The Student Room Group

Work experience help ASAP

I am planning to do a Joint Honours in Bio and Psych, and with summer coming up I need to find work experience or work shadowing. I am in Year 12 and I know it is late considering the date, but I have emailed NHS, Nuffield (despite knowing their application date had passed) and my local pharmacy. With no response, I was wondering if there is any place that I should apply to. Thanks in advance !
Original post by Gagan_245
I am planning to do a Joint Honours in Bio and Psych, and with summer coming up I need to find work experience or work shadowing. I am in Year 12 and I know it is late considering the date, but I have emailed NHS, Nuffield (despite knowing their application date had passed) and my local pharmacy. With no response, I was wondering if there is any place that I should apply to. Thanks in advance !


Neither Biology or Psychology are vocational degrees - there's no requirement to have work experience or shadowing for entry onto those degrees (and if you want to pursue a career you'll have many more options for more useful work placements during your time at university).

For academic degrees you're better off spending your free time finding out more about your subjects - the topics that are covered at degree level, how different courses vary, the sorts of research currently going on, watching documentaries/lectures/talks about topics that interest you etc etc
Reply 2
Original post by PQ
Neither Biology or Psychology are vocational degrees - there's no requirement to have work experience or shadowing for entry onto those degrees (and if you want to pursue a career you'll have many more options for more useful work placements during your time at university).

For academic degrees you're better off spending your free time finding out more about your subjects - the topics that are covered at degree level, how different courses vary, the sorts of research currently going on, watching documentaries/lectures/talks about topics that interest you etc etc


Are you sure ? I would like something to do so my application / personal statement has a better chance of being accepted. Do you have any contacts that accept last minute entry ?
Thanks for the reply 👍🏼
Original post by Gagan_245
Are you sure ? I would like something to do so my application / personal statement has a better chance of being accepted. Do you have any contacts that accept last minute entry ?
Thanks for the reply 👍🏼


If you don't believe me then read what admissions tutors are looking for from applicants:
http://university.which.co.uk/advice/personal-statements/personal-statement-advice-biology-students
http://university.which.co.uk/advice/personal-statements/personal-statement-advice-psychology-students

Work experience isn't worthless - but it's much less important than demonstrating a good understanding of the course content of what you're applying for and a genuine academic interest in your subjects.

If you want a job to earn money then look for a job you'll enjoy and that pays well over the holidays. Don't waste your summer away on an unpaid placement stuffing envelopes in the hope that it will get you a university place.
Reply 4
Original post by PQ
If you don't believe me then read what admissions tutors are looking for from applicants:
http://university.which.co.uk/advice/personal-statements/personal-statement-advice-biology-students
http://university.which.co.uk/advice/personal-statements/personal-statement-advice-psychology-students

Work experience isn't worthless - but it's much less important than demonstrating a good understanding of the course content of what you're applying for and a genuine academic interest in your subjects.

If you want a job to earn money then look for a job you'll enjoy and that pays well over the holidays. Don't waste your summer away on an unpaid placement stuffing envelopes in the hope that it will get you a university place.


Lol fair enough. Thank you for you help and advice. 👍🏼
Reply 5
Original post by PQ
If you don't believe me then read what admissions tutors are looking for from applicants:
http://university.which.co.uk/advice/personal-statements/personal-statement-advice-biology-students
http://university.which.co.uk/advice/personal-statements/personal-statement-advice-psychology-students

Work experience isn't worthless - but it's much less important than demonstrating a good understanding of the course content of what you're applying for and a genuine academic interest in your subjects.

If you want a job to earn money then look for a job you'll enjoy and that pays well over the holidays. Don't waste your summer away on an unpaid placement stuffing envelopes in the hope that it will get you a university place.


Lol fair enough. Thank you for your help and advice. 👍🏼
Reply 6
Original post by Gagan_245
Lol fair enough. Thank you for your help and advice. 👍🏼


Can I ask what year you are in and what you've studied ?
Original post by Gagan_245
Can I ask what year you are in and what you've studied ?


I'm a graduate and I've worked in universities for over a decade :smile:
Reply 8
Original post by PQ
I'm a graduate and I've worked in universities for over a decade :smile:


Also, do you have good advice for topics for the EPQ ? I want it to relate to Biopsychology because of the uni course but I am opened to ideas.
My a levels involve biology, psychology, religious studies and product design.
Original post by Gagan_245
Also, do you have good advice for topics for the EPQ ? I want it to relate to Biopsychology because of the uni course but I am opened to ideas.
My a levels involve biology, psychology, religious studies and product design.


My advice for EPQs is always to work your way through https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/research-project

It's designed to help you come up with and refine your ideas for a research project in the first 2 sessions (as well as then following it through to completion).
Original post by Gagan_245
I am planning to do a Joint Honours in Bio and Psych, and with summer coming up I need to find work experience or work shadowing. I am in Year 12 and I know it is late considering the date, but I have emailed NHS, Nuffield (despite knowing their application date had passed) and my local pharmacy. With no response, I was wondering if there is any place that I should apply to. Thanks in advance !


Have you tried phoning your local pharmacies? I think you should find the telephone numbers of local pharamacies and ask them. Yell would be a good start to find numbers.

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