Just lost my year long placement because they have no work. Begging for advice 
sjf: I don't really see the value of a placement year. Whether you do a placement or not, in two years from now you'll still have the same result, a degree plus one years experience. Except if you worked after graduation you will be paid as a graduate, not an intern. Why delay graduation so you can get paid less to do work they only trust an intern to do?