Enhancing your employability at the School of Policy & Global Affairs
At the School of Policy & Global Affairs, we know how important it is to gain career and employability skills whilst you are studying, so that you are well prepared for your chosen career once you finish your studies with us.
We have embedded opportunities throughout our undergraduate courses for you to gain skills and experience through modules, placements and projects.
Get the most from your undergraduate degree
Year 1 – Finding your future (core module)
Our careers support in first year is all about finding out where your degree can take you. Every undergraduate programme at the School of Policy & Global Affairs includes a ‘finding your future’ module.
With our employability lecturers teaching on these modules, you will explore different career paths, learn about the industries connected to your subject, meet professionals and alumni, and start building the confidence that employers value.
Year 2 – Gain experience
In your second year, you can put the skills you’ve learnt so far into practice through short placements and project-based learning opportunities. You will have opportunities to gain experience working with employers, charities, community organisations and public sector partners. This can help you to:
- Build your CV
- Expand your professional network
- Develop confidence
Placement opportunities include:
- Short micro-placements with external organisations
- Summer Internships.
Discover how your department helps you to enhance your career skills through a range of modules such as:
Economics
- Accenture School of Tech: building skills in tech transformation, cloud and consultancy
International Politics & History
- Making History Public
Sociology & Criminology
- Social Action Projects
- Quantitative Data Placements for students on the Q-Step pathway programme.
Year 3 – Apply your skills
In your final year, you’ll be ready to turn your knowledge and experience into a launchpad for your future career. You’ll have the chance to work directly with employers and partner organisations and tackle real-world challenges, providing you with experience to help you stand out in the job market once you graduate.
If you didn’t get the opportunity to engage with placements or summer internships in year 2, you can still gain experience in year 3.
Our industry projects module is a chance for you to solve real-world challenges and make a real impact. It is a credit-bearing module designed in partnership with employers and open to students across different departments and programmes in the School. On this innovative consultancy-based module, you will work in interdisciplinary teams on live business, charity and public sector challenges.
Providing you with invaluable experience and a range of skills to help boost your confidence and practical experience, strengthening your CV.
Year Long Placements
All School of Policy & Global Affairs undergraduate students have the option of taking a year-long placement. This is a one-year work placement between years two and three of your degree, allowing you to put your skills into practice in a real-world setting.
Find out more about the university’s award-winning Careers Activation Programme.
Meet the School’s employability lecturers
Our lecturers in employability are here to help you build skills for the workplace! They will provide you with access to a range of placement and industry project opportunities. Currently, they are engaging with around 30 external employers and industry partners in a year.
Federica Mure
Dr Caroline Watkinson
Dr Caroline Watkinson is a lecturer in Corporate Engagement and Employability at City St George's University of London where she teaches across the Career Activation Programme (CAP) modules.
Her teaching focuses on helping students recognise, articulate and develop the capabilities they need to navigate their future careers by connecting academic learning with professional practice and real-world opportunities.
Her research explores gender, race, and sexuality in political, public, and work-based settings and capability development and employability for students, postgraduates, and early career researchers.
Jay Dunstan
With over 25 years of experience in the cultural and creative industries, Jay is now connecting students with industry partners through contributing to corporate engagement initiatives in his current role at City St George’s.
Through developing employer relationships and supporting career-focused learning opportunities, he helps students gain valuable professional experience to equip them for employment.
His work is focused on strengthening links between higher education and industry, ensuring that students are equipped with the skills, knowledge and networks needed to succeed in their future careers.