Why I took the Professional Development module and why it was worth it
Thinking about the Professional Development module? Marwa shares how a summer internship helped shape her skills, confidence, and future career direction.
Some undergraduate programmes, such as BSc Accounting and Finance, offer Professional Development as an optional module. If you’re evaluating your options and deciding what to do, I’m here to help and share my personal experience!
What the module involves
The optional module involves securing a placement or internship over the summer between your second and third year. Afterwards, you then write a reflective log and essay about your experience, what you have learned, and how it has complemented your learning.
It’s 100% coursework-based, making it a good way to gain work experience while earning credit towards your degree. I’m also glad I chose this class because it helped me figure out where my career path lies.
My placement experience
My placement was in procurement, which wasn’t what I thought I wanted to work in, but it turned out to be a great opportunity. I made valuable connections, and a few months later, I returned to the same company for another internship, this time in the department I was really interested in - marketing.
It also gave me skills that I was able to carry to different placements. As a student, enhancing and gaining any skills you can is crucial. Having a top-rated degree is great, but having work experience and professional skills are essential.
The placement helped me understand what kind of work I enjoy, and just as importantly, what I don’t. That clarity made it easier to choose my final-year modules based on the direction I wanted to take after graduation. For example, although I enjoyed working in procurement and the fast-paced nature of the role, I also realised that I was missing the more creative and strategic side of operations. This drove my decision to choose the Business Analytics module in my final year, which is one of the best decisions I made during my university life!
Moreover, I was introduced to people in all kinds of departments such as financial services, business development and more, which allowed me to ask questions about the type of work that is done and gain real insights. This helped me narrow down the career path I wanted to take and gave me more direction as I got closer to graduating.
I received valuable advice from professionals with years of experience on what qualifications or skills to achieve the career I wanted, and I carried that with me long after the internship.
Why it’s worth considering
Taking this module gave me both practical experience and greater confidence. I developed key transferable skills, including:
- Communication skills through working with different teams and clients
- Time management by balancing tasks and meeting deadlines
- Professional awareness by learning how a business operates day to day
These are skills I’ve taken into other internships and will carry into my future career.
The assignments also built on my self-reflection skills, which helped me in many areas of life, not just at University. Taking time to assess my own skills, experiences, and mindset helped me understand where I thrive and where I can improve. Being aware of my own strengths and where I can grow meant that I became more intentional in the choices I made and confident in articulating my abilities and values.
Since the module is 100% assignment-based and focused on your own experience, I found it more manageable than theory-heavy modules. This really took pressure off in my third year, as I could focus more on revising for other modules. Doing well in this module also helped balance out my overall grade.
Tips for making the most of it
If you take this module, I’d recommend continuing to take notes or even a weekly record of what you do during your placement. Note down:
- Projects you worked on
- Software or tools you learned
- Any challenges you overcame
- Skills you developed
Doing this will make writing your assignments much easier and really help you when updating your CV or preparing for interviews.
Is this the right module for you?
Taking this module encouraged me to find an internship to do during the summer, which I might not have done otherwise. It is important to get some industry experience when you have the time to do so, and the summers are quite long during University. I suggest taking advantage of the free time you have to put yourself in a stronger position once graduation comes.
If you get the chance to take the professional development module, I’d definitely recommend it! It helped me grow both professionally and personally, and gave me a clearer idea of where I want to go after Birmingham Dubai.