Placements

A short-term placement may help you gain practical experience and find out what it’s really like to work in the field you are interested in. The type of work you’ll be expected to do will vary depending on the placement, but may involve observation or work ‘shadowing’, alongside assisting with day-to-day tasks and duties.

You will be in a professional work environment and working with staff members on a planned work experience programme, with some tasks and outcomes that may support the research and administration of School of Life Sciences.

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Eligibility

• You must be 16-18 at the time of the placement
• You must live in the Midlands region

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How to apply

Applications can be made through our online application form.

For the remainder of 2022/23 we have only been able to offer a small number of placements during one week in July, 10th to 14th July 2023. The application process for this week is now closed.

For 2023/24 we hope to be in a position to offer more opportunities for work experience placements. However, we are not able to offer lab-based work experience between May and mid-June.

Once you apply we will contact staff and look for a suitable placement for you. We will inform you by email if a placement is available. Unfortunately we receive a large number of enquiries and are not able to provide placements for all applicants. Make sure you apply in advance of when you’re hoping to start, so we have time to organise dates and work out the formalities. If you give little notice, it is unlikely we will be able to find you a placement.

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Expectations while on placement

You must demonstrate the professional behaviours of:

Respect
Honesty
Reliability
Responsibility
Punctuality

You will be given emergency and safety information prior to starting any work. You must listen carefully and ask questions if you are unsure of anything. You must take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others, follow all safety instructions given by your supervisor, correctly use facilities and equipment provided for general safety and report any accidents, however minor. You must also highlight any medical conditions such as asthma or allergies to your supervisor.

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Additional information

If you are offered a placement you will be asked to complete some additional forms to agree the placement, share your emergency contact information with us and confirm that you have read and understood the safety information which will be sent to you. These forms must be completed, signed by you and your parent/guardian and returned to SLS before your placement begins.

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Working hours

You will work a maximum of 8 hours a day between 09:00 and 17:00.

Placements will last a maximum of one week.

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About the School of Life Sciences and Gibbet Hill Campus

The School of Life Sciences has two sites: at Gibbet Hill Campus and at the Wellesbourne Crop Centre. The majority of placements offered will be at Gibbet Hill Campus.

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Alternatives to work experience placements

We cannot guarantee a placement for work experience. You may also be interested in our laboratory experience days. We also contribute to the University Widening Participation and Outreach.