Physics Work Experience

So yeah, I'm doing my AS levels at the moment and my school run work experience this year and I know I want to end up doing Physics. The problem is I have no idea what kind of physics related work experience there is to do. I really want to do Natural Sciences at Cambridge so I want to make myself look as good as possible. Could anyone give me any ideas of what I could do?

By the way, I live in Northern Ireland so could people only suggest stuff that I could do on this side of the Irish Sea? I can't go over to the mainland, unfortunately. Also, I've talked to Queen's University and they don't do anything for Physics during my work experience week so that's out of the picture!

Cheers in advance.

Nanrod.

Reply 1

JaxT

8

It is difficult I'm afraid. I tried for ages to think of places that would be suitable and then I was lucky enough to be able to fit my work exp dates round a Physics Summer School that our local uni was running so I went and worked with the technicians in the Physics & Astronomy Dept helping with that. It only worked out because it was after my GCSEs and my dates were flexible though. It's a shame you can't get in at your local uni as it was fantastic experience. Is there nothing that the uni can suggest?

Reply 2

Blackwater

...is almost impossible to get. If you can, great, but if not I think they'll appreciate that relevant placements are few and far between and your application won't suffer terribly because of it.

At least that's what I'm hoping... :rolleyes:

Reply 3

steelmole

10

Ask anyone you know that is even vaguely related. Try talking nicely to the nearest university.

Reply 4

Hologide

I'm applying for physics. I got a couple of weeks experience at Prodrive, but in hindsight, it was almost useless from a physics perspective. It's almost impossible to get decent physics work experience, apparently.... :-\

Reply 5

ChemistBoy

16

I've yet to meet a physcist or chemist (academic) who cares about work experience in UCAS applications forms. I think that if you are predicted top grades and have a good personal reference then you'll get an interview and then you'll have to prove yourself.

The reason why you'll struggle to get a good physics work experience is that much of the work requires a degree to do!

Reply 6

Nanrod

OP

7

Righto. Sorry I haven't responded until now. I've been busy with stuff of late. Thanks a lot for your help guys, it's put my mind at ease. I just hope that I can end up doing something vaguely interesting for work experience. Cheers.

Reply 7

Magnum Opus

18

I got a couple of weeks work experience in the Physics department of Durham University. I also asked Jodrell Bank Observatory but you have to be 18, so I've arranged a placement there for next year :smile:

Reply 8

Soph Soph

8

Why not try something related to energy generation. Are there any power stations in your area?

For my work experience placement last year I went to a small software company, where I did some software testing. I had to be really methodical and any IT skills will look good on your uni application too.

Reply 9

JeeSawyer

Well, I was kinda lucky. Our school didn't give us specific time for work experience but they put a lot of importance by it so they tell us to constantly look for it and take it when we can.
I took a week with NPL, as I remember it was after the June exams and I just had to run it by them and I got the week off for wk exp. That was my AS year.
Try and look for some extra stuff during the holidays or something if you can't find anything that fits that week, or if you find something you passionately want to do, ask your school really nicely if they can make an exception and you'll work hard to catch up?

Reply 10

k9markiii

18

Original post by Hologide

I'm applying for physics. I got a couple of weeks experience at Prodrive, but in hindsight, it was almost useless from a physics perspective. It's almost impossible to get decent physics work experience, apparently.... :-\

For physics there is no work experience in reality until the second year of uni as earlier you don't know enough. You don't need any work experience for physics ucas applications.

Reply 11

k9markiii

18

Original post by JeeSawyer

Well, I was kinda lucky. Our school didn't give us specific time for work experience but they put a lot of importance by it so they tell us to constantly look for it and take it when we can.
I took a week with NPL, as I remember it was after the June exams and I just had to run it by them and I got the week off for wk exp. That was my AS year.
Try and look for some extra stuff during the holidays or something if you can't find anything that fits that week, or if you find something you passionately want to do, ask your school really nicely if they can make an exception and you'll work hard to catch up?

National physical laboratory before starting A-levels. Wow.

Reply 12

TheRandomer

18

zombiethread.com

... read the OP - 2007!!!

Reply 13

SnoochToTheBooch

17

I can't imagine anything that would really be relevant. Just focus on understanding the material at this stage, you won't need any real experience until you get towards the sharp end of your degree.

Reply 14

bluemax

16

you can contact professors at uni who are running labs, and request for volunteer work. Maybe they'll grant you a temporary attachment.

Reply 15

monica

dude, hardly no one gets physics work experience and u dont need it to study physics at uni, volunteer at the fire department or homeless shelter instead, you'll enjoy yourself, help others and it will look great in ur UCAS form

Reply 16

subzero0137

12

Try the Radiology department of NHS.

Physics Work Experience

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Articles for you