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Work Experience for School Pupils aged 16-18 years

The GOS ICH Work Experience Scheme aims to support school pupils in exploring career opportunities in Biomedical / Scientific Research Science. The scheme runs twice a year, in June/July and October, and provides a week-long programme of activities. We are committed to increasing the diversity and social mobility of our student population. We welcome applications from all students keen to pursue a career in the biosciences and encourage those from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply.

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 1st - 5th July 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 the beginning of May.
  • Students placed on the waiting list will be notified by beginning of May.
  • 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 mid-May, your application was unsuccessful.
  • Programme of events to be circulated to students before the placement starts. 

Feedback from previous students:

Work Experience feedback Oct 2023

“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.”