Industrial experience
In the summer vacation between the second and third years you will work in the mining industry for at least eight weeks. Most students work overseas during this period. The onus is on you to find a placement, although the Department can help by providing contact details and suggesting companies which suit your interests. Companies with close ties to the department also provide placements for a number of students. Most students receive a wage during their placement, and some companies provide other support such as accommodation and travel allowances.
In the third year, you will work on an individual research project in your area of interest throughout the year. The year finishes with a three-week mining feasibility study where you will work in small groups to design and cost a mining project.
Over the summer vacations of 2010 and 2011, I enjoyed a successful placement with Daw Mill Colliery near Coventry run by UKCoal. During my time at the mine I was usually based with the strata control department, which involved taking measurements of roof movement in the roadways of the mine. In the Strata control department I was able to visit most areas of the mine including the 5m high face. I spent time with other departments such as the ventilation department and the colliery surveyors and UKCoal also organised for me to visit their other mines in the north of England, along with other mines around the UK.
All of my experience was used to compile a report which counts towards my degree. I first made contact with the company to organise the placement through a friend of mine. I then made full use of the University’s careers department to update my CV to ensure that I had every chance in getting the placement. After this I joined the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IoM3) who accredit the degree and helped me to organise the placement.
The placement helped me to secure a scholarship with Rio Tinto and has left me with a job offer once I finish my degree and any Master’s programme that I may choose to complete. Working with the strata control department has aided my understanding of the geotechnical modules during the course and is the area that I am completing my dissertation on. Due to this experience and an interest in the area before I started studying, I hope to work as a geotechnical engineer in the future.
Chris Carlson,
BEng Mining Engineering
I recently enjoyed a very successful 3 month placement working for a mining contractor called Manroc Developments in Manitouwadge, Ontario (North Shore of Lake Superior). They are mining industry contractors worldwide but my work was based at Williams Mine, part of the Barrick Gold 'Hemlo' project. I spent 50% of my time in the office carrying out office projects and covering for engineer leave, and 50% was underground, hands-on mining covering all aspects of daily mine work.
I secured the placement through my own contact with the COO of South Crofty who wants to implement the Manroc mining method here in Cornwall. He interviewed me and subsequently recommended me to Manroc. The unique method of ore extraction Manroc employ is the basis of my thesis. It's hard to quantify what I learned from my experience as it was just so much and enough to make my future career out of!
I have three job offers on the back of my work experience alone and what I have learned has made me a lot more attractive to other mining companies also. However, I'm trying not to think about what to do when I graduate right now as I don't want to limit myself by deciding now and I want to concentrate on my degree. One thing is for sure - a high paid career with outstanding prospects is mine for the taking!
Matt McLeod,
BEng Mining Engineering.
When I started my degree at CSM I knew very little about mining. I quickly learnt that I had chosen a degree with brilliant travel, employment and career prospects.
This was evident from a multitude of visits and presentations from mining companies. By the end of my first year I had already travelled to the USA as part of the International Mining Games Team and completed an underground mine induction course at the University’s test mine. The second year saw another visit to the USA with the Mining Games Team before a three month work placement in Western Australia with the gold mining company Goldfields.
On completing my degree I found employment with Anglo American at their Irish lead-zinc operation as a graduate Mining Engineer.
Rolf White,
Mining Engineering graduate
