Practice Placements

About Practice Placements

Practice placements are an integral part of the University of Lincoln Health and Social Care programmes where students will spend part of their course learning in practice, applying the knowledge and skills they are learning at the University. 

The opportunity to learn while taking on the roles and responsibilities of the workplace allows our students to put the theory they have learnt at the University into practice and develop their practical skills within a real environment. 

A Guide to Healthcare Placements

Placements are an important, mandatory requirement for most Healthcare programmes leading to a registration. They enable you to directly apply your study and theory knowledge in a physical practice setting. Usually this will contribute to the overall assessment of your performance on the programme.

Contact the Practice Placements team

What You Need to Know 

Currently Professional Requirements are as follows:  

• NMC requires students to undertake 2300 hours of placement.  
• HCPC advises a minimum of 1000 hours.  
• Social Work England requires 70 days in year two and 100 days in year 3.  

We work with a range of placement providers including hospitals, care homes, hospices, voluntary organisations, educational establishments, local authorities, and private companies. Placement opportunities will be matched to students appropriately, according to the specific guidance of their regulatory body. 

You will have at least 2 weeks’ notice of where your placement will be based. Students will be expected to follow the dress code and work patterns of your profession. This may include weekends or nights. Most students will work a 37-hour week whilst on placement and may involve travel across the county of Lincolnshire. 

The University has an award-winning Student Support and Wellbeing Service on-site on our Brayford campus. They are on-hand to support you throughout your studies, including when you are on placement. Academic staff are also there to support you and on placement you will have regular access to your personal tutor and our dedicated team of practice education staff. 

Top Tips for Healthcare Students

We talk to former Paramedic Science Student Alex about her top tips for Health and Social Care students.

[...] One of the reasons I chose the course was because it had work experience as part of it... Gaining experience, enhancing skills of working with people, teachers, pupils and people from outside. Meeting other professionals was really helpful. [It] really helped me plan for future career.