Industrial Placement Student Review

Item: Industrial Placement Student at Mott MacDonald
Rating: 5
Author: Anonymous

at Mott MacDonald

Placement (10 Months+)

Civil Engineering

Croydon, Greater London

Review Submitted: May 2026

Overall Rating

5 /5

The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!

5/5 - Overview of Role

5/5 - Skills Development

5/5 - Support and Guidance

5/5 - Company Culture

5/5 - Overall Experience

5/5 - Future Career Prospects

Overview of Role

Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis.

I am undertaking an industrial placement as a Tunnel Engineering student, supporting the design and development of major tunnelling projects. On a day-to-day basis, I assist with technical engineering tasks, design support, and project coordination. This includes managing document control through ASite and ProjectWise, issuing and responding to RFIs, and supporting communication between consultants, contractors, and clients.
I contribute to tunnel and shaft optioneering, preparing technical presentations, appraisal matrices, and carrying out engineering calculations such as lining design and flotation checks. I also use CAD and QGIS to support site layouts and alignment studies, while working closely within multidisciplinary teams.

Were you given much responsibility during your placement / internship?

Yes, I was given a significant level of responsibility during my placement. I took ownership of technical tasks, such as producing appraisal matrices, carrying out shaft design calculations, and developing CAD and QGIS outputs to support optioneering studies. In several cases, I prepared technical notes and slide decks and presented my work to senior engineers, joint venture partners, and clients, demonstrating a high level of responsibility and trust in my work.

Please rate how meaningful the work you were doing was

5/5

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills, or developed your existing skills?

Before starting my placement, I had no prior experience with tunnel engineering calculations. Throughout the placement, I developed this skill from the ground up and now confidently carry out segmental lining calculations and SCL (Sprayed Concrete Lining) calculations. This includes assessing short‑ and long‑term loading, load sharing, and stability considerations. With practice and guidance from the team, I am now able to complete these calculations independently and efficiently, representing a significant growth in my technical capability and confidence in tunnel design.

How would you rate the training provided during your experience?

5/5

How would you rate your development of industry-specific skills during the experience?

5/5

How would you rate your development of personal / soft skills during the experience?

5/5

Please rate how these skills have helped you in your career development

5/5

Support and Guidance

How much support and guidance did you receive during your placement / internship?

I received strong support and guidance throughout my placement, with regular input from my line manager and team. Senior engineers were approachable and provided ongoing technical advice, feedback on my work, and opportunities to gradually take on more responsibility and independence. My line manager was super nice with personal issues I had during placement

How would you rate the support and guidance from your line manager?

5/5

How would you rate the support and guidance from the wider team?

5/5

Company Culture

What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?

The company culture was professional, supportive, and collaborative. The general atmosphere was welcoming, with colleagues at all levels approachable and willing to help. There was lots of events for graduates and placement students to go out socialising.