University Industrial Placement Student Review

Item: University Industrial Placement Student at AstraZeneca
Rating: 4.6
Author: Anonymous

at AstraZeneca

Placement (10 Months+)

Pharmaceutical, Science

Cambridge

Review Submitted: August 2026

Overall Rating

4.6 /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!

4/5 - Overview of Role

4.5/5 - Skills Development

4.5/5 - Support and Guidance

5/5 - Company Culture

4.5/5 - 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 work in Purification Process Science, where I help optimise protein purification processes for biopharmaceutical products. My day-to-day work involves designing and running chromatography experiments, evaluating different purification strategies, and analysing product quality data to understand how process conditions affect purity, recovery, and other critical quality attributes.

Were you given much responsibility during your placement / internship?

Yes

Please rate how meaningful the work you were doing was

4/5

Skills Development

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

Yes, as this field was completely new to me. I developed practical skills in chromatography, analytical instruments, as well as data interpretation and experimental design. I've also improved my problem-solving skills by troubleshooting variety of machines and making data-driven recommendations. In addition, presenting results and communicating scientific findings.

How would you rate the training provided during your experience?

4/5

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?

4/5

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 great support throughout my placement. My supervisor provided regular guidance through weekly one-to-one meetings and was always available to answer questions. The wider team was also very supportive, particularly in the lab, where colleagues were happy to share their knowledge and help me when I have questions.

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?

4/5

Company Culture

What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?

The company culture was professional, friendly, and supportive. People worked hard and were committed to delivering high-quality results, but there was also a strong collaborative spirit. Colleagues were approachable and always willing to help, creating a positive environment that encouraged both learning and personal development.

How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?

5/5

How would you rate the social opportunities?

5/5

How would you rate the diversity initiatives?

5/5

How would you rate the charity, sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives?

5/5

Overall Experience

To what extent did you enjoy your placement / internship?

I really enjoyed my placement. It was a great opportunity to learn a completely new area of science, develop technical and analytical skills, and work on impactful projects. The work was challenging and rewarding, and the supportive team environment made it an enjoyable and valuable experience overall.

Please rate your level of enjoyment on your placement / internship

5/5

Please rate how your experience met your expectations

4/5

Recommendations & Advice

Would you recommend AstraZeneca to a friend?

Yes

What advice would you give to others applying to AstraZeneca

A fantastic place to work and develop professionally. My advice would be to build a strong foundation in your subject area while also developing your soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Experience in AI, data science, or data analysis can be a valuable asset, but being curious, adaptable, and willing to learn is just as important. Showing enthusiasm and an ability to work effectively with others will help you stand out as a candidate.