Science work experience

Work experience can include everything from a day spent shadowing a researcher in a lab, through to a 12-month industrial placement. It could be paid or done as a volunteer; it may be in-person or completed online – it all counts!

Work experience is a great way to explore career options and is invaluable to demonstrate your motivation and develop the skills needed to work in a scientific setting. For many roles, experience is essential due to either the complex or competitive nature of the area. If you are considering a career in research or a PhD, it is advantageous to gain work experience in a research setting during your degree to get insight into what an academic career would be like. Honing your job-hunting skills for work experience will also help you when it comes to finding a graduate job, as the process is very similar.

Scroll down for more industry-specific work experience search.

When should I start looking for work experience?

Many formal work experience vacancies are advertised from the autumn semester for the following summer, so delaying will result in missed opportunities. However, some employers will advertise later in the year, so do not panic if you have not found anything by the end of December.

Although many formal placement/internship schemes target undergraduate students in their penultimate year of study, it is still advisable to start looking for opportunities to gain experience in your first year. Some formal programmes may accept applications from first-year students but you will probably need to make speculative applications to places that interest you. Scroll down to find out more about proactive job search.

Industrial Placement Schemes and summer internships

Combining a placement year with your degree is an excellent way of getting substantial professional experience, and many degree programmes at Manchester include this opportunity. Many employers build their network for future graduate recruitment. N.B. Some companies only offer 12-month programmes for undergraduates to experience laboratory research, with summer placements being too short to allow students to be trained for a role.

Students enrolled on a programme ‘with industrial/professional experience’ or ‘with a placement year’ will get support from their school on finding placements. If you are not on a placement programme, make an early enquiry with your school as there may be a deadline to apply (e.g. for SBS students the deadline is in first year).

Many organisations offer formal 12-month Placements to undergraduates, as well as summer internships.

You will find adverts for internships and industrial placements on CareerConnect and you can meet recruiters and alumni to discover jobs at careers fairs and events.

  • Gradcracker is one of the most well-populated resources for science, engineering and tech opportunities.
  • Some recruiters advertise directly with academic departments, so look out for emails and newsletters from your school or department.
  • Speak to your academic advisor and other staff members. They may know of potential vacancies, suggest who else you could speak to or even offer you some experience themselves! Do not be afraid to contact staff from other Universities and ask if there are any opportunities for work experience. Look on departmental internet sites for contact details, they are usually widely available.

Funded undergraduate summer research opportunities

Some organisations and scientific societies fund bursaries to enable undergraduates to work in a research setting during the summer vacation. This sometimes called an 'undergraduate studentship'. Bursaries typically provide student support for around 6-10 weeks, and sometimes a sum for research expenses. Many bursaries are aimed specifically at undergraduate students in their penultimate year of study, but others have broader criteria and may also be open to postgraduates. In addition, some organisations offer awards to fund course-related projects or fieldwork.

Scroll down for links to help you find opportunities relevant to your degree.

General advice about applying for summer research opportunities

  • For some studentships you’ll need to find a potential supervisor for the summer, usually a member of the society offering the funding. Start by talking to your Academic Advisor/Tutor or to a member of academic staff whose research you find of interest.
  • Researchers working in popular areas may be inundated with requests, so get in early! Consider some less obvious areas of research as this might improve your chances, you could also approach research staff at other universities.
  • Some learned (scientific) societies have a list on their website of those who received an award in the past, some name the student but some also name the supervisor. Although academic staff may have supervised summer students in the past, they are under no obligation to do so.
  • Use lists of PhD projects, at Manchester and elsewhere to identify academic research staff you could approach to host you for a summer studentship or other work experience.
  • Remember that academic researchers are busy people. Be politely persistent: don’t give up if your first email is ignored. They’ll favour students who they believe are capable of undertaking a PhD project in the future, who would be useful to have around the laboratory or research group, who are easy to manage and who won’t need constant supervision.
  • Be aware that staff in your school may have access to your academic results. In the absence of any other information about your capabilities, these could affect any decision they make.

‘Learning through research’ Student Experience Internships at the university

These are research internships aimed at students who want to explore what an academic career might look like and are exclusive to University of Manchester students. These paid internships will involve working alongside an academic member of staff or other researcher undertaking a specific research-orientated project at the university. NB. You need to be in your penultimate year of study to apply (second year of a BSc or third year of an integrated master’s degree).

Finding your own scientific work experience

Many opportunities are not advertised. Consider making direct contact with organisations that interest you. Contact them first to see if there is an opportunity available. If you get a favourable response, send a targeted CV and a covering letter focused on why you are interested in them and why they should be interested in you. If you express interest to an organisation, they may make you an offer. This approach can be a productive way to get relevant work experience if you have a specific topic in mind. Check out our advice on Networking and using social media for the basics on finding hidden opportunities for jobs and experience.

Students on ‘with industrial/professional experience’ programmes can ask for guidance on self-arranging a placement from their academic school.

All placements must be approved by your school if it is part of your academic programme. If in doubt, contact your local Student Hub or placement team for further advice.

  • When contacting organisations directly, approach a laboratory or research manager rather than Human Resources. E.g. look for contact information in job adverts or on LinkedIn.
  • Include your practical experience on your CV: potential supervisors may be wary if they think you will need a lot of training first. E.g. understanding of good laboratory practice, specific lab techniques, equipment you can use, recording results, Health & Safety, licences, data handling and analysis, grades for practical modules etc.
  • Scientific employers value the following behaviours: ability to learn quickly, attention to detail/accuracy, good written/oral communication, can work without constant supervision, problem solving ability, gets on with people, and are reliable and trustworthy.

Useful resources for your own proactive job search

Research centres, institutes and public sector

  • UK Research Councils Check each Research Council for lists of its funded institutes. Government research centres and institutes are normally funded , at least in part, by one.
  • AIRTO Membership organisation for a number of commercial and government funded research organisations and institutes.
  • UKAS Lists accredited organisations for medical laboratory services in the UK (both NHS and private) from Andrology to Virology.
  • The NHS Supply Chain site Preferred suppliers for services including diagnostic services. Use to find suppliers of equipment, test kits and outsourced services.
  • UK Science Parks Association Links to science parks across the UK e.g. Manchester Science Park.

Biology, medical and health

Physics (and astronomy)

Astronomy

Chemistry

Earth Sciences