School of Mathematics

Work experience

We offer a diverse range of placements, summer internships and other opportunities for you to gain practical work experience and enhance your CV.

We work closely with the local, national and international organisations to offer placement, volunteering and work experience opportunities in a range of mathematician or statistician roles.

These opportunities will enhance your learning and allow you to apply the knowledge you’ve gained on your course, as well as providing an important insight into a job or industry.

You can view the opportunities that are currently available on the Student Intranet.

Professional placement year

A professional placement year is a great way to gain professional skills and industry understanding. Full-time placement opportunities with competitive salaries are available with many of the leading graduate employers in Wales, across the UK and globally and typically last between 9–12 months.

Our students have completed exciting placements at organisations including:

HM Revenue & Customs
The Ministry of Defence
NHS Wales
Nationwide
BAE Systems
IBM
Disney

Undertaking a professional placement year will extend the duration of your degree by one year.

Our dedicated placements team hold application workshops during weeks one to five of the autumn semester during the second year, where we can support you in applying for opportunities with a wide range of industrial partners.

When you are on your placement, your work will be directly supervised by your placement provider. You will be working on real problems and using mathematics to produce results. You will also have close contact with our placements team so you can discuss your progress and get the most out of the year. This will include visits as well as regular email contact.

If you complete the professional training period you can also be considered for a professional award, the City and Guilds Senior Licentiateship Award (LCGI).

If you haven't made up your mind about taking a placement when you apply there is flexibility to transfer between courses at the end of your first year, subject to your academic performance.

Andy Warren BSc Mathematics and its Applications with a Professional Placement Year

Other options

We also have other opportunities to gain practical experience over a shorter period without extending the length of your degree study.

Summer internships (July - September)

Internships typically last 6–11 weeks between the months of July and September at the end of your second year. However, more and more organisations are now offering internship opportunities at the end of the first year.

Internship opportunities are usually available with leading graduate employers in Wales, across the UK and with our global partners.

Volunteering

There are volunteering opportunities available with University society roles, e.g. treasurer or event coordinator, or through Cardiff Volunteering or voluntary sector organisations. Volunteering is easier to arrange and often more flexible than a paid job, but it's a real commitment and people will be relying on your support.

Graduate opportunities

We can help you achieve your career ambitions after you graduate and actively support your employability through a range of Maths careers workshops and jobs fairs held throughout the year.

We also offer bi-weekly Work at One sessions every Tuesday and Friday where employers will come into the School of Mathematics and provide you with insight into what it's like to work in their company or industry.

Additionally, the Cardiff University Jobs board is a free service dedicated to student and graduate recruitment, allowing small and large organisations globally to post opportunities and manage applications.