A placement year, also known as a sandwich year or year in industry, is a period of work experience that may be integrated into your studies. Placements vary in length depending on the course you are studying.
Compulsory placements:
A compulsory placement is a placement that must be completed in order to progress on your degree.
Tuition fees for compulsory placements will be funded by the HMGoG. The DoE will need a letter from your University providing proof that this placement is a compulsory element of your course.
Funding for the academic year of your placement is as follows:
- If you earn a salary which is higher than your yearly maintenance grant you will not receive a maintenance grant.
- If you earn a salary which is less than your yearly maintenance grant, you will receive a reduced maintenance grant. The amount you receive will be the difference between your salary and the maintenance grant you are entitled to.
- If you do not receive a salary you will receive the full maintenance grant.
- If you complete your placement in Gibraltar, you will not receive a maintenance grant.
Optional Placements:
An optional placement is a placement that is not a compulsory element of your course.
If you decide to complete an optional placement, you will have to fund this yourself since optional placements are not funded by HMGoG. Once you have completed your optional placement you will need to complete a Continuation Form for the next academic year so that HM Government can continue to award you funding for the remaining compulsory elements of your course.
Turing Scheme:
The Turing Scheme has been launched to replace the Erasmus programme, which, following Brexit, the UK is no longer participating in.
The Turing Scheme is offered by some universities to give you an opportunity to study in other countries for a period of a term or a year. If this is a compulsory element of your course, tuition fees up to a maximum of £9250 will be funded by the HM Government of Gibraltar. The Department of Education will need a letter from your University providing proof that this scheme is a compulsory element of your course.
Funding for the academic year during which you are completing your Turing Scheme is as follows:
- If you are provided with funding to support study and work placement abroad, you will receive a reduced maintenance grant. The amount you receive will be the difference between the funding you receive and the maintenance grant you are entitled to.
- If you do not receive any funding to support study and work placement abroad, you will receive the full maintenance grant.