Professional Skills Module - for students

Would you like to boost your skillset, knowledge and experience, and take a positive step towards a future career? 

Personal Skills module - for Students

The CAL Professional Skills Module enables you to:

  • Apply the valuable skills you have developed through your studies
  • Develop key professional skills sought after by graduate employers
  • Enhance your employability and self-awareness, and your application and interview skills
  • Build your professional network and get a great reference
  • Explore a career path, reflect on your new experiences, and focus on your future after graduation

What is the Professional Skills Module? A 20-credit, undergraduate module in autumn semester that combines a work experience placement and reflective assessment. Your placement is a minimum of 70 hours (10 days) - taken between June and December, either site-based or virtually - and provides you with a graduate-level opportunity to develop your skills, knowledge and confidence.

How do I find a placement? 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 businesses; charities; social enterprise, arts, culture and heritage; and public sector.

The PSM is open to the following students:

  • Second year students of: Film and Creative Writing; History & Cultures; Music; and Theology & Religion
  • Final year students of: Art History; English Language & Linguistics; English Literature; Film and Creative Writing; Music; and Theology & Religion

What do PSM students say?

“I have gained much more confidence through being in a professional environment and realising the skills I am learning on my course can actually be put into a working context with real-life outcomes.”  

“I've learnt more about myself, what I'm good at, and what I might want to do with my future, than I would have in months of school or university.”  

“I feel like I have gained valuable work experience, and skills that will boost my CV over the majority of other History graduates.”  

More information

Please contact Lesley Griffiths, Placements Officer: calplacements@contacts.bham.ac.uk