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Manchester Uni Mandates Work Placements for All 32,000 Undergrads

5/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

Manchester University will make a work placement mandatory for every undergraduate, first such requirement at a large Russell Group university.
All 32,000 undergraduates will receive an internship, project or community work before graduation to reduce unemployment and debt.
Nick Hillman praised the scheme but warned placement delivery for 32,000 students may be hard, while Vivienne Stern and Libby Hackett said it matches a changing labour market and builds employer-desired skills.

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Story summary

Manchester University will make a work placement mandatory for every undergraduate, first such requirement at a large Russell Group university.
All 32,000 undergraduates will receive an internship, project or community work before graduation to reduce unemployment and debt.
Nick Hillman praised the scheme but warned placement delivery for 32,000 students may be hard, while Vivienne Stern and Libby Hackett said it matches a changing labour market and builds employer-desired skills.