Working Gap Year numbers bounce back but student attitudes have changed

The paid gap year, run by education charity EDT, is seeing increases of over 45% in applications from pre-university students, with a core recruitment period still ahead. However, the National Director for ‘The Year in Industry’, Chris Ward reports that the high cost of university degrees is still a major factor, prompting a more focused attitude from applicants.

Ward says, “We are finding that there are three main motivators for our applicants this year, all of which reflect the tougher environment for students. The first motivation is recognition that a good degree is no longer enough and that work experience is crucial if they are to access good careers. Allied to this is an awareness that many top employers draw substantially from those students that they have seen already on work placements, internships and gap years. Many of these employers take students through ‘The Year in Industry’.

"The second motivation is that students are keen to be able to win sponsorship for their degrees. Typically around a quarter of students completing ‘The Year in Industry’ attract support for their degrees from the companies they have been working with. As well as the salary that this gap year attracts, applicants are looking for this potential extra income from sponsorship or other support to help defray the cost of a degree.

"The final motivation, which we are seeing particularly strongly this year, is that students want to be absolutely certain about the degree that they are applying for. Within broad subject areas there are a wide range of alternative degrees and students are making sure that they are matching their degree choice to the commercial realities they see on their working gap year. Many students decide to apply for their degree during their gap year rather than secure a deferred entry earlier on. This ensures they have some commercial insights before they make their degree choice.”

‘The Year in Industry’ are the UK's leading student placement experts providing high-quality, paid placements for students in their gap year before or during their degree course. Placements are made in all areas of engineering, science, IT, e-commerce, business, marketing, finance and logistics with over 300 top UK companies every year including National Grid, Shell, Rolls Royce, British Energy, L’Oreal, Centrica and GKN.

Ward says “We have seen a step change in the approach that students are taking to university and their future careers. They are taking a much more hard headed approach to maximising their career prospects and to ensuring they get maximum value out of their degrees. These changes have been driven by the cost of gaining a degree, a cost which they now seen as an investment on which there must be a good return.”

 

About the Year in Industry

The Year in Industry (YINI) is the UK’s leading student placement expert.

We provide high-quality, paid, degree relevant placements for students in their gap year before or during their degree course.  The scheme specialises in placements for students interested in all areas of engineering, science, IT, e-commerce, business, marketing, finance and logistics. Students are carefully matched with companies throughout the UK and placements generally run over a 9-12 month period in line with the academic year.

Why YINI?

We place students with 300 top UK companies every year including Shell, Rolls Royce, British Energy, L’Oreal, Centrica and AstraZeneca.

Students 

All our placements give students the skills and knowledge employers are looking, the experience will help them make the most of university – and earn while they learn.

Teachers & Parents

YINI guarantees that students are set on the fast track to their future career.  At this crucial stage of their education students have many decisions to make about going to university and the merits of a gap year placement. Finding out more about YINI will help with these important decisions.

75% of YINI students go straight into employment after graduation

25% of YINI students in recent years are being sponsored through university

About EDT

The EDT is the leading organisation working to inspire young people into careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through business/education links. Having worked in this area for 25 years and having national reach, EDT is expert in encouraging students to focus on the opportunities that STEM careers can offer. The EDT is the largest partner for schools, colleges, and businesses looking to encourage STEM courses and careers.  EDT Programmes include First Edition, Go4SET, Open Industry, Headstart, Engineering Education Scheme and The Year in Industry

Informing Choice

The EDT works in partnership with schools, colleges, universities and businesses to allow students from the age of twelve through to graduate level to interact with people in businesses that rely on STEM skills, providing them with the insights and role models that will allow them to make informed subject choices at GSCE, A Level and degree level. Programmes can be as short as one day or as long as a year and currently engage almost 30,000 students each year. The EDT has a strong base of evidence showing the effectiveness of these programmes in influencing students towards STEM choices and, given the right support, aspires to engage twice this number of students in STEM activities to inform their career choices.

Widening participation

The EDT is particularly keen to engage hard to reach groups including girls, children from ethnic minorities, and children in families where they are the first to be able to pursue courses and careers in STEM subjects. For this reason a range of “widening participation” programmes have been developed for these groups alongside the EDT’s core programmes.