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Work experience and summer placements

Work experience 2023-2024.

All applications for work experience have now been filled for Spring and Summer 2024. Applicants may apply from October 2024 onwards.

CSCI is committed to taking on work experience students, year 10 and above , to participate in a period of work experience.

Students will have the opportunity to experience ‘live science’ within the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, a world-leading centre for stem cell research. The work experience placements will take place in our  Principal Investigator’s  labs, observing laboratory skills and techniques carried out by our research scientists.

Application process

Applicants should send a short covering letter (one side of A4 max), outlining why you wish to undertake work experience with us and what areas of science you are particularly interested in and why ( and/or specify a particular Principal Investigator of interest). Please also include a brief CV with your application and the dates that you would like to be considered for work experience. Applications are considered on a rolling basis and it may not be possible to offer work experience placements for all applicants.

Please note that we can only host students in Year 10 (aged 14/15) and above  ( excluding accelerated students ).

Please send all informal queries and/or applications to [email protected] . We will let you know as soon as possible of the outcome.

Nuffield placements

Nuffield Research Placements give students the opportunity to work alongside professional scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians for 4-6 weeks over the summer holidays. 

To find out more and to see if you meet the eligibility criteria, visit the Research Placements and Experiences website .

In2scienceUK programme

The In2scienceUK programme helps disadvantaged and under-represented 16-17 year olds (studying at least one STEM subject, either at sixth form or at college) gain an insight into science, technology, engineering or maths. The programme seeks supervisors to host these students for 2-week placements in the summer, and h osts can be anyone from PhD students, to Postdocs, to PIs. 

See here for more information.

Internships

Internships are fixed-term periods of paid work experience, typically lasting 1-3 months. 

You may want to check out the University of Cambridge School of Biological Sciences which run their internship programme Experience Postgrad Life Sciences every year for undergraduates.

As a widening participation initiative, ‘ Experience Postgrad Life Sciences programme’, offers 8-week Summer research placements to second year UK and Republic of Ireland undergraduate students, with priority given to those from underrepresented and disadvantaged groups.

External and existing University of Cambridge students are welcome to apply for internships within the University. To apply for an internship vacancy that you've seen advertised, please visit here for more information.

Please note: Applicants must apply to a specific vacancy - we cannot accept CVs from speculative applicants. 　

Erasmus+ is the European Union’s (EU) funding programme for education and training, youth and sport.　

The University of Cambridge has participated in the Erasmus programme since its inception 25 years ago and in the last few years there has been a substantial increase in student mobility.

Students from institutions with whom we have an Erasmus inter-institutional agreement can come at all levels; undergraduate, Masters and PhD and for one, two or three terms. Applicants must achieve the same entry requirements as students applying for a full degree, this includes an English language requirement. 

For more information about the Erasmus Programme, please visit  Erasmus+ .

Outreach projects - students under 16

Network for East Anglian Collaborative Outreach (neaco)  

The Network for East Anglian Collaborative Outreach (neaco) delivers activities across East Anglia to help students in Years 9-13, with little or no experience of university, to explore the world of higher education.

Find out more here . 

Insight Discover

Insight Discover is a programme that students follow from Year 7 to Year 8, which aims to develop key academic skills to support them in their academic work. In addition, the programme introduces students to university and the options which are available to them in the future. 

Insight Discover is a collaborative programme with The Brilliant Club (see also below) and in the final part of Insight Discover our participants take part in the Brilliant Club’s Scholars Programme .

Insight Explore

Insight Explore is an academic programme for Year 9 students which aims to develop participants interests and tackle the barriers many students face when applying to university.

Find out more here.

The Realise project's aim is to encourage more young people in care to consider higher education. The University of Cambridge runs a large number of events ranging from science days to theatre days to give a taste of life as a student at Cambridge.

Outreach projects – students 16+

HE+ is a collaboration between the University of Cambridge's Admissions Office and Colleges, and state schools/colleges across the UK. The University and schools in 20 regions collaborate to form regional consortia to support highly-able students from under-represented areas and backgrounds, and involves approximately 4,000 students in Year 12 each year.

Find out more here .  

Insight + aims to support students making competitive applications to selective Higher Education Institutions by supporting students over 12 months from Easter in Year 12. Students receive additional subject specific teaching across five subject strands (English, Physics, Maths, Chemistry and History) which is delivered by experience teachers and departmental outreach practitioners.

Sutton Trust Summer Schools

Sutton Trust Summer Schools are free subject-specific residential courses for Year 12 students studying at state-maintained schools in the UK. The five-day summer schools in July and August allow students to explore their interest in one of 26 subjects and gain an insight into what it is like to live and study as a first-year undergraduate student at Cambridge.

Find out more here .

Opportunities for current postgraduate students to get involved with schools or training

If you have a great idea for engagement with community or patient groups, get in touch with the Institute Public Engagement team to discuss support and approaches: [email protected]

The Brilliant Club

Are you a PhD researcher or doctoral graduate who wants to help a young person realise their academic potential?

The Brilliant Club’s 'Researcher Development Programme' offers PhD and Early Career Researchers a meaningful, professionally developmental, paid tutoring opportunity. Training with The Brilliant Club and working as a Scholars Programme tutor enables researchers to communicate their research to a non-specialist audience, gain valuable teaching and public engagement experience and deepen their knowledge of the UK education system.  

Tutors will be supported to complete a series of training modules before beginning work with us, and further continuous professional development for each subsequent placement. 

Get in touch

For information about work experience , contact [email protected]  

For information on internships , contact [email protected]

For information on longer term student placements , contact [email protected]

Other resources

The University of Cambridge  Gurdon Institute  runs an  Aspiring Scientist Training Programme  every year over the Summer. A few of their Group Leaders are affiliated with the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. 

More information about taking part in work experience at the University of Cambridge can be found  here .

Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre Puddicombe Way Cambridge Biomedical Campus CB2 0AW

[email protected]

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Careers Lab: work experience programme

Take your first step into a career in cancer research.

Our Careers Lab Work Experience Programme provides sixth form (Year 12 and Year 13) students with a week-long opportunity to explore various career paths within the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute. Aimed at those interested in gaining practical insights into different professional fields, the programme challenges preconceptions about working in science while aligning with our mission to our aim to beat cancer sooner.

We currently offer two distinct types of placement:

1) Year 12/13 Research Placement 

Engage in hands-on experiences within our cutting-edge research laboratories, delving into the world of cancer biology. Gain exposure to state-of-the-art Core Facilities, teams dedicated to developing and applying specific technologies, and learn from experts in microscopy, genomics and animal technology. While each placement is unique to its research group, expect to acquire skills and experiences such as:

• How to culture cells
• Tissue staining techniques
• Understanding the basics of microscopy and tissue compositions
• How to isolate and multiply DNA

2) Year 12/13 Operations Placement  

Explore non-scientific roles within our Operations Team, responsible for the seamless functioning of the Institute. This placement offers insights into various departments, including Finance & Grants, Human Resources, and Property Services. Our operations staff come from a range of backgrounds, and no scientific background is required for this placement. Rotations could include:

• Managing a multi-million-pound portfolio of grants
• Attracting top scientists to join our labs
• Creating a culture where science and fun intersect
• Creating and maintaining the physical environment of the Institute

Whether you’re passionate about science or seeking a non-scientific career path to enable vital cancer research, our programme opens doors to a diverse range of opportunities within the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute.

Eligibility

Applicants must be enrolled in sixth form, or equivalent, and currently in Year 12 or Year 13.

What are we looking for?

• Interest in the programme: We seek candidates who genuinely demonstrate a keen interest in the Careers Lab programme, showcasing a passion for the opportunities it presents and a clear understanding of how it aligns with their personal and professional goals.
• Intellectual curiosity: We value candidates who exhibit a strong sense of intellectual curiosity, an eagerness to explore new ideas, and a proactive approach to learning. Individuals who enjoy delving into diverse topics and consistently seek to broaden their knowledge are highly regarded.
• Perseverance: Perseverance is a key attribute we look for in candidates. We seek individuals who demonstrate resilience, determination, and the ability to navigate challenges effectively. Candidates who view setbacks as opportunities for growth and consistently strive to overcome obstacles align well with this criterion.
• Commitment to improving the lives of others: We are interested in candidates who show a genuine commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others. This can manifest in various forms, such as a dedication to community service, a passion for social causes, or a desire to contribute to the well-being and advancement of individuals and communities.

Applicants are encouraged to reflect on these criteria and showcase specific examples from their experiences that highlight their alignment with these qualities.

• Application Period: 10 January 10 – 12 February 2024
• Interviews Scheduled (Virtual): February – March 2024
• Reference Check for Shortlisted Candidates: Mid-March 2024
• Final Placements Confirmation: Late April 2024
• Careers Lab Programme (In Person): 1 July – 5 July 2024

Application form:

• Complete a 5-10 minute form providing academic and personal details.
• Express why you are interested in applying for the Careers Lab programme.

Careers Lab personal statement (within the application form): Respond to the following prompts within the application form:

• In no more than 100 words, explain why you are applying for this programme.
• In no more than 100 words, describe the skills you currently possess and identify the skills you need to gain for success in your dream career.

Sixth Form College Reference: If shortlisted for an interview, we will contact a member of staff at your school or sixth form colleg e. They will be asked to provide an assessment based on the following criteria:

• Interest in the programme
• Intellectual curiosity
• Perseverance
• Commitment to improving the lives of others

Applications for 2024 have now closed. Please check back in the new year for future opportunities.

How we select

Careers Lab uses a comprehensive two-stage selection process to ensure that our placements align with our criteria:

Application Form: To be considered for a Careers Lab Work Experience placement for Year 12/13, completion of the application form in full is mandatory.

Shortlisting and Interview: Shortlisted candidates are invited to a virtual interview to assess their alignment with the four Careers Lab criteria. The brief interview will assess your motivations for applying to the programme. Alternative arrangements will be made to accommodate individuals with limited internet accessibility.

Details about the format and arrangements will be sent according to the application timeline. The interview consists of three main sections:

• Welcome and introduction
• Interview questions
• Final thoughts and answering your questions

If not called for an interview, you will receive an email confirming that your application was not successful.

Please note that we are not able to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

Contact us: [email protected] with any additional queries!

Undergraduate Summer Research Placements

If you are an undergraduate student, looking to find a research placement over the summer vacation period, please visit our Summer Research Placements page.

For any other questions, please get in touch using our contact form .

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MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

One of the world's leading research institutes, our scientists are working to advance understanding of biological processes at the molecular level - providing the knowledge needed to solve key problems in human health.

The LMB offers a variety of work experience placements for students in Years 10 to 13 (aged 14 and above). Our placements provide hands-on experience of working in an academic research institute. Placements may be within an LMB  research group ,  scientific facility  or  support services , highlighting the variety of roles that underpin our cutting edge research.

We have partnered with  Form the Future  to offer in-person placements to underrepresented students at the LMB during the summer. Form the Future, a not-for-profit careers and employment company, was founded in 2015 to help young people find their route through education into employment and provide employers access to their future talent. Committed to each stage of young people’s development, the dedicated team provides schools, colleges and other groups with high-quality outsourced Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) services.

The deadline for 2024’s applications has passed.

Additional placements will be advertised via this webpage when they become available.

If you are an undergraduate student, you may be interested in our  Student Placement Scheme .

For any questions relating to work experience, please email  Public Engagement Team .   

Placement length

Depending which placement you apply for, the advert will tell you how long they run. Advertised work experience placements from the LMB can vary from 1-2 weeks (usually in July and August).

If selected for work experience, you will be expected to attend all days of the placement.

Food and travel expenses

For all students who applied to an advertised work experience placement via Form the Future or via our website we will cover reasonable travel expenses and offer a voucher to cover food and refreshments (approx. £5 a day) throughout their placement. This is given as a voucher which is covered in cost after spending by the LMB.

Quotes from 2023 placements

Siena – hosted by Magda Sutcliffe

“I really enjoyed the setting. LMB is so welcoming and different to anything I have ever seen. Learning to use the various equipment was great.

I plan on pursuing medicine and so seeing how the lab work can be applied to healthcare was extremely useful. It also provided the possibility of an alternative lab job in the future.”

Tolu – hosted by Magda Sutcliffe

“I really enjoyed the experience at the LMB. My highlights were going into the lab and doing hands on work instead of just observing. It emphasises the difference between small school labs and real-world labs. 

I want to study pharmacy, and this has solidified my decision as I’ve read an article that shows how molecular biology and pharmacy link and how it affects the medical industry.”

Annabelle – hosted by Millie-Jane Adcock

“The highlights of my time at the LMB were gaining new lab skills such as using pipettes and various robots. 

This experience has sparked an interest in laboratory work and careers in research because I found the work very interesting and enjoyed working in the laboratory environment.”

Summer – hosted by Lori Passmore

“I really enjoyed having a tour of the building to see all the equipment that gets used and learning how it’s used to aid research. I also really enjoyed the hands-on experience and getting to help conduct real experiments to see how methods are used and build my confidence and skills when doing practical work. 

I felt free to ask questions about university and career paths after that and I received informative, honest answers. I plan on doing a biochemistry degree at university, and this placement confirmed that this is definitely the route I want to take.”

Mariana – hosted by Lori Passmore

“Throughout this fantastic experience, I aided in a variety of experiments but my favourite has to be the CPF PAS changing an immature mRNA into a mature mRNA. Although the knowledge needed is years away in my academic career my hosts always ensured I understood, breaking down concepts and applying it to facts I learn in my current A-levels.

Originally, I worried about the work life balance in a research lab, but I learnt the lab is a community of people who consistently share knowledge and help each other. I plan to follow a more research focused life plan.”

Rami – hosted by Boglárka Anna Vámos

“Some of the highlights at the LMB was discovering how researchers used Cryo-electron microscopy to understand Alzheimer’s and even won an award, I found that quite inspiring. I also enjoyed using new tools and equipment for example centrifuges and vortex and learning a new way of pipetting I thought that was really engaging.

My time at the LMB has given me some clarification that I would like to do a health science (biomedicine) as before I wasn’t quite sure as I knew the content that would be taught but wasn’t sure what type of practical things I could be doing. I’ve never had any hands-on experience outside of school, so this was really eye opening and a unique opportunity to have.” 

Raufaeel – hosted by Andy Howe

“The highlight of my time at the LMB was learning to solder as it was a new skill.

The placement has been useful in helping me make decisions about my future because I was able to receive career advice from experts and it allowed me to understand the potential risks and benefits of each one of my ideas.”

Quotes from 2022 placements

“Working in a research-focused environment was something I found very enjoyable. I liked the emphasis on taking the time to do something right instead of making something commercially for a profit.”

“My time at the LMB was my first hands-on experience in a lab outside of school. During this time, I really enjoyed learning about and seeing what a career in science might look like. I particularly enjoyed learning about and examining  Drosophila melanogaster , as well as learning about how they could be used to aid research and test out theories in the lab. I also thoroughly enjoyed carrying out a bacterial protein expression and learning about the science behind this.”

“My time at the LMB has certainly been very helpful in guiding my decision-making over my future career, as it has given me first-hand insight into what a career in science might entail. I had a great time while I was here, and I plan to pursue a career in this field.”

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Work Experience 

Our Mission

Our mission is clear: to offer inspiring and inclusive work experience opportunities that empower young individuals, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to explore the exciting world of genomics. We firmly believe that by opening our doors to students, we not only contribute to their personal growth but also contribute to the advancement of scientific understanding in genomics.

We also have a range of careers resources on Your Genome , to help people explore the range of people, roles and careers in genomics.

What We Offer

Work experience opportunity

An opportunity for a Year 12 or Year 13 student to join the laboratory team in Dr Carl Anderson’s research group, part of the Human Genetics Programme at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus.

Dates:  Tuesday 27 – Friday 30 August 2024, apply by 9am on Tuesday 23 July.

Would you like to gain experience in scientific research into human disease? Dr Carl Anderson’s team have a special interest in the genetics of Inflammatory Bowel Disease including Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Working with human gut biopsies and blood, the team uses single cell sequencing technology to generate data which is analysed to identify the genetic causes of disease, and why some people do not react to treatment.

This will be an immersive opportunity to join both wet- and dry-lab teams. You’ll see and participate (where appropriate) in tissue sample processing, prepare cDNA for sequencing and analyse the quality of DNA samples. You’ll also join the Human Genetics Informatics team to learn about gene structure and public genome databases. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in research discussions and learn about our ongoing nationally-run study, IBD-RESPONSE.

Who is this work experience placement for?

Applications are invited from students in Year 12 and above with an interest in disease and human genetics.

Where is it taking place?

Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA

How do I apply?

Applications should be made here: via this form by 9am on Tuesday 23 July.

We have space for one student. The successful applicant will be notified by email.

Why Choose Work Experience at Sanger Institute?

Inclusive Opportunities : We are committed to diversity and inclusivity, striving to provide opportunities for students from all backgrounds to explore genomics.

Hands-On Learning : We offer practical, hands-on experiences that go beyond classroom learning, allowing students to engage with cutting-edge research and technologies.

Expert Guidance : Interact with seasoned professionals and researchers who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and guiding students in their career aspirations.

Inspiring Environment : Immerse yourself in the dynamic and collaborative atmosphere of Sanger Institute, where breakthroughs in genomics are a daily occurrence.

Apply Today

Are you ready to embark on a journey of discovery and learning in the field of genomics? Join us in shaping the future of science and technology. Apply for our various work experience opportunities today and take your first step towards a career in genomics.

Note: Our programs have specific eligibility criteria. Please refer to the individual program links for more information on how to apply and whether you qualify for participation.

Enquire now

Please keep an eye on this page as we will have more opportunities coming up in 2024.

For any enquiries or further information, please contact us at [email protected] . We look forward to helping you take your first steps into the world of genomics!

For more placement options please sign up to our mailing list: [email protected]

Connecting Science

Connect with the diverse range of communities, learners, educators and researchers, creating opportunities and spaces to explore genomic science and its impact on people. ...more

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Work experience students

Any questions.

Send a message to [email protected].

Introduction

Meet our work experience students.

Sixth form students Tarik and Malina took part in work experience placements discovering DNA sequencing and science communication.

Hear how they got on

Our work experience programme highlights the variety of careers available, from world-leading laboratory research to the supporting business services.

Placements might be in research laboratories in areas such as cell biology, genetics, immunology and bioinformatics. Work experience could be also in non-laboratory locations such as the IT, reception services, public engagement and education teams.

During placements, students are involved in a range of activities supervised by one of our staff.

Available placements Placement details Eligibility checker

Available placements

Placement details, placement length.

Most placements last for one week, although some can be up to four weeks long or occasionally take place for one day a week over the summer holidays. If selected for work experience, you will be expected to attend all days of the placement.

Placement availability

Placements are available throughout the year. Some coincide with specific weeks that local schools have timetabled for work experience. They are also available during school half term breaks, Easter and summer holidays.

Food and travel expenses

We can contribute to students' travel expenses during the placement (up to a maximum of £50 per week) and food (up to £5 per day to be spent in the Crick’s restaurant).

Eligibility checker

Placements are available for state school students who are 14-19 years old.

For health and safety reasons, only students aged 16 or older at the start of the placement can apply for research laboratory-based placements. This restriction may also apply to some non-laboratory placements.

We encourage students to apply for as many placements as they're interested in. However, if a student is offered more than one placement, they may only attend one placement at the Crick per academic year.  

✓ You are eligible for work experience at the Crick.

Available placements are listed above .

Placements at the Crick are either lab-based or not lab-based. Please be aware that you must be 16-19 at the start of the placement to be able to apply for a lab-based placement.

Note that to apply for a lab placement at the Crick you must be 16-19.

✕ Unfortunately you're not eligible for a work experience placement at the Francis Crick Institute.

However, given your interest, you may like to check out the opportunities below:

• The Nuffield Foundation's placements 
• Summer schools at Imperial College
• Social Mobility Foundation's placements

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Virtual work experience

Step into the shoes of a lifearc team member and complete tasks that replicate the work that our biology research team does everyday..

Duration: 4-6 hours

Sign up at any time

Course information

Who is it for.

Anyone keen to gain work experience or discover more about life sciences at LifeArc can complete the programme. It is particularly suited to first- and second-year undergraduates who may not be eligible for in-person work experience programmes.

The course outline

This bespoke LifeArc programme has four modules on Biology at LifeArc. You can complete the modules at your own pace – it should take you approximately 4-6 hours in total. You’ll gain skills that could help with your onward studies and you’ll also receive a certificate that you can add to your CV and LinkedIn profile to stand out from the crowd.

What will you learn?

You’ll learn how to optimise experimental conditions, analyse data to determine optimal conditions, synthesise evidence and present your results. This is carried out through 4 modules.

1. Optimise experimental conditions In this module, you’ll learn how to design a multiplexed experiment to optimise an in vitro neuronal differentiation protocol.

Practical skills include:

• Critical analysis
• Extracting relevant information
• Experimental controls

2. Analyse data to determine optimal conditions In the second section, you’ll learn about visualising and performing statistical analysis of experimental data from an imaging assay using RStudio, which you can download for free.

• Data visualisation
• Statistical analysis
• Reporting analysis & results

3. Synthesising evidence and collaboration Here, you’ll see how to integrate the results of your data analysis with findings by your colleague and discuss a way forward.

• Data analysis
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Adaptability

4. Present your results In the final module, we’ll guide you on how to present your and your colleague’s experimental results and provide suggestions for the way forward.

• Presentation of data results

Strengthen your CV as you explore career options.

The virtual work experience programme is an excellent opportunity to see what the day-to-day workings of an industrial research scientist looks like. The lessons are online, so while we may not be in the lab, these skills are the bread and butter of innovation.” Finbar, Scientist in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology

More career opportunities

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Opportunity Assessment Group (OAG) internship

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• Patient and Public Engagement

WHRI Work Experience Programme

The WHRI Work Experience Programme is for sixth form students who are interested in studying Medicine or a Biological/Biomedical related degree at university and are considering a career in a similar field. 

This programme was established in 2017 , benefitting approximately 370 young people to date. We aim to provide an opportunity to gain first-hand experience in laboratory and clinical research at one of the largest clinical and translational research institutes in Europe. In addition, students will have the opportunity to learn about alternative careers within government health-related initiatives and fundraising for healthcare and research.

“I liked the mix of practical and talk elements, and getting to meet lots of people with different specialities”

Programme highlights

• Hands-on practical experience in a working research laboratory
• Talks from world-leading basic scientists and clinical researchers
• Talks on the careers in allied health sciences
• Shadowing of current PhD and Post-doctoral researchers
• Learn about the running of clinical trials and interact with clinical trial administrators
• Demonstrations of ultrasound imaging of joints and the disease features of long-lasting inflammation of the hand joints
• Laboratory practicals on assessments on enzyme activity, and antigen antibody interaction
• Microscopic examination of human tissues

“The practical experiences we had were very insightful, including the ultrasound on the first day and the various practicals on day 2. These helped me understand the research behind treatment for rheumatoid arthritis”

Key information

For: Year 12-13 Sixth form or college students  Date: July 2025 (exact dates tbc) Location: William Harvey Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ

Entry requirements

GCSE's:   Double   or   Triple Science   ( BB   or   above ) and   Mathematics   ( B   or   above )

A-levels: All applicants must be studying a   Science   or   Maths   subject at A-level (or equivalent)

How to apply

The next programme is scheduled to take place in July 2025. Exact dates to be confirmed.

• WHRI WEP July 2024 Programme [PDF 90KB]

For general queries please contact:

Mr Ade Alele Email: [email protected]  

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Early careers at Cancer Research UK

Join us to beat cancer

We are at the forefront of the global fight against cancer, bringing together millions of people who share our determination. But we need to go much further. We’re looking for people who can work collaboratively and focus on what matters to help us to get to where we want to be.

Whether you’re a graduate, undergraduate, school leaver or looking for a career change, we have programmes that will help develop your skills at the UK’s leading cancer charity. Our schemes offer insight into working for a charity in a supportive environment, all while playing a vital role in the fight against cancer.

Our early career programmes are unique as no previous experience or qualifications are required. This is because we are committed to breaking down barriers and creating an inclusive and diverse workforce, which we believe will help us beat cancer.

What to expect from working at Cancer Research UK

At Cancer Research UK, we want you to get involved with all we have to offer. Outside of your day-to-day role, you will have the chance to

• Get involved in exciting staff fundraising activities
• Join our expansive range of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion networks
• Benefit from our comprehensive wellbeing services

Our early careers opportunities

Paid internships.

Build experience and gain skills that will last a lifetime with our internships. We’re passionate about your personal development and we have opportunities across the charity throughout the year.

Length of programme: 12 weeks

For: anyone looking to gain work experience within the charity sector.

Student placements

Gain invaluable experience with our placements within the Centre for Drug Development or lab-based Cancer Research Horizons. We provide students with an interest in scientific or clinical research the unique opportunity to develop key skills in a world-class clinical research or lab environment. 

Length of programme:  12 months

For:   life sciences or chemistry students who want to gain experience in their placement year.

Accelerate emerging talent scheme

We’re currently reviewing our Accelerate scheme and will decide the future of the scheme in late summer/ early autumn of 2025; we’ll update this page when there’s more information to share.

In the meantime, as well as our other early careers options, we recruit a large number of vacancies each year that are suitable for those looking to start or build a career in the charity sector.

Apprenticeships

Learn and study for a qualification whilst working in a role that contributes to our mission of supporting people affected by cancer.

Length of programme: Various

For: anyone wanting to start their career in a new profession, or to progress their career in their current profession, whilst getting an insight into what it’s like working for one of the UK’s leading charities.

All our programmes offer a competitive salary and a range of benefits. Our Accelerate trainees earn £26,000 in your first year with an increase to £27,750 in your second year, whilst our Interns earn the London Living Wage.

Each and every one of our employees contributes to our progress. And every ounce of effort you put in will be supporting our work to beat cancer. We think that’s impressive. In return, we make sure you are supported by high-quality tools, policies and processes to help you to do your job well. Our work – from funding cutting-edge research to developing public policy – will change the world. It’s exciting to be part of our team.

Our benefits include: 

Flexibility

We want our people to have time away from work to support their different commitments, needs and interests. We encourage a flexible working culture, including options such as home-working, reduced or flexi-hours, job shares, job-splits, compressed and core hours. We offer a high level of flexibility for the vast majority of our office-based roles, meaning that you’ll only be required to work from a specific location for 1 or 2 days a week on average.

Development

We offer a wide range of career and personal development opportunities, including induction, core business skills, leadership and management development, talent programmes, accelerated progression opportunities for those with leadership potential, secondments and much more.

Annual leave

Working with us, you’ll be encouraged to take your 25 days holiday a year, plus bank holidays, and an extra day for Christmas Eve. We provide flexibility on religious holidays meaning you can choose to use the 5 UK religious bank holidays at another time for any reason including religious festivals, caring, wellbeing or other interests.

Cancer Research UK staff enjoy great benefits in and around Stratford with deals at local shops, bars and restaurants. Our staff have access to a wide range of discounts, benefits and cashback deals to support you with your financial wellbeing, through our Rewards platform. We offer an online savings and discounts portal covering many widely recognised retailers and brands from electronics, groceries, home and leisure, holidays and more.

Read more about our benefits and rewards

My journey at Cancer Research UK has been incredible. I've grown, learned many skills, and discovered aspects of myself. Working alongside diverse individuals has allowed me to tap into a wealth of knowledge and witness skills in others that I aspire to learn. Everyone is incredibly supportive, and always ready to offer assistance. It's been a fulfilling experience for me so far.

Vivian Boamah, Marketing, Fundraising and Engagement

Join an inclusive organisation

Beating cancer means beating it for everyone. Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do.

This will help us make faster progress: it is well known that more diverse organisations perform better, and we will enable our community of cancer researchers to thrive.

We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented, and believe that a diverse workforce will help us to beat cancer sooner.  

We want to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work. We therefore ask you to inform us of any questions or concerns you have about how we can support you with a disability or health condition or any adjustments you might need to enable this to happen. 

Together we will beat cancer.

Please contact us if you have any questions or should you require any adjustment due to a disability or a long-term health condition.

[email protected]

• Work Experience Industries
• Science and Research Internships and Placements

Science & Research Internships, Placements and Graduate Jobs 2025

Your one-stop guide to launching a career in science and research; including how to get work experience, where to find the best internships and much more.

No longer confined to laboratories, scientists have a hand in almost every aspect of our lives: be it providing access to clean water, developing vaccines to target viruses or tackling climate change.

Pursuing a career in science and research will see you pushing boundaries, making discoveries and developing new technologies - all in aid of improving lives. It’s a fascinating and highly rewarding line of work.

But to break into the industry and get that competitive advantage over your peers, you’ll need to equip yourself with first-hand experience in the workplace. The best way to do this is through acquiring science and research internships or placements.

Not sure where to start? Science is a galactic industry that reaches far and wide. So, we’ve divvied up this guide into nice bite-sized sections to help you navigate your way around:

Science internships

Science placements

Research Internships

Biomedical science placements

Pharmaceutical internships

Science graduate jobs

Best Student Employers

Science internship reviews

Top Placements, Internships and Graduate Jobs in Science & Research

View all jobs

How do I get work experience in science?

It’s all very well being an expert on gene cloning or molecular orbital theory, but if you don’t have the technical skills to back this knowledge up, you’re not going to get very far in the workplace.

So, it’s absolutely crucial that you take on a science internship or placement whilst you’re still at university. Employers flip out over students who have made the effort to get this sort of experience. In fact, they increasingly use this work experience as a talent-spotting exercise for their graduate schemes.

If you stand out during your science internship, your employer might even offer you a graduate role at the end (or at least fast-track your application) - which would be a huge weight off your mind during your final year of university.

So let’s take a look at your options...

Science Internships

The majority of science internships take place in the summer months, lasting anywhere from one to four months. If you really want to get ahead, you may even be able to squeeze more than one internship into your long summer break.

Not only is this a genius way of occupying those long university holidays, but the more you do, the better idea you’ll have of where you want to take your career.

What does a science intern do?

Science interns tend to work in data analytics. They spend their days investigating a wide range of data and presenting their findings to the rest of the team.

Occasionally, they’ll be asked to carry out computer science or mathematical tasks as well, such as researching new algorithms or approaches to machine learning.

Whatever you end up doing, science internships allow you to apply the knowledge you’ve gained at university to real-world problems - which could help you attain those top grades when you return to your studies...

"The tasks are tailored to my university degree and personal development to make sure I get the most from the experience. I focused on tablet manufacturing as I knew it would be in my curriculum for the next year of university and I came out with 99.2% due to my knowledge from the placement." Summer Intern at GSK

Funding for science internships

It’s worth bearing in mind that science internships are often unpaid, although most positions are funded through research grants, departmental projects and research scholarships.

The Royal Society of Chemistry’s Undergraduate Research Bursary , for instance, supports students carrying out research internships by covering their wages for 35 hours per week at the UK National Living Wage (£10.42 per hour from April 2023) - for up to eight weeks.

A number of organisations give out bursaries to help interns cover their costs. Make sure you do your research thoroughly as the requirements and application process vary greatly. Head over to British Neuroscience Association’s website for a comprehensive list of funding bodies .

Science Placements

Placements are essentially the same as internships - only they last longer. You’ll spend up to a whole year working full-time for an employer.

A science placement is your chance to show initiative, make a good impression and start building an invaluable network of industry contacts.

You’ll also get an insight into how the company operates and what your specific role entails - all while advancing your own technical skills and academic knowledge - like this placement student at Pfizer.

"My placement year was an extremely valuable experience that enabled me to gain an insight into the industry, expand my professional network and develop skills that will help me in my future career. This has opened my eyes to the range of career opportunities available in the industry." Undergraduate Community and STEM Project Manager at Pfizer

Internships in Research

Naturally curious? Want to be at the forefront of scientific development? As a research scientist, you’ll be responsible for designing, conducting and analysing the results of cutting-edge experiments.

However, research and development (R&D) is a tough field to get into. Employers look for bright candidates with inquisitive minds, and postgraduate qualifications - such as a Master’s degree or PhD - are often a requirement.

Not to worry, there are plenty of research internship opportunities in the UK that can give you the experience you need to go far in this career.

A research internship won’t see you staring into Petri dishes all day long. Instead, it is a chance to work alongside leading scientists on actual research projects.

What does a research intern do?

As a research intern, you’ll have a wide range of roles and responsibilities. One minute you might be compiling data, and the next implementing ideas or helping your team write papers.

In general, you’ll be expected to carry out the following tasks:

Managing client enquiries and concerns

Sharing strategies and recommendations on research methods

Recruiting test subjects

Preparing product samples for testing.

How do you get a research internship?

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to getting a research internship, though networking can really open doors for your career. The best place to start would be to attend seminars, workshops and symposiums.

Here you’ll meet people with similar interests as you, who’ll be able to point you in the right direction and help you connect with professors in your field.

Here are THREE of the finest companies in the land offering research internships:

Cancer Research UK

Cancer Research UK runs a 12-week cancer research internship three times a year in January, July and September. As well as paying the National Living Wage, this programme offers the chance to develop key business skills whilst playing your part in the fight against cancer.

This fast-moving consumer goods company runs both a 12-month industrial placement programme and a 12-week summer research internship. Top performing students at Unilever can earn themselves a place on their Future Leaders Programme for graduates.

British American Tobacco

Making significant investments in R&D to develop potentially less risky alternatives to cigarettes, British American Tobacco offers 12-month research placements to undergraduates. As an R&D intern, you’ll play a part in discovering, developing and deploying their innovative products.

Biomedical Science Placements and Internships

From providing doctors with vital scientific research to investigating causes of infection, biomedical scientists play a pivotal role in our society. In fact, biomedical science, AKA ‘the science at the heart of healthcare’, underpins much of modern medicine.

DID YOU KNOW?

70% of all medical diagnoses are attributed to the work of biomedical scientists

They make up 5% of the NHS workforce

150 million samples are handled by laboratory services every year.

To kickstart a career in biomedical science, it’s crucial you gain as much experience as you possibly can before you graduate.

As well as a biomedical science placement or internship, to gain your first role you’ll need a strong foundation of scientific knowledge in the form of relevant GCSEs, A-Levels and a degree that’s been accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS).

Most IBMS-accredited university courses have an integrated placement year. If that’s not the case, you’ll find plenty of short-term internships, including...

The National Health Service (NHS)

The NHS offers biomedical science placements, internships and assistant roles all year round.

"It has set me up with the skills for life! Following the completion of my degree and my placement, I got a full-time job as a fully qualified biomedical scientist at another hospital who were very impressed with my knowledge and skill sets gained through my placement." Biomedical Science Trainee at the NHS

Wellcome Trust

This global research charity runs an eight-week summer internship based in their London office. The programme pays the London Living Wage of £13.15 an hour, and is an opportunity to work with fellow interns and experienced staff alike in the area that most interests you.

Universities

Many run their own biomedical science internships in the summer, giving students the chance to work on research projects being carried out by in-house academic teams. Speak to your head of department or tutor to explore what your university has to offer.

Is biomedical science in demand?

The more new drugs and treatments are developed, the greater the demand for biomedical scientists. Their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the crucial role they play in saving lives and improving our health outcomes.

A team of biomedical scientists at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, for example, carried out more than 100,000 PCR tests in just 12 months.

Medical biology is a broad sector, so your career options will be seemingly vast when choosing this profession. Operating theatres, A&E and other hospital departments simply wouldn’t function without biomedical scientists.

So whether your speciality is in disease diagnosis or researching new medicines, this profession is increasingly important and constantly evolving to meet societal needs.

What job can you do with biomedical science?

Biomedical scientists investigate all sorts of medical conditions; from cancer to diabetes, blood disorders and AIDS. The work is practical, analytical and highly varied.

As such, there are plenty of jobs you can do with a degree in Biomedical Science or Healthcare Science, including:

Biotechnologist

Clinical research associate

Clinical scientist, biochemistry

Clinical scientist, hematology

Clinical scientist, immunology

Forensic scientist

Microbiologist

Physician associate

Research scientist (life sciences)

Research scientist (medical)

Scientific laboratory technician

Toxicologist.

Pharmaceutical Internships

Touching millions of lives every day, this industry develops, tests and manufactures lifesaving drugs to combat everything from HIV and AIDS to high blood pressure.

Over 65,000 people in the UK work for pharmaceutical companies; including research scientists, pharmacists, lawyers, engineers and marketeers. Depending on your skill set, you could end up doing anything from running clinical trials to selling pharmaceutical drugs.

A pharmaceutical internship or placement involves working on projects alongside some of the world’s top experts in their field. This is an excellent opportunity to develop essential soft skills and technical knowledge; something that will both complement your studies and boost your CV.

Pharma companies usually ask that you are on track to achieve a 2:1 or above in a relevant degree discipline. For instance, if you want to work in drug research & development, you’ll need a degree in Chemistry, Biology or Pharmacology.

Want to find out more? Head over to our guide to Pharmaceutical Placements for expert advice, employer case studies and a few mind-blowing facts.

What is a science graduate job?

Science graduate jobs are your first step on the permanent career ladder once you finish university and get your Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree. You’ll work for a company where:

You’ll build new skills

Collaborate with like-minded people from your area of discipline

Take up responsibility right from the start.

A science internship or placement can boost your chances of getting a science graduate job and make the transition into the working world smoother. If you haven’t got work experience, you can always bring transferable skills from your degree to the role.

Are science graduate jobs paid?

You’ll be pleased to know that science graduate jobs are paid. The national average salary for a science graduate is £25,000 a year. But this depends on your role, employer and location. 

The more experience you gain though, the more you’ll earn through raises and promotions. 

As a senior biomedical scientist, you could take home £53,000 a year!

How long do science graduate jobs last?

There’s no limit to science graduate jobs. If you love your role and feel genuinely invested in the company, you might stay on and progress to a senior position. If not, you’ll move onto something else that’s more aligned with your values and interests.

What’s the difference between a science graduate job and a science graduate scheme?

Graduate jobs and graduate schemes sound pretty similar. For a start, both have the word ‘graduate’. Both share ‘relations’ (of some sort). However, they do have their differences. 

Permanent VS temporary

Graduate schemes:

Temporary (one to three years)

Can become permanent after completion.

Graduate jobs:

Permanent roles from day one

Length of employment is up to you.

Structured training

Experience different parts of the business

Work in areas including research and development or supply chain management.

Standard training (enough to familiarise you with the role)

Work in one role and team.

Application process

Longer application process

Need for aptitude tests.

Shorter application process

Graduate CV, cover letter and interview.

Applications open between September and November

Interviews and assessment centres take place in January.

Go live as and when a role is needed.

Best Student Employers in Science

If you decide to embark on a career in science, you could be hired by a global corporation, research centre, charity, start-up, engineering firm or even a newspaper! Just like the multiverse, there are infinite possibilities.

To help you cut through the noise, we’ve compiled a list of the best companies to work for as an undergraduate or graduate in the science industry.

Each of these ranked in our Best Student Employers , based on thousands of student-written reviews submitted to RateMyPlacement.co.uk. This means they are the crème de la crème when it comes to company culture, work-life balance, employee perks and more.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)

Johnson and Johnson

AstraZeneca

Science Placement Reviews

There are so many opportunities for students looking to get first-hand experience in science and research that it can be tricky to find the right role for you.

Here at RateMyPlacement.co.uk, we’re dedicated to helping young people make informed decisions about their futures. Which is why we host thousands of reviews of science internships and placements. Nearly 3,000 of them in fact.

All of these have been left by students who have carried out some form of work experience in science and research. The reviews are their chance to shout about their time with an employer; be it positively or negatively!

Still figuring out what you want to do? It may be that you’re not sure you want to stick with science, or perhaps you’re torn between working for a global corporation or an SME . Whatever your concern, nothing beats hearing the truth straight from the horse’s mouth.

Browse science work experience reviews

Companies you may be interested in

Hexagon PPM

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team

Work experience

What is stfc.

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is one of Europe’s largest research organisations, supporting scientists and engineers and running experiments around the UK and worldwide.

Our activities cover a wide range of science, engineering and technology, including materials science, engineering and instrumentation, particle physics, space science, accelerator-based technologies, information technology and computer science.

Inspiring young people and the wider public is one of STFC’s main objectives. This is achieved through a focused programme of public engagement, promoting careers in science, engineering and technology to maintain the quality of the UK programme.

STFC work experience programme

Daresbury Laboratory (DL), Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) and UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) offer work experience placements to Year 10, 11, 12 and 13 students each year, many from local schools and around the country.

As far as possible they are placed depending on the interests they indicate on the application form.

COVID-19 update: the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our work experience provision. It is essential to us that we deliver an experience which is safe and useful for young people.

Find out more:

• work experience placements at DL or RAL
• work experience placements at UK ATC

For enquiries about the STFC work experience programme at:

Daresbury Laboratory

Email: [email protected]

Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

Email: [email protected]

UK Astronomy Technology Centre

Email: [email protected]

Last updated: 14 September 2023

This is the website for UKRI: our seven research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Let us know if you have feedback or would like to help improve our online products and services .

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Work Experience

Finding work experience in biology.

Are you interested in studying biology at university? One of the best ways of finding out what it’s like is to give it a go by doing some work experience! Some tips for finding work experince:

• Be pro-active and make the most of what you know and who you know
• Ask your school careers advisor
• Ask your science or biology teacher
• Do you have any family or friends who work in biology who might be able to help?
• Look for local laboratories, offices, clinical environments or wherever else you think you might see yourself working. You could use the internet to contact them directly.

 You could also try contacting some other organisations near you.

• a natural history or science museum
• wildlife conservation
• a research lab in a university
• a research or production lab in an industrial setting
• a clinical lab in a hospital
• a veterinary practice
• science writing

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Internships and placements

Deciding what to do in the future is tough. But what if you had the chance to make an impact on billions of lives?

Consider work experience at GSK 

We unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. We accomplish this by bringing together outstanding people who can deliver what matters faster and better and improve the lives of billions of people around the world.

We offer internships across the markets where we operate. To explore the specific internship and placement offerings in your location look for your country in the menu below or search for open positions using #Internships.

In Belgium, we offer apprenticeships, internships and graduate programmes, find out more about our early careers paths in Belgium at early careers Belgium .

In our global capability centre in India, we offer apprenticeships, internships and graduate programmes, find out more about our early careers paths in India at early careers India .

In our global hub in Poland we offer internships and graduate programmes. Find out more out our early careers paths in Poland at  Students & Alumni Poland. 

In our global HQ and UK operating company we offer apprenticeships, internships, industrial placements and graduate programmes. Find out more about our early careers paths in UK at early careers portal .

In US we offer apprenticeships, internships, industrial placements and graduate programmes across our offices. Find out more about our early careers paths in US at early careers US .

Rest of world

To find out about early careers openings where you live, use our job search .

Search for open positions

Fostering a supportive community.

Joining our company straight out of school or university can be daunting. Watch some of our early careers colleagues share their experiences on how they have been supported through their transition, and personal and professional development.

• View video on YouTube

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Application process

To help you navigate our application process, we’ve provided some helpful information and tips below.

Apprentice programmes

Apprenticeship is a smart alternative for students who want to start their GSK career from day one, by learning from industry experts

Graduate programme

Our graduate programme will equip you with many of the essential tools required to excel in your career.

Continue to Graduate programme

UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health

Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health

• Work Experience for School Pupils 16-18

Work Experience for School Pupils aged 16-18 years

The GOS ICH Work Experience programme is jointly hosted by the Institute's 5 Teaching & Research Departments . Each Department contributes 2 or 3 sessions to the timetable, providing students with the opportunity to learn about a wide range of research topics and techniques. Our aim is to give students an understanding of the variety of career opportunities in research science. 

Activities range from talks and interactive sessions in the lab with researchers and PhD students to attending Departmental seminars or taking part in a Journal Club.  We organise several hands-on sessions such as looking at cells under a microscope and pipetting solutions.  As we work closely with Great Ormond Street Hospital, sessions may also include visits to clinical labs in the hospital but will not include visits to hospital wards or other clinical settings. 

Students interested in pursuing a medical career and looking for a clinical placement should visit the Great Ormond Street Hospital Work Experience webpage  and the University College London Hospitals Work Experience webpage . 

We offer 12 placements at a time and students are expected to attend the entire week.  Attendance is free and we provide visiting students with lunch each day.  You will, however, need to pay your travel costs to and from the UCL GOS Institute of Child of Health.

The next Work Experience Week is on 28th October - 1st November 2024 

How to apply.

Eligibility:

You must be

• 16 or over, having just completed your GSCEs or studying for your A-Levels
• Able to attend the whole work experience week 

We particularly encourage those from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply. Please note this is not a clinical placement. Preference will be given to those who express an interest in a science placement.

Application Process

• Applications are now closed.
• Applications will be shortlisted and placements offered to students by mid-September.
• Students placed on the waiting list will be notified by the end of September.
• Students must confirm their attendance for the full week. Any free places will be offered to students on the Waiting List.
• We are unable to reply to all applicants as we are usually oversubscribed. If you do not hear from us by the end of September, your application was unsuccessful.
• Programme of events to be circulated to students before the placement starts. 

Feedback from previous students:

 “Loved seeing all the different routes into a science career!"

"I just wanted to say thank you so much for the work experience opportunity I was given. I really enjoyed the week and found visiting all the different labs very interesting and eye-opening. I'm also grateful for all of the people involved who gave up their time to show us some of their work."   “Thank you so much for organising this brilliant and informative week! I enjoyed every minute of it and feel lucky to have gained so much knowledge and experience. I came into this unsure of what degree I wanted to take or what path I wanted to follow, ...  and it has helped to confirm my realisation that I would like to do a Biological Sciences undergraduate course.”  “Thank you so much for organising this work experience, I've found it incredibly enjoyable and informative in helping me decide what career I may like to do in the future. Also, thank you to all the speakers who took the time to give presentations, prepare PowerPoints and answer all our questions. It's been a great experience.” 

Have Questions?

Contact the GOS ICH Work Experience team at  [email protected]

The GOS ICH Christmas Lectures:

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GOS ICH Undergraduate Summer Studentships

The Child Health Research Studentship Scheme offers up to 7 bursaries for undergraduate students studying science or medicine to carry out a research project over the summer. 

In2scienceUK - Promoting Social Mobility and Diversity in STEM:

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Clinical/Medical Placements

For students interested in pursuing a medical career: Great Ormond Street Hospital

University College London Hospitals

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Undergraduates: gain research experience

If you are an undergraduate interested in further study, there are many ways to gain research experience at this stage to give you a taste of academic research.

Research is an essential part of most postgraduate degrees and the foundation of an academic career. There are also many jobs outside of academia that value research and analysis.

This page provides some ways that you can develop research skills as an undergraduate.

Undergraduate Bursaries

Careers Network offers a  bursary scheme  to certain undergraduate students to help fund unpaid or low paid work experience. This is a popular scheme for students wishing to undertake a research internship where you may not receive any financial support. 

Our research schemes and work experience

We have a mixture of formal schemes and informal work experience opportunities at the University of Birmingham. Remember to ask about opportunities in your College, School and Department. Below are some examples of different types of opportunities.

College-level

The College of Arts and Law has a formal Undergraduate Research Scholarship Scheme aimed at non-final year undergraduates. There is yet to be confirmation if the scheme will run in 2022. Please check the website for updates.

College of Medical and Dental Sciences has a webpage on undergraduate initiatives in developing a Clinical Academic Career, which includes Intercalated degrees . This highlights a number of benefits such as developing your own research. 

First years

The birmingham project.

The Birmingham Project is exclusively for first year students. You will work in a student team, with employers and academics, to develop business solutions to key social and environmental issues, using your research and digital skills.  As part of your group project you will be offered a suite of training support to allow you to enhance your skills, discover your strengths, and develop your confidence. The Birmingham Project takes place in June; for more information visit  The Birmingham Project website .

Second/penultimate years

Vice chancellor’s challenge.

This is a challenge set by the Vice Chancellor for students in their second or penultimate year of study onwards. The Vice-Chancellor’s Challenge is a fantastic opportunity to work on a topic that excites you. As part of a team, you will develop your own unique solution to a real-world issue and gain invaluable experience and skills for your future career. Find out more and to register your interest for the 2022 challenge visit the Vice-Chancellor’s Challenge 2022 challenge .

Final years

Research poster conferences.

Final years have the opportunity to take part in dissertation research poster conferences. This is a great chance to engage with the research culture of your Department by presenting a poster and testing your ideas. See a  poster example from the School of History and Cultures .

You can also get insight into doctoral research by visiting the postgraduate Research Poster Conference , the flagship event for the University Graduate School . Postgraduate researchers from across the Colleges come together in the Great Hall of the Aston Webb Building to present their research to fellow researchers, a panel of judges and members of the public.

Dissertation topic

For your final-year project, choose a topic that allows you to develop and demonstrate research skills. You may be able to carry out experiments or use specialist lab equipment. Discuss with your supervisor about how you can use this element of your course to gain research experience.

All undergraduates

Talk to academics.

Talk to your Personal Tutor about their research interests or arrange an appointment with an academic in your department. You may be able to undertake work shadowing or receive feedback on your research ideas. They may also be able to point you in the direction of research centres and conferences that are relevant to your interests.

Off-campus work experience

You could also develop research skills by doing work experience with an external company or organisation. Consider speculative approaches : you may have a research project that you could pitch to an employer or you could enquire about working within a department, such as market research. Work experience with other organisations will give you transferable skills and insight into different types of research. This would be particularly useful if you do not wish to stay in academia after further study.

• Remember to search Careers Connect for internship and work experience vacancies, which are either sourced by our internship officers or advertised by employers. You could filter your search by choosing the Business Area, ‘Science, Research and Pharmaceuticals’.
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https://www.vitae.ac.uk/researcher-careers/career-management-for-researchers/work-experience-during-your-research

This page has been reproduced from the Vitae website (www.vitae.ac.uk). Vitae is dedicated to realising the potential of researchers through transforming their professional and career development.

• Vitae members' area

Work experience during your research

Why do work experience.

You might think that you already have enough to do with your research project, but work experience outside your employment sector or discipline could benefit you. Whether you plan to remain in academia or would like to explore career options outside your current experience, an internship or professional placement could help you:

• develop commercial awareness and learn about business priorities
• further develop professional skills such as teamworking or financial skills
• decide whether a particular career path is for you. First-hand experience may not be quite what you expect
• expand the network of people who may be able to support your future career development
• demonstrate on your CV that you have taken the initiative to gain experience and that you are serious about working in a particular sector or field.

It can also help you to:

• build self-awareness
• develop fresh perspectives
• see how your research skills can be applied in a new context
• find new ways to apply your research and demonstrate its potential impact
• Meet possible future collaborators
• Make successful job applications outside your field or sector.

Setting up a work placement

First find out if there are any formal schemes available to you for  job shadowing, work placements or knowledge exchange. For example you might consult your institution's business development office, careers service, your line manager or supervisor or your funder.

If nothing suitable is available to you, set up your own placement.

• Consider opportunities within your own or other universities, approach other groups or departments with a view to learning new skills and gaining new knowledge
• Talk to the human resources department in an organisation where you would like a placement
• Approach the person you want to work with/shadow and explain what you would like to do and why. Don't be apologetic, but be prepared for refusal
• Set out clearly what you are looking for. This should include: length of placement, level of commitment expected from the company/individual, what you can offer, what you are looking to get out of it.

Get the most from your work experience

Plan what you want to achieve. Be realistic about what can be achieved in the time available.

• Talk to people. Gain insight into the organisation and what it is like to work there
• Take notes. You will come away with a useful list of phone numbers, email addresses, facts, thoughts and observations
• Volunteer to do things. People like someone who is helpful. If you do basic things well they are more likely to offer you work with more responsibility
• Watch others work. You can't expect to start doing high-level work straight away, but you can learn a lot by watching how others work
• Ask questions
• Socialise. Have lunch with people and join them for social activities

Be aware of what you were promised. If your experience falls short, inform someone who can address this.

Find more practical tips and guidance in our publication for researchers: The researcher on placement .

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Work experience directory

Find a work experience opportunity, willis towers watson.

Includes a range of internships in the UK and worldwide.

Welsh Government

The Welsh Government offers work experience placements to individuals of school age for periods up to five days.

UK Space Agency/Satellite Applications Catapult

The Space Placements in INdustry (SPIN) scheme provides placement opportunities for those considering employment in the space sector.

Work experience placements are available throughout the year at various locations.

The Access Project

Volunteer tutoring to support disadvantaged students.

London Wildlife Trust

Very short description of work involved (copy to Metadata)

Turing Institute

The Turing Internship Network is a national engagement scheme between business partners and doctoral students across the UK who are studying any topic with a data science and/or AI focus.

Mayor's Fund for London

The Mayor’s Fund for London is offering up to 25-part time paid internships from October 2022 that will last for 6 months. 

Field Studies Council

Higher Education Student Placements for university students and work experience opportunities for school students

Institute for Global Prosperity - BAME Research Internships

IGP are offering two paid training opportunities for BAME postgraduate students

Science and Technology Facilities Council

Daresbury Laboratory, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and UK Astronomy Technology Centre work experience placements.

Nuffield Research Placements

Placements relating to an area of science, quantitative social science, computing, technology, engineering or maths.

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Work experience at Rothamsted

The big picture: using wildflower strips for pest control

They may be beautiful, but these strips prove pretty deadly for every farmer's mortal enemy: aphids

THE BIG PICTURE: THE WATER DETECTIVES TRACKING POLLUTION BY ITS COLOUR

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KICKING THE HABIT: PESTICIDES

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KICKING THE HABIT: LIVESTOCK FARMS

Does farming need to go cold turkey? Part 4 of our series.

KICKING THE HABIT: FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Does farming need to go cold turkey? The last part in our series.

KICKING THE HABIT: FERTILISERS

Does farming need to go cold turkey? Part 3 of our series.

KICKING THE HABIT

Does farming need to go cold turkey? Part 1 of our series.

In LTE we trust

Three Rothamsted long term experiments are now supported by the Ecological Continuity Trust

GE Field Trial: Low Asparagine Wheat Q&A

Find out more about our proposed trials of gene edited (GE) wheat.

Field trialling GM and GE crops at Rothamsted

Throughout the last year, field trials of GM and GE crops have continued at Rothamsted despite the various lockdowns and other restrictions that have hampered progress elsewhere.

Fact or Fake News: is our food becoming less nutritious?

Twittersphere reports we need to eat twice as much broccoli

Don't let the perfect, be the enemy of the good

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, especially when it is other people’s…

Does Genome Editing cause unintended consequences?

Rather than ask if genome editing leads to unintended genetic consequences, it’s better to ask if it leads to more changes, and the answer to that is no.

WRITING A KILLER PITCH FOR YOUR INNOVATION

Writing a killer pitch for your innovation

SPINNING OUT

Starting a business can be high risk-high reward, and the ups and downs make it both exciting and challenging. No two days are the same and you never really know what is round the next corner.

Careers Work experience at Rothamsted We are committed to the development of our future scientists and workforce.

Applications for 2024 are now CLOSED.

THE EXPERIENCE ROTHAMSTED PROGRAMME

Experience Rothamsted is a work experience programme designed to give year 12 and 13 students a taste of what it is like to be an agricultural research scientist. Students accepted onto the programme will follow a varied timetable of activities, workshops and skills sessions during one week of the school Easter holidays.

ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:

Tours of science facilities.

Shadowing scientists in the field and in labs while learning about their work.

Presentations, workshops and discussion sessions around science issues and careers.

Networking with Rothamsted scientists, technicians, and staff as well as other students on the programme.

WORD FROM OUR ALUMNI

Here is what the 2023 participants had to say:

“The people who hosted it were very kind and I also liked that every staff member was so nice and welcoming of us, and wanted to answer all of our questions.”

“Really fun and interesting course with lots of good talks and insight into the research world."

“Being given the opportunity to see different machines and labs that we had only seen in a textbook before was also very useful.”

HOW TO APPLY?

Applications for the 2024 Experience Rothamsted programme are now CLOSED. Applicants can expect to hear the result of their application by the 1st March.

This programme takes place at our Harpenden site. All participants must be able to travel to and from the site for the duration of the programme. If you are located closer to our North Wyke site in Devon, please email [email protected]

Science, events and institute updates and discussions.

Engineering, technology and environment

Explore paid opportunities including graduate vacancies, placements and work experience in engineering, technology and environment.

Explore a variety of opportunities in engineering, technology and environment. Whether you're passionate about innovation, sustainability, or problem-solving, there's a career path for you.

Excel in engineering, manufacturing, and production by developing cutting-edge solutions. Shape the built environment in property and construction through roles including architecture, surveying, or project management. Focus on sustainability and research renewable energy projects, environmental protection, or scientific advancements. Consider information technology services to drive digital transformation and manage tech infrastructures.

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Explore opportunities in engineering, technology and environment

• Paid Internship for Trainee Graduate Manager - STEM - Geology, Mechanical Engineering - business - carbon capture and sustainability Employer: Hanson UK - construction Application closing date: 19 Nov 2024 Location: Hirwaun Wales United Kingdom Kickstart Your Career as a Paid Internship – leading to our Graduate programme. Location: South wales - Machen Quarry, Craig yr Hesg Quarry and Penderyn Quarry - Flexible with base Salary: £24,960 pro rota Contract Type: 9 weeks. Working Hours: 40 hours per week
• Paid Internship for Trainee Graduate Manager, STEM, Mechanical engineering, Electrical engineering, Geology Employer: Hanson UK - construction Application closing date: 19 Nov 2024 Location: Wetherby Yorkshire and the Humber United Kingdom Kickstart Your Career as a Paid Internship – leading to our Graduate programme. Location: Wetherby Salary: £24,960 pro rota Contract Type: 9 weeks. Working Hours: 40 hours per week
• Paid Internship for Quantity Surveyor Graduate Employer: Hanson UK - construction Application closing date: 19 Nov 2024 Location: Shap Rural North West United Kingdom Kickstart Your Career as a Paid Internship for Quantity Surveying – leading to our Graduate programme. Location: Penrith Salary: £24,960 pro rota Contract Type: 9 weeks. Working Hours: 40 hours per week
• Paid Internship for Trainee Graduate Manager - STEM (Science, Engineering, IT and Maths) Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Geology, Employer: Hanson UK - construction Application closing date: 19 Nov 2024 Location: Clitheroe North West United Kingdom Kickstart Your Career as a Paid Internship – leading to our Graduate programme. Location: Ribblesdale Salary: £24,960 pro rota Contract Type: 9 weeks. Working Hours: 40 hours per week
• Paid Internship for a Trainee graduate position, STEM Chemical engineering. Employer: Hanson UK - construction Application closing date: 19 Nov 2024 Location: Leeswood Wales United Kingdom Kickstart Your Career as a Paid Internship – leading to our Graduate programme. Location: Padeswood Salary: £24,960 pro rota Contract Type: 9 weeks. Working Hours: 40 hours per week Our interns gain exposure to many areas of our business including quarry operations, cement operations, major projects, marine operations, recycling, commercial, business, strategy, sustainability, and finance.
• Industrial Placement Quantity Surveyor Employer: Jackson Civil Engineering Application closing date: 19 Nov 2024 Location: United Kingdom 12 month industry year placement for quantity surveying students
• Industrial Placement Civil Engineer Employer: Jackson Civil Engineering Application closing date: 19 Nov 2024 Location: United Kingdom 12 month year in industry placement for students studying a civil engineering degree.
• Technical Director EIA Employer: Sustainability Jobs Application closing date: 6 Oct 2024 Location: Ireland (Republic of) Technical Director Environment - Flexible Location, UK/Ireland. Location: Multiple locations across the UK and Ireland (including Basingstoke, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Chesterfield, Croydon, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, .... and more.)

More opportunities

Explore the full list of opportunities in engineering, technology and environment on Infohub (login required).

Useful links

You may also be interested in.

Apply for an environment, conservation and sustainability opportunity

Volunteering opportunities in environment, conservation and sustainability.

Engineering

Graduate destinations for Engineering graduates 15 months after leaving UWE Bristol.

Geography and Environmental Management

Graduate destinations for Geography and Environmental Management graduates 15 months after leaving UWE Bristol.

Contact the Careers Service

Get in touch with our friendly team if you have any questions about how to access career support during your studies.

2024's Best Workplaces stand out in their sectors. See the listmakers!

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• In The News

Research: Over half of UK employees experience ‘excessive stress’

Great Place To Work

New research from Great Place To Work highlights the state of wellbeing in a typical UK workplace, revealing that 1 in 3 employees frequently consider leaving their company.

16th August 2024 – London, United Kingdom  

Employee wellbeing is a holistic concept encompassing individuals' subjective experiences of their working lives. It is an outcome and personal assessment of how people feel about their workplace; for employers, it is all about creating the conditions for them to thrive. 

Leveraging their research-based Trust Index Survey, Great Place To Work® has conducted a UK population study, surveying 2,200 employees across 11 sectors to create The State of Employee Wellbeing in the Workplace Report 2024 .

The past few years have been particularly challenging for employers and employees alike due to the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis. In the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, employee wellbeing became a priority for company leaders. Yet, despite years of investment, organisations are still struggling to fully meet employees' needs and achieve high workplace wellbeing measures.

Analysis of employee and employer survey responses highlight the key conditions that, according to staff, contribute to overall wellbeing:

Stress is rampant across all industries and job roles, with frontline managers feeling the burn:

Over half ( 53%) of UK employees say that the demands of their job cause them excessive stress. Stress was highest among frontline managers, with just 37% saying that the demands of their jobs do not cause excessive stress. In comparison, 47% of employees/individual contributors and 44% of mid-level managers reported the same.

As a result, frontline managers tend to report the lowest levels of wellbeing among the working population. The combination of high stress, excessive workloads, demands of leading a team and other pressures significantly impacts their wellbeing.

These challenges can cause isolation, burnout, and feelings of being undervalued.

One-third of UK employees say they often think about looking for a job at another organisation:

In the UK, 36% of employees frequently think about leaving their current company . Given that nearly half ( 45% ) of employees say they don't look forward to coming to work, the importance of wellbeing in retaining staff comes sharply into focus.

Prioritising employee wellbeing can significantly increase retention, boost employee advocacy, and strengthen employee engagement. Employees who experience high levels of wellbeing in the workplace are 3 times more likely to stay with their employer .

What do employees want most to encourage wellbeing within the workplace?

Perks and wellness programs often fall short of addressing the true needs of employees for enhancing their wellbeing. By analysing a sample of 1,000 comments from UK employees, Great Place To Work® discovered that employees now look for the following to support their personal wellbeing:

• Work-Life Balance & Hybrid Working
• Workload, Resourcing & Processes
• People Management
• Pay & Financial Security
• Benefits & Wellbeing Programs 

Sara Silvonen, Senior Consultant & Wellbeing Lead, Great Place To Work UK, said :

“ At the heart of every organisation is its people and looking after their wellbeing should be much more integrative than a package of impressive perks on a careers website. Wellbeing, engagement, and trust between employees go hand in hand as critical ingredients of a successful workplace culture. By creating the conditions for thriving through job design, the work environment and high-trust relationships, organisations can set employees up for success in terms of productivity and long-term commitment to their mission and purpose. ”

To see the full report, please visit: https://uk.greatplacetowork.co.uk/workplace-wellbeing-report

About Great Place To Work® 

Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture. Our mission is to help every place become a great place to work for all. Since 1992, our Certification™, Best Workplaces™ Lists, and global benchmarks have become the industry standard, built on data from more than 100 million employees in 150 countries around the world. For more information, visit www.greatplacetowork.co.uk

Learn more at  greatplacetowork.co.uk and on LinkedIn ,   Twitter ,  and  Instagram and sign up for the newsletter  to learn more.

Press Contact: [email protected]

Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture. We’ve been listening to employee voices for over 40 years, and it’s helped us to determine what makes a truly great place to work.

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Virtual work experience

Have a look at one of our virtual work experience programmes to help decide if a career in law is right for you.

See behind the scenes of Pinsent Masons

As an innovative law firm, we are looking for candidates with ideas and opinions, with confidence and intellectual curiosity. We are looking for candidates who can form relationships, build networks and drive the success of the business. Does this sound like you?

If the answer is yes, our virtual programmes could be part of your journey to becoming a lawyer at Pinsent Masons.

Our programmes offer the opportunity to learn by doing, whilst gaining information and experience that will help guide you in the direction that’s right for you. We want to offer you experiences that provide the scope to help you shape your path and take the law, and your career, into your own hands.

We offer two different virtual work experience programmes; Introduction to Law and Introduction to Commercial Law. Our Introduction to Law programme is designed for school level students who are keen to understand what a career in law actually means and what might be involved. Our Introduction to Commercial programme is designed for university level students who hope to pursue a careers in law, and want to get some experience of the work typically involved in the day of a trainee solicitor.

Introduction to Law (School Level)

This programme is designed for secondary school students, so no prior legal experience is required to complete it!

We aim to enhance your time management, legal research and drafting and commercial awareness skills through practical training and feedback via model examples. Simultaneously, it will also give you a flavour of what working as a lawyer at Pinsent Masons is like.

Interested? Click here to enrol today! 

Introduction to Commercial Law (University Level)

This programme is designed for undergraduate and post-graduate students, giving you the opportunity to see Pinsent Masons behind the scenes and to get a better idea of what working as a lawyer is really like.

In this programme, you’ll assist a hypothetical Pinsent Masons client; gain practical skills to add to your CV; and build your personal and professional skills.

Interested? Click here to enrol today!

Some frequently asked questions

Who can apply for this programme.

There is no application process for our virtual work experience programmes and anybody interested in pursuing a career in commercial law can register for free. We have two programmes based on your education level, both giving you an overview of a career in law and the type of work that might be involved.

Can I add this work experience to my CV?

Yes! All virtual work participants should include their experience in the ‘Extra-curricular activities’ section on their CV. All students who had a genuine attempt at completing all the tasks will also receive an online certificate to confirm they’ve completed the placement.

How long will the virtual work experience take to complete?

In the tasks description, you will find a recommended time needed to complete them. You don’t have to finish all modules in one day as it might be challenging! We recommend you plan the completion of the course over a few days.

How does this compare to real work experience?

This programme was designed by our lawyers to best reflect the work our trainees do at Pinsent Masons. But don’t take our word for it! One of our Vacation Placement students commented that: “Having completed work experience at Pinsent Masons before undertaking the virtual programme, I can confirm that the tasks genuinely represent some of the work done by the Trainees and Solicitors at the firm on a day-to-day basis, giving students a realistic idea of the role of Solicitors.”

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