Industrial placements on academic performance: A study of Economics students at Bath

This project investigates the relationship between year-long industrial placements and academic performance of Economics students at the University of Bath. Students take up year-long placements after the second year of their studies and return to university for their final year. Skills gained during year-long internships can be both cognitive and non-cognitive, so called "soft skills" such self discipline. The strengthening of such skills would have a positive effect on final year academic performance. On the other hand, one year is a long period away from studies and might result in forgetting concepts and methods, if not used while in placement. In economic terms this is human capital depreciation. The relationship between industrial placements and academic performance in the final year of studies will be investigated using administrative data on Economics Department entrants in the period 1996-2004.