Science and the Environment
At the University of Newcastle, career-ready placements enable you to work directly with industry and community partners by undertaking a placement relevant to your area of study through your degree.
Placements are a compulsory requirement for graduation for those students commencing from 2023. This practical experience is critical in helping graduates transition into the workforce upon completion of their degrees by providing the opportunity to apply theory into practice within an industry setting.
What you need to do
Career-ready placements allow students to integrate real-world skills and experience with theoretical concepts and knowledge obtained during their studies.
As a compulsory requirement for graduation, you will complete a minimum 140-hour placement within the third year of your study. By undertaking supervised placement, you will apply knowledge developed throughout your studies and acquire new knowledge and professional networks to support your career readiness.
There will be a variety of opportunities available to acquire a placement in your desired career field. These opportunities are available through a range of private business, government, not-for-profit organisations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME's), and start-ups.
The table below shows which compulsory course you need to take for your degree. These courses are predominately student-driven courses, and you are encouraged to organise your own placement opportunity in a field related to your studies and interests. If you have the opportunity to find your own placement, take the initiative and organise your experience as soon as you can.
Note that placements are to be developed with – and be contingent on – the approval of the relevant Course Coordinator.
| Degree | Compulsory Placement Course |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Biotechnology | BTEC3251 Biotechnology Placement |
| Bachelor of Climate Science and Adaptation | ENVS3008 Work Integrated Learning in the Environmental and Development Sectors |
| Bachelor of Coastal and Marine Science | ENVS3008 Work Integrated Learning in the Environmental and Development Sectors |
| Bachelor of Development Studies | ENVS3008 Work Integrated Learning in the Environmental and Development Sectors |
| Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management | ENVS3008 Work Integrated Learning in the Environmental and Development Sectors |
| Bachelor of Food Science and Human Nutrition | FSHN3500 Professional Practice |
| Bachelor of Science | SCIE3002 WIL for the Sciences |
SONIA
SONIA is The University of Newcastle’s placement management system. The software supports you in managing your placement quickly and easily. For any enquiries related to SONIA, contact the Professional Experience Unit for the College of Engineering, Science and Environment (CESE-PEU@newcastle.edu.au).
Insurance
If you are undertaking approved, unpaid workplace experience, you are covered for personal accident and public liability insurance under university insurance. For further clarification, please contact the University’s Insurance Team (insurance@newcastle.edu.au).
Student Manuals and Policy Information
The student manuals contain all the information regarding placement and must be read thoroughly. Please refer to the College of Engineering, Science and Environment Professional Experience website for more information regarding the placement requirements of your degree.
You must also read the Student Professional Experience Policy, Student Conduct Rule and Code of Conduct to understand your responsibilities while completing your placement.
Sourcing your experience
Now you understand the requirements of a career-ready placement experience, the next step is to prepare yourself to connect with employers. To do so, you will need to put together a strong application to ensure you stand out in a competitive job market.
CareerHub is the university's online job board that links you with industry and provides you with resources to help you with job-seeking.
On CareerHub you can find resources and tools to help you:
- Refine your job search
- Write a job application
- Prepare for an interview
- Develop a LinkedIn profile
- Learn more about an industry
Being confident and well prepared is essential when approaching a potential employer.
As a student, you aren’t expected to know everything. However, doing preliminary research, going in with a positive attitude, and taking initiative will go a long way. Try to find the best contact person in the organisation and approach them directly.
Here are our top tips for approaching employers:
- Use LinkedIn: Complete a search on LinkedIn, using the organisation name and browsing the listed employee with a title that mentions ‘Human Resources’, ‘Hiring Manager’, ‘Recruitment Specialist’, ‘Talent Acquisition' or other similar titles related to the Human Resources function.
- Find the right contact: If you are unable to find the most appropriate person, call the general contact phone number. In the call, ask if there is a specific contact you can speak with about a work placement opportunity within the organisation.
- Contacting via email: Keep your email concise, direct, courteous, and professional. You may find this resource helpful as a guide.
- Contacting via phone: Make sure you look and sound professional. Prepare your spiel ahead of time and be sure to show your passion and interest for the organisation. A Zoom or Skype call can be a great alternative to a phone call and can add a level of personalisation.
- Keep a record: It’s essential to keep yourself organised by keeping track of who you contacted and the status of the conversation. This will be particularly helpful if you’re asked to call back or follow up via email. This Prospective Host Communication Tracker (EXCEL, 21KB)
can help you stay on track.
When sourcing your career-ready placement experience, you may be asked some questions from your host supervisor about their requirements, roles, and responsibilities. You can refer employers to the Career-ready placement for Industry page to aid those discussions and ensure they understand their commitment.
The Application Pack (CESE) (PDF, 191KB)
As an international student, you may find it tricky to navigate the Australian work environment. However, you have access to information and resources that have been developed specifically to help support you in sourcing and preparing for career-ready placement experiences.
Support and resources
The Careers Service is available to provide guidance for finding a placement if required – make the most of their services including:
- Access to CareerHub, an online portal with discipline-related work and work experience opportunities
- Information about job and placement searching strategies
- Assistance aligning your studies and interests with industry opportunities
- Drop-in and appointment-based resume and application checking, plus an interview preparation service
Contact us
Professional Experience Unit - College of Engineering, Science and Environment
Email: CESE-PEU@newcastle.edu.au
Phone: (02) 4921 7302
Location: W357, Callaghan Campus (interactive campus map)
If you would like to meet one of our team face-to-face, please email CESE-PEU@newcastle.edu.au to arrange your appointment. Appointments are available at both Callaghan and Ourimbah campuses.
Need extra help?
The Careers Service offers free support to all current and past students of the University of Newcastle. Visit Careers to learn more and to get in touch.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.