The Student Room Group

Work Experience

I’m a student in Edinburgh and I was wondering how to get opportunities for work experience before my application for medical school. What’s the best method?
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Megathreads
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The "Which Medical School Should I Apply To?" Uberthread
The Ultimate 'Am I Good Enough For Medicine?' Angst Thread
Medicine A-Level subjects queries
Work Experience and Voluntary Work

2023 Applicants:
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2023 Entry
Graduate Entry Medicine 2023 Entry
Medicine 2023 entry for resit / retake / gap year applicants
A100 Medicine for International Students 2023 Entry
Medicine Interview discussion 2023 Entry
2023 entry A100 / A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Index of Individual Medical School Applicants' threads 2023 Entry

2024 Applicants :
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2024 Entry
Graduate Entry Medicine 2024 Entry
GAMSAT 2024 / 2025 entry discussions megathread
UCAT 2024 Entry Discussions Megathread
Medicine 2024 entry for resit / retake / gap year applicants
A100 Medicine for International Students 2024 Entry
Medicine Interview Discussion 2024 Entry
2024 entry A100 / A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Medical Schools Index 2024 Entry

2025 Applicants :
Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2025 entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2025 Entry
GAMSAT 2025 / 2026 entry discussions megathread
UCAT 2025 Entry Discussions Megathread


Other application years:
Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2026 entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2026 Entry

Useful Articles:
GCSE Requirements for Medicine
Everything you need to know about the BMAT
Work Experience as a Graduate or Mature student
Medicine Personal Statement Advice
Medicine Personal Statement Advice (Graduate Entry)
Interview Frequently Asked Questions
MMI Medicine Interview Tips
What to do after an unsuccessful first application
Funding medicine as a second degree

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Reply 2
Original post by tonytwu0701
I’m a student in Edinburgh and I was wondering how to get opportunities for work experience before my application for medical school. What’s the best method?

Did your health board not provide any like work observation opportunities? Because the health board in my area did that for students
Reply 3
Original post by AZhou1201
Did your health board not provide any like work observation opportunities? Because the health board in my area did that for students

My health board does have a programme for work experience but the applications have closed and I fear the next one might be too far away in terms of time as they haven’t released the dates yet. I was just wondering if there was another way for work experience such as shadowing at a GP and how I could find a opportunity for that?
Reply 4
Original post by tonytwu0701
I’m a student in Edinburgh and I was wondering how to get opportunities for work experience before my application for medical school. What’s the best method?

Are you applying for uni this year for 25 entry or? If applying this year, what work experience have you had so far?

A rule of thumb, you need to be pro-active in looking around and not rely on your school to provide. I started looking for work experience straight after my GCSE (or your N5 in Scotland), approached care homes, GP and hospitals.
Reply 5
Original post by Jonjon7
Are you applying for uni this year for 25 entry or? If applying this year, what work experience have you had so far?
A rule of thumb, you need to be pro-active in looking around and not rely on your school to provide. I started looking for work experience straight after my GCSE (or your N5 in Scotland), approached care homes, GP and hospitals.


I’m applying for 25 entry but I haven’t had medical work experience yet, only non-medical volunteering. I just can’t find anywhere to go because the medical board programme just ended and the GPs I called wouldn’t take me
Reply 6
Original post by tonytwu0701
I’m applying for 25 entry but I haven’t had medical work experience yet, only non-medical volunteering. I just can’t find anywhere to go because the medical board programme just ended and the GPs I called wouldn’t take me

Medical schools preference quality over quantity. When you said non-medical volunteering, by that do you mean care homes or?

After Covid, though not an excuse, a lot of work experience places are only beginning to open up. While medical work experience is preferred by medical schools, it is not compulsory - they understand. Look around to see if you can find disability organisations that you can help out for summer too. There are quite a number within Edinburgh city.

Reflection of what you have done is more important than what you have done. Press on.

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