Opportunities
Alongside the development of employability skills embedded in our curricula, our students have the opportunity to participate in a series of volunteering schemes and internships that will boost their employability skills.
Internships and volunteering
Thousands of students get involved in community volunteering and internships each year at York, from the award winning York Students in Schools, to a one-off opportunity or a charity role.
The Student Internship Bureau (SIB) works with local businesses to set up project-based, paid work experience for University of York students. Some internships are based within University departments and services.
Back-to-school Project
Our students get the opportunity to work as language ambassadors for schools in York and in the wider Yorkshire region. As part of the project, they return to their old schools to talk about their experiences and inspire the next generation of language students. They help design and deliver activities for children from the ages of 8 to 18 to promote language learning, and give talks on studying languages, careers and the year abroad.
Language ambassadors gain valuable skills in the following areas:
- Self-management
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Planning
- Creativity and innovation
Student ambassadors (Open and Visit Days)
Our students work closely with academics in the department to assist in the organisation of and to contribute to one-off events such as school visits and taster days. At Open and Visit Days they contribute by setting up stands/rooms, talking about their university experience with prospective students, leading campus tours and assisting academics with learning activities.
Our student ambassadors develop:
- Communication and public speaking skills
- Teamwork
- Social and cultural awareness
Peer Assisted Learning (PAL)
PAL is a volunteering scheme which facilitates student-to-student support specific to Modern Languages or Linguistics students. Second- and third-year students (PAL Leaders) are trained to offer mentoring to first-year students on the same course.
Through the scheme, student leaders develop:
- Leadership skills
- Teamwork skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Organisational skills
They also receive quality-assured, highly interactive training in small-group facilitation techniques which can be used as a positive example for the York Award recognition.
The Year Abroad
As part of their year abroad preparation and Year Abroad programme, the department organises bespoke workshops focusing on intercultural competence and employability skills for students who are going to work or study abroad.
Students develop:
- CV writing skills (in Engish and target language)
- Professional code of conduct in the workplace
- Organisation skills
- Time management skills
- Resilience
The Placement Year
A placement year is a structured work experience opportunity open to our undergraduate and integrated masters students, giving students a substantial amount of work experience that is recognised within the degree title. Many organisations offer placement opportunities and they are a great way to develop employability skills whilst getting a flavour of a particular working environment.