustainable Global Experience in Brussels. We also had a really interesting guest lecture from an archivist and chocolate historian who was involved in developing York’s Chocolate Story.”
Megan | Events, Hospitality and Tourism Management
“I completed my placement with York City Ladies FC and gained an awful lot from being exposed to sporting settings. In my second year I aided the delivery of gym sessions for players, and worked alongside my supervisor to provide pitch side first aid at matches throughout the season. In the following year I was given the responsibility of being the Sports Therapist for the under 14 squad at the club, which was an incredibly valuable time. Through this I was responsible for assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of players who sustained injuries. I delivered gym sessions to a group and coached them through the exercises, and even led yoga sessions for the players to aid their recovery."
Jonathan, Sport and Exercise Therapy
"The highlight of my studies so far has been the Settings Other Than Schools placement in my second year; I was placed at the National Railway Museum for a week. I learnt about the role of museum educators, including the school programmes they run, sensory storytelling, and how to make object handling exciting. I enjoyed it so much that I was able to go back to volunteer during their half-term programme Future Engineers.
A large part of every year is spent on placements, with our responsibilities building up each year. By the third year we are essentially acting as a class teacher, taking 80% of the timetable. Sometimes students are even asked to apply for jobs in their placement schools!"
Sarah, Primary Education
York Business School staff on work related learning
Work related experiential learning is a key part of studying at York St John University and prepares you for success after graduation. Hear from our students about the opportunities it has led to for them and our staff about how it is embedded in our courses.
Work related learning in our BSL course
Amanda Smith, Associate Lecturer, explains how work related learning is an important aspect of our British Sign Language, Deaf Studies and Linguistics course.
