Intercalated opportunities in the College of Arts and Law
In the College of Arts and Law, we're committed to helping you become career-ready. With our intercalated options, we offer undergraduate students the opportunity to take an additional year and dive into industry, language and more.
Make the most of Birmingham's connections to industry with a Year in Industry or Year in Creative and Cultural Industries, where you can work alongside the pros and gain invaluable work experience. Get ready for global opportunities and learn a new language (or two) on our Year in Modern Languages, or learn to lead and make a difference on our Year in Civic Leadership.
Whatever your career aspirations, our intercalated options will help you get your foot in the door to an exciting future.
Our intercalated options
Year in Industry
Gain real-world industry experience with a year spent on a professional placement.
Year in Creative and Cultural Industries
Go behind the scenes of the creative sector and work alongside industry pros.
Year in Modern Languages
Boost your global employability with a year spent learning another language (or two).
One semester, countless benefits
Boost your skillset and employability with a semester-long Professional Skills module
Through my placement, I saw firsthand how my degree has helped my research and argument building (for cases) skills, worked on my teamwork skills and learnt how important it is to be able to find a happy medium when working under time pressure so as to not make mistakes.
A launchpad for careers
Read more from Vidhi"This module has been a launchpad for opportunities for me personally, as I landed the role of Digital Content and Marketing Assistant for the Birmingham Literature Festival. I was also offered to extend my internship externally for another three months after I finished the initial placement with the host organisation, Writing West Midlands."
Get connected with Culture Forward
Learn more about Culture ForwardCulture Forward connects our students and researchers to over 125 creative and cultural organisations. This network offers exciting collaborative opportunities for students, ranging from workshops and talks to exhibitions and performances, and from research projects to student work experience programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is an intercalated year?
What is an intercalated year?
Intercalated years allow you to take a year out from your existing course to study within another field or undertake work experience.
This year is usually taken between years 2 and 3, and enables you to gain specialist knowledge and skills in an area you're interested in.
Who are the intercalated degrees open to?
Who are the intercalated degrees open to?
Year in Industry
Open to students on all undergraduate programmes in the College of Arts and Law.
Year in Creative and Cultural Industries
Open to students studying:
- BA Digital Media and Creative Industries
- BA Digital Media and Communications
- BA Drama and Film
- BA Film and Creative Writing
- BA Film and Television
- BA History of Art
- BMus Music
Year in Modern Languages
Open to all undergraduate students studying outside of the Department of Modern Languages.
Information on the other options can be found on their individual pages.
How do I find a placement?
How do I find a placement?
Depending on the 'Year in' option, you can source your own opportunity - either by approaching organisations speculatively, or applying for advertised internships - or, you can apply for exclusive roles created in partnership with employers from a range of sectors, including: small business; charities; social enterprise, commercial, arts, culture and heritage; and public sector.
What kind of support can I expect?
What kind of support can I expect?
The Years are supported by an Academic Lead as well as the College of Arts and Law (CAL) Careers Team.
You will retain your personal academic tutor and continue to be able to access all other student resources offered by the university.
What are the benefits?
What are the benefits?
Taking an intercalated year gives you the chance to study a subject or area that interests you in greater depth, find out more about a particular specialty, or gain employability skills and industry experience.
You will also develop your network by studying with different students to those on your main programme, and enhance your CV with work-based skills around topics relevant to the workplace.