From September 2026, postgraduate students at Kent Business School can choose between two second-year options designed to strengthen career outcomes: a traditional 44-week Industry Placement or a new Professional Practice option with a guaranteed eight-week virtual internship.
The new Professional Practice option includes a guaranteed eight-week virtual internship alongside structured opportunities to develop key business skills such as leadership, entrepreneurship and consultancy across two terms.
The Masters’ programmes are delivered within the University of Kent’s triple-accredited business school (AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS), among the top 1% globally. Students will benefit from innovative programmes that combine rigorous academic standards with real-world learning opportunities, helping them graduate with practical experience and CV-worthy credentials valued by employers worldwide.
The MSc with Professional Practice and Placement programmes
The two-year programmes are as follows:
- Business Analytics
- Digital Marketing and Analytics
- Finance and Economics
- Finance, Investment and Risk
- Financial Management
- Global Healthcare Management
- Marketing
- Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- International Business and Management
- Strategic Project Management
Developing career-ready graduates
Developed in response to feedback from students, academics, careers colleagues and business partners, the initiative strengthens Kent Business School’s focus on career-ready, future-focused graduates.
It also builds on the University of Kent’s recognition as one of the Top 50 universities for work experience and placements in the 2024–25 RateMyPlacement Awards.
Elsa Zenatti-Daniels, Employability and Skills Manager, and architect of the programme, said:
“The world of work is changing at an increasing pace. It is essential to equip students with transferable skills that will enable them to adapt to any work environment, anywhere in the world. Equally, employers need people who will be able to pivot quickly, think critically, be resilient and self-aware. The Professional Practice option focuses on developing those skills through a range of experiential learning activities and reflective practice. It is capped with an 8-week remote-working internship that will provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate, test and develop those skills in a real-world environment. By offering two options to complete their two-year degree, Kent Business School is removing the uncertainty attached to securing a placement and provide students with the confidence that their Master will deliver the professional development necessary for the next steps in their professional journey.”
Why choose the Professional Practice option?
The Professional Practice option is designed for students who want to build a broader portfolio of experience alongside their master’s degree.
Students will:
- Gain experience beyond a single employer through a range of business projects and professional activities.
- Complete a global internship of up to eight weeks with an organisation aligned to their career goals.
- Choose a specialist focus in Terms 5 and 6, including leadership (GOLD Programme), entrepreneurship (ASPIRE), or consultancy through the Kent Business Clinic.
- Develop agility and cultural and commercial awareness, skills highly valued by employers in a fast-changing global economy.
- Graduate with CV-ready evidence of international teamwork, project delivery and professional development.
The Dean of Kent Business School, Vicky Knight commented: “Students value placement and internship experience, but not everyone can commit to a full 44-week placement. Some students benefit more from continuing their academic development while building practical experience alongside their studies. By introducing the Professional Practice option in our two-year MSc, every student will now have access to a guaranteed eight-week internship, reducing the pressure of sourcing work experience independently while still gaining meaningful industry exposure.”
Capstone projects
Both the Professional Practice and Placement options conclude with a capstone challenge.
Students will apply the knowledge and skills developed during their studies, placement and internships to tackle a real-world business problem, delivering solutions that reflect both academic insight and practical experience.
Find out more about the Professional Practice and Placement Masters on the Kent Business School website.