Work experience

Are you curious about what it’s like to work in the NHS?

Our work experience placements offer a unique, unpaid opportunity to get an insight into the range of roles available across the health service.

Whether you’re a secondary school student, a post-16 learner, a university student, or someone considering a career change, our programme is designed to help you explore over 350 different careers in the NHS.

Applying for a placement

Applying for a placement
  • Two to five days
  • Placements are offered during the Easter holidays and summer (June–August)
  • Applications for work experience are expected to re-open in early 2027, with placements taking place from April.

New placement opportunities become available regularly. If you have an area of interest or want to find out more,  email  mtw-tr.workexperience@nhs.net.

Take the first step towards a rewarding career in the NHS - your future could start here.

Clinical or non-clinical?

Clinical or non-clinical?

Placements may be as  clinical  or  non-clinical.

  • Clinical placements are directly related to patient care and treatment
  • Non-clinical placements involve services which support the effective running of the trust, such as administration and finance.

In clinical areas, we accept applications from individuals aged 16 (Year 12) and above, although some departments have age restrictions and cannot accept applicants under 18.

Non-clinical placements are available to individuals aged 15 (Year 10) and above.

Placement information

All work experience placements are  observational only.

Work experience brochure [pdf] 2MB

The following departments are planning to offer work experience placements in 2027.

Availability is not guaranteed and placements may take place at any site. Due to operational pressures, placements may be subject to change at short notice.

  • Cardiology
  • Diagnostic radiography
  • Digital transformation
  • Medical physics
  • Midwifery
  • Occupational therapy
  • Orthoptics
  • Pathology
  • Pharmacy
  • Physiotherapy
  • Radiotherapy
  • Speech and language therapy.

If you are looking for long-term work experience you should consider volunteering. We are looking at a commitment of at least three hours per week for six months.

If you would like further information about volunteering, email mtw-tr.volunteering@nhs.net

How to apply for work experience

Please complete the work experience application form after reviewing the documents below.

Please do not contact departments directly as they can’t answer enquiries or process applications.

Please read the guidance notes carefully before submitting your application. These explain the shortlisting criteria we will use if we receive more applications than available placements.

Placement availability is limited and demand is high. Consider your area of interest carefully and clearly explain this in your personal statement.

We only accept applications submitted directly by the candidate. Applications from parents, friends, or school/college staff will not be accepted.

Information about medical placements

For medical placements only, you should:

  • Be studying towards and expect to achieve qualifications that will enable you to enter into a career in medicine
  • Be committed to apply to a UK medical school in the next 12 months
  • Have achieved at least 5 GCSEs at grade 9-8. Mathematics and some of the sciences may be at a grade 7, however many successful applicants to medical school will have achieved grades 8-9.

If you have any questions, email mtw-tr.medicalworkexperience@nhs.net

If you are already studying medicine and require a longer work placement/clinical attachment, email  mtw-tr.education@nhs.net

If you are a medical student from outside of the UK and are seeking a placement, email mtw-tr.medicalstaffing@nhs.net.