Gain work experience by tackling a real-life challenge faced by an organisation. Learn how to develop a project, work in a team and deliver your findings to a client in a supportive setting.
About student consultancy
Student consultancy is an opportunity to gain work experience on a live project set by an external organisation. This could be business, community or sustainability focussed. You will receive training on how to manage a project, work in a team, deliver a presentation and how to showcase your experience on your CV and in interviews.
Working flexible hours over a four-week period (approximately five hours per week), student teams will learn how to listen to a client's business challenge, research and analyse the problem, and then deliver their findings to the client in a fully supported setting. The final part of the programme will be a 10-minute team presentation highlighting your research and recommendations.
You will receive a bursary, equivalent to the UK real Living Wage, at £12.60 per hour.
You can apply to take part in either the Winter term (21 October - 15 November) or the Spring term (10 February - 7 March 2025). Both programmes are part-time over four weeks and you don’t need any previous experience. You can apply for both, but can only take part once.
Final-year undergraduate students and taught postgraduate students are eligible to apply.
Student feedback
98% of students who completed our feedback form last year would recommend the programme to other students.
'We went and visited the office multiple times. It really felt as if the work we were doing was going to genuinely contribute to their business as opposed to it just being a university project’. – student participant from 22/23
Read about Valerie’s experience taking part in the student consultancy programme.
Why you should take part
In Winter 2024 we collaborated with Capgemini, a global leader in consulting, technology services and digital transformation, who shared their consulting expertise exclusively with student consultants.
You will be allocated, where possible, to a team and project according to your discipline, skills, and preferences. You will work in small groups with other finalist undergraduate and taught postgraduate students from a mix of subjects to research, analyse and recommend strategies, in line with a project brief.
Project briefs are set by a range of organisations from different sectors, including charities and NGOs, startups, and large corporates. Previous sectors have included: business and management, travel and tourism, media, public services, education, marketing and advertising, and retail and sales. Topics may include improving an organisation’s social media presence, reviewing and recommending sustainability practices, analysing market trends, and investigating potential new products and services.
You will:
- develop teamwork, project management and presentation skills
- gain experience working as a consultant and increase your knowledge of project management
- boost your confidence
- build new connections with other students and organisations.
You will benefit from:
- exclusive bespoke training sessions on how to lead a team, deliver a business-style presentation to a client and how to articulate your experience in applications and at interview
- a group practice presentation session with a member of the Careers and Entrepreneurship team
- applying your research and recommendations to make a real difference with an organisation
- Spirit of Sussex Award points for your participation.
Organisation feedback
We were very impressed with the students work and presentations. They provided a really valuable research project for our business.’ – project host, Social for Good
Emma Bush, Sustainability Analyst at Hastings Direct, was a consultancy client in Spring 2024. She recommends students apply for this programme, saying: ““This is an excellent opportunity to list some professional work experience on [your] CV that potentially relates to a field or sector that [you’re] interested in, and to develop transferable skills useful for life post-university”.
Read about how five students informed real-world changes to Hastings Direct’s sustainability strategies [PDF].
How to apply
Applications for the Spring programme are open now, and close at midnight on Sunday 12 January 2025.
The programme is open to final-year undergraduate students and taught postgraduate students. If you successfully completed the Winter programme you cannot apply to take part in the Spring programme.
Students who have no prior work experience are particularly welcome to apply. No specialist knowledge or work experience is required, as full training and support are provided by your client and the University.
If successful, you will be contacted after the deadline with further details and training dates.
On launch day, you will be introduced to the programme, attend essential training, and meet your fellow student consultants and project client. As a student team, you will have 100 combined hours (approximately 20 hours each over 4 weeks) to complete the project within your team, including the chance to meet with your project client halfway through for questions and updates. To benefit most from the programme, all students are expected to attend the launch day and two other live training sessions.
Further support and questions
If you require, or believe you may need, adjustments to facilitate your participation in the programme, contact Jasmin Tse, Programmes Officer, at J.Tse@sussex.ac.uk for further advice.
We partner with disability and neurodivergence experts, EmployAbility, for independent support and guidance. If you would like to contact them for a confidential discussion, register with them and then email info@employ-ability.org.uk
If you have any questions about the programme, email careerlab@sussex.ac.uk.