Students experience significant positive outcomes from international placements

12 Mar 2025

An evaluation of international placements conducted by the Placements & International Programmes Office highlights the significant positive outcomes secured by students from their time abroad.

Students reported being more adaptable and resilient as a result of their experience, having increased global awareness and intercultural competence, and seeing improvements in their academic and employability skills.

In 2023/24 a total of 1230 international placements were undertaken by University of Manchester students, including study and work placements, clinical placements, summer schools and postgraduate research placements. The evaluation was carried out in order to understand the impact of these placements on student outcomes as well as measure satisfaction rates and provide insights to help review and improve programmes. Overall satisfaction with international placements was very high with 94% of students satisfied, reporting that UoM staff were communicative, responsive and prepared them well for their placement.

The report lays out the findings from a survey, in-depth interviews and focus groups, focusing on programme delivery and four areas of student outcomes: global awareness & intercultural competency, personal development, academic skills & independent learning and careers & employability. The evaluation also considers the accessibility of programmes to students from underrepresented groups and finds that participation rates of students from socio-economically disadvantaged households, with a declared disability or from a Black ethnic background were at the same level or higher as that of the overall student population, suggesting that the University is succeeding in offering accessible international placements. Findings from the report will feed into the University’s new Access & Participation Plan.

Read the findings and find out more about international opportunities for your students

Key findings from the evaluation can be found in this summary document. If you would like to read the full report, please contact Nanna Pedley in the Placements & International Programmes Office at nanna.pedley@manchester.ac.uk

If you are looking to increase participation in mobility programmes in your area, or would like discuss specific international opportunities which could enhance educational gains for your students, please contact Nanna Pedley as above.