Supporting you into work
We’re ranked a top 10 university for work experience (RateMyPlacement Awards 2023) and our Employability team offer personalised support to you from day one. Once you have enrolled at NTU you can talk to our Career Coaches and complete a 'Welcome to Employability’ programme to discover how we can support you to build your confidence, skills and experience.
All of our degrees have work-like experience built in and we partner with over 2,000 companies for work placements, internships, company projects, part-time work, volunteering opportunities, and graduate jobs. As an NTU student you can talk to our dedicated Employability team for help and advice at every step of the way.
You can also access career support for up to three years after graduation (and forever online!), and our Graduate Employment Promise provides a paid internship if you are unemployed 12 months after graduation.
We have Employability Hubs at our City, Clifton, Brackenhurst and Mansfield campuses. We offer one-to-one support, as well as extensive online support. This includes live chat and online drop-in appointments.
How we help students find jobs
Whatever course you’re studying, you’ll have the chance to test and grow your skills in the workplace. When you meet with graduate employers, you’ll have more than just a qualification; you’ll have relevant, hands-on industry experience, and access to our huge network of companies and partners.
We provide tools and personalised support through every stage of the job-hunting and career-building process. That’s everything from writing up your CV or LinkedIn profile to job applications and interview practice.
We have developed a national and international reputation for the quality of our graduates. Study with us, and you’ll get a professional head-start with our global network of employers who attend our job fairs on campus, giving you the chance to meet and present yourself face-to-face.
Nottingham also has a vibrant graduate recruitment market and we work closely with organisations within the region to retain our talent and provide exciting opportunities on your doorstep.
We’ve been supporting our students with their self-employment ideas since 2001, helping more than 400 start-ups into existence. If you’ve got the energy and ideas to forge your own professional path, NTU Enterprise — our purpose-built centre for entrepreneurship — can help turn your business dreams into a reality.
Our job fairs are held throughout the year, giving you the chance to talk to leading companies and organisations from around the world looking to recruit NTU students. Discover opportunities, network, and promote yourself to potential employers
The Employability team also run workshops and employer sessions every week to help prepare you for your next steps, improve your employability skills and knowledge and gain exclusive industry insight.
Build up your work experience while getting some precious funds on board through our JobShop and Unitemps teams. JobShop is a great resource for finding paid work in and around the city, with hundreds of opportunities across a huge range of sectors.
Unitemps is our in-house provider for all casual work at NTU. With a wide variety of part-time roles on offer — from student ambassadors, to supporting NTU's own marketing campaigns, we'll help you to find the opportunities that best suit your own development, as you build the skills that matter.
Our online portal for graduate opportunities, vacancies and careers resources — offering exclusive access to a huge range of employers and organisations, all looking to recruit NTU students and graduates. The positions on offer include graduate jobs, internships, placements, and much more.
Our support doesn’t end when you graduate. As an NTU student you will be entitled to dedicated graduate employability support for up to three years after you complete your studies. You’ll have access to exclusive events, initiatives and work experience opportunities to support you in the early stages of your graduate career.
Work experience
All of our courses come with embedded work-like experience — things like live projects, briefs, and professional competitions.
Whatever the subject, we work closely with industry leaders to ensure that what you’re learning is what employers expect to see. When you meet with graduate employers, you’ll have more than just a qualification; you’ll have relevant, hands-on industry experience, and access to our huge network of companies and partners.
Develop new skills, make professional contacts and get on the path to success with our different types of work experience.
Top 10 University for Work Experience (RateMyPlacement Awards 2023) – this ranking demonstrates our commitment to providing exceptional opportunities for our students in their chosen fields.
The Employability podcast
Working On It is the official NTU Employability podcast, offering great advice from special guests including NTU students and alumni.
Employability Awards — make your experience count
Experience counts to employers and there are lots of ways to gain it outside of your course.
Our Developing with NTU Award offers you flexibility to create an award that works for you. It can encompass all the things you do as an NTU student. This includes employability-related activities and experiences, as well as commitments external to NTU, such as part-time jobs and volunteering.
You can also supplement your learning and development with our specialised Employability Awards. These focus on key themes and experiences like:
- Enterprise
- Sustainability
- Digital
- Global.
For each of these, you’ll work towards a bronze, silver or gold award. The more you do, the higher you can achieve, and they look great on your CV.
Students in Classrooms
Be a positive role model, make a difference to local young people. Our Students in Classrooms programme is an innovative scheme that puts NTU students alongside teachers in primary and secondary schools, academies and colleges.
The programme aims to help raise attainment levels, develop pupil character, and raise awareness about the opportunities that are available post-16 and within higher education.
Rise — supporting success for all
We want all our students to enjoy the same level of success both during and after their studies. Our Rise team was created to enable eligible students to fulfil their potential and have the same opportunities to access valuable industry experience and skills as their peers.
Students who meet any of the below criteria can access support from Rise.
Postcode
Students from postcode areas where progression into higher education is low.
Low-income households
Students who are:
- entitled to the maximum tuition fee and maintenance loan from student finance, and
- are in receipt of the NTU Bursary.
Disability
Students in receipt of Disabled Student’s Allowance (DSA).
Care leavers
Students who have formerly been in local authority or foster care.
University entry qualifications
Students who have entered university with BTEC qualifications only.
The following information is correct as of November 2022. Funds are subject to change.
Rise Work Experience Fund
Funding of up to £400 is available to help with the costs of undertaking unpaid work experience. The work experience must take place during NTU vacation periods.
Rise Progression Fund
Funding of up to £100 is available to help with the costs of attending recruitment activities. These can include formal placements, graduate opportunities, and postgraduate study.
Rise PLAN (Placement Learning Academy NTU)
A specially developed programme designed to support second-year students seeking sandwich placements. This intensive programme aims to:
- boost your confidence and resilience
- make you more commercially aware
- give you the vital skills to succeed in recruitment processes.
Rise Disability support
Dedicated employability support for students with a:
- disability
- neurodivergence
- long-term health condition.
Exclusive events and opportunities
These are available throughout the academic year for eligible students.
NTU Graduate Employment Promise
NTU will provide you with tailored support and advice to ensure you’ll graduate with everything you need for a competitive edge in your career. If you find that you’re not in employment 12 months after graduation, we provide a package of support that offers you a guaranteed short paid internship giving you the confidence and experience to kickstart your graduate career.
If you have any questions about the Employability team and our career services, you can chat with us on our live chat.
Find out more about...
Work experience
All of our courses, across every subject area, offer you a vocational work experience opportunity.
Student life
Explore student life at NTU, and discover what makes Nottingham a top student city.
Accessing Employability Services
Current students can visit our StudentHub pages to access NTU Employability services.