The Effect of Work-Based Placement on the Final Year Attainment of Students Reading for a Broad BSc Hons Degree Programme in Biosciences in Northern Ireland—Case Report

Abstract

This case report presents an evaluation of the effect of a work-based placement on the achievements in the final year of the undergraduate degree. We also aimed to assess whether “better” students were opting to take up a placement year and if such a con-founder would have an influence on the effect of placement on final year performance. Retrospective data were collected for ten consecutive cohorts of students who had read for the same full time BSc Hons degree programme with a broad curriculum that offered an optional work-based placement year that was not closely aligned to their academic studies. The results have shown that “better” students opt to take up an optional work-based placement year; however, taking up the placement has not affected students’ final year attainment. This case report supports the notion that for a work-based placement to have a positive effect on students’ final year attainment, the placement must be closely aligned to the discipline of academic study.