Why practice placements are important
Placements are essential in meeting the statutory and professional body requirements for health programmes such as Nursing, Midwifery, Operating Department Practice, Physiotherapy and Paramedic Science.
With our courses at Hull, you’ll typically spend 50% of your degree on placement and 50% learning on campus, giving you the blend of theory and experience you’ll need for a fulfilling and rewarding career in healthcare.
Placement settings will vary depending on your area of study but could include hospitals, GP surgeries, wards, day units, the ambulance service and the wider community.
By taking on the roles and responsibilities of your placement provider, you’ll develop your professional skills and put the knowledge you’ve learned on campus into practice with real patients.
Where you could go on placement
We have partnerships with major health and social work providers across the region, with our placements provided in various settings predominantly across the HU, DN and YO postcodes.
Our team works hard to allocate students to appropriate placements based on the requirements of your programme. You will be expected to travel to placements across the whole of our region and will experience a range of working patterns including early, late, night and weekend shifts.
Uniform and expenses
Most students can claim expenses to help with the financial cost of attending your placement through the NHS Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses system. This could include car parking, accommodation, fuel, bus or train fares.
You’ll be expected to wear uniform on placement so that patients can identify you and recognise that you are a student from the University of Hull. We therefore provide you with uniform at the start of your course, free of charge, with the option to purchase extras throughout your degree.
There may be some placements where uniform is not needed, such as for some Mental Health Nursing and Learning Disability Nursing placements, and this will be communicated before the start of your placement.
How we support you
Because placements are such a key part of our programmes, we have a dedicated team to work with our practice partners and support our students while you’re on placement.
Our Professional Placements Team acts as a link between our students and placement providers. They’re responsible for organising and allocating placements, and providing guidance and support to our students, academics and practice partners. You’ll also continue to have contact with your personal tutors while on placement.
What our students say
Gynae outpatients was my first ever placement. Going into it scared and nervous would be an understatement but the full team from the cleaners to the HCA’s, nurses and consultants all made me feel welcome, valued and part of the team.Claire McPhee
Adult Nursing
The variety of learning during the placement (Paediatric Community Nursing Team) was exceptional. I have worked with children/young people with health needs that I have never seen on a ward before, so my knowledge has grown a lot.Hannah Gafney
Child Nursing
I’ve experienced rewarding days and challenging days, and all of it benefitted my learning and development by providing realistic experiences of what it’s like to actually be a nurse.Savanna Boyer
Mental Health Nursing