SOAS Virtual Industry Project

SOAS, in collaboration with Practera, is offering all second and final year undergraduates the opportunity to participate in a 2-week virtual industry project. Each year the programme supports 100 student places. 

The SOAS Virtual Industry Project is a 2-week virtual work-based learning programme, in which teams of students are working directly with industry partners on live challenges. Through this experience, the aim is to grow students’ employability, network, career insights and to provide them an opportunity to apply theory to practice.  

Student consultant teams receive a project brief from an employer (one unique brief/organisation per team). Students’ project theme preferences are taken into account and are teamed based on best fit. They work virtually and collaboratively to research and present recommendations for a real organisation in a professional final report.  

Project themes have included:

• Public policy: support your client's lobbying or analysis initiatives.
• Sustainable impact: help your industry client grow sustainably.
• Growth strategy: identify innovative business opportunities for your client.
• International business: support your client's international expansion and new market entry. 

Students do not need specific technical knowledge. The main goal is to develop employability skills through a professional project experience. A range of industry clients are involved; past sectors include charites and NGOs, education, consultancy, and medical tecnology.  

Students need to be available (online) for 25 hours over 2 weeks in semester 2 and attend two compulsory workshops at the start of the programme. 

‘It's a great experience into the workplace even though it's virtual but that also makes it much more convenient and suitable for students to do alongside assignment’ (SOAS Participant, 2025 iteration) 

‘It developed my collaborative skills and my confidence in communicating my ideas with a group and with a client too. I can now add this experience to my Cv and LinkedIn which will enhance my employability prospects and it's a cool experience to speak about especially because the project I did links with my career prospects!’  (SOAS Participant, 2025 iteration) 

‘Direct experiential learning and work has made me more attuned and comfortable within the sector of consultancy’ (SOAS Participant, 2025 iteration) 

Students are not paid to work on this project. This is first and foremost a learning experience. However, you will receive a digital certificate to add to your LinkedIn profile upon successful completion of the project. 

This programme is suitable for remote working opportunities with fully virtual industry and team engagement, so you are not required to be physically in the country to participate. 

If you have a part-time job, it is fine to take part, but you must be able to commit a minimum of 25 hours of work on the project over the 2 weeks.