Work Experience and Placements

The NHS has over 350 different career possibilities in clinical and non-clinical areas and each one makes a difference every day.

Work experience gives those interested in working within the NHS the opportunity to gain a valuable insight into their future career through observing what happens during the hospital day, the work of NHS multi-disciplinary teams and the attitudes, behaviours and values that are expected in a healthcare setting. Shadowing our teams, you will have the opportunity to see first-hand what is involved in the role you are considering and to ask your own questions.

Work experience opportunities are highly competitive, places are limited. The Trust receives a high level of requests each year. We regret we are unable to place all students who contact us.

We recommend you have researched your career ideas before applying:

• Explore roles on Health Careers -  and take the careers quiz.
• Explore Careers in the NHS course 

·       Virtual work experience:

• Springpod
• Careers in Healthcare Sciences 
• Brighton & Sussex Medical School 

Eligibility

• You must be a school/college student in Year 12 or 13 who is resident in and attends school or college in the Berkshire area. We are unable to offer placements for Yr 10/Yr 11 students or students outside of our area.
• Eligible students must be achieving the predicted grades required for medical school, university or the professional training qualification required for their career of interest.
• Applicants must be able to attend during the designated placement weeks.  We are unable to offer alternative dates. 

Placements for University of Reading students are through the university. Please speak to your Placements Officer to enquire.  

For medical students/doctors requesting a Clinical Attachment please contact medicaleducationenquiries@royalberkshire.nhs.uk  

For Physicians Associates work experience please contact the team via the South East School of Physicians Associates 

We are unable to offer placements within Psychology, Psychiatry, Paramedics, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Drama Therapy, Dietetics, Social Work or Mental Health.

Introduction to Medicine Day

Each year Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust hosts an Introduction to Medicine Day for Yr 12s applying to study medicine. This year the event will be on 11 March 2026.

Information will be sent to local schools and colleges for students to apply to attend in February 2026. 

How to Apply for a work experience placement

Please read carefully:

Applications will open from 1 September. 

Applicants must be able attend on the placement date.

For medicine we can only accept applications during the applications periods.

To request an application form for medicine please contact medicineworkexperience@royalberkshire.nhs.uk during the applications periods.

We will get back to successful applicants within 2 weeks of the closing dates. If you have not received a response within 2 weeks we regret your application has not been successful.

For all other placement areas work experience applications will open on 1 September and will close when the available placement dates for this academic year are full. Please check tabs for any updates. Placements dates vary according to the area of interest. Places are limited.

To enquire about an area of interest contact healthcareworkexperience@royalberkshire.nhs.uk.