After the success of previous years' school work experience programme, we are delighted to announce that we will once again be hosting work experience here at the University, helping raise awareness of the variety of career pathways available at Bath, from retail to digital to research ethics, and much, much, more!
Marcus Munafo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor said:
'Our structured approach allows school students - regardless of any personal connections - to access meaningful work experience that genuinely prepares them for the future. This benefits everyone: placement students gain confidence and career insight; we showcase the University as an inclusive employer; and we inspire potential future collaborators and colleagues. I’m looking forward to hearing which departments take part, and the impact these placements have on both placement students and our community.'
We are therefore looking for the continued support of you, our staff community, to volunteer to get involved with our 2026 offering and help us provide a diverse range of quality, meaningful work experience to young people.
Our aim is to provide genuine insight into workplace culture, skills development that highlight the many career pathways available here and by doing so, demonstrate our commitment to inclusivity, and our future talent.
Placements will be taking place from 29 June 2026 to 3 July 2026.
Our programmes are designed to be department-led and student-driven. Our Work Experience team provide the framework, resources, and central coordination, but the day-to-day experience is shaped by you and runs within your existing work.
We couldn't have achieved the success of the past years without your enthusiasm and dedication. With your ongoing support, we are expanding these opportunities even further and continue making a meaningful difference to young people in our community. Keep reading to find out more.
Reasons to get involved
- students can bring a fresh perspective to your projects, offering innovative ideas and a renewed sense of enthusiasm
- it's a chance for your department to engage with the local community and contribute to the development of future talent
- work experience students can serve as a recruitment pipeline for future opportunities and they act as a gateway to a broader network of parents, carers and the education system who may not be aware of the diversity of careers on offer here.
- giving back and investing in the education of young talent can be incredibly fulfilling, both personally and professionally
- small commitment, big impact: hosting a placement doesn't require a large time investment. One week can build students’ confidence, influence their future, and provide practical, hands-on understanding of the workplace
- work experience isn't just about observation, it's about equipping young people with the skills, knowledge, and behaviours they need for the workplace while giving them genuine insight into career possibilities.
How work experience will work in 2026
After the success of last years placements, we are pleased to continue offering a one-week placement for Year 12/13 (or first year of college) students. These students have consistently shown the highest level of engagement and gained significant benefit from the programme.
Dates: 29 June – 3 July 2026
Flexible hosting models:
We understand departments have varying capacities and availability. You can choose how to participate:
- Shadow model: Student observes and participates in existing work (minimal additional planning)
- Project model: Student completes a defined task/project over the week
- Rotation model: Consider sharing hosting with other team members within the department who are keen to develop their leadership skills or across different departments (1–2 days each). This is a great option for those who work on a hybrid basis.
What’s different?
New, Year 10 career taster programme (one-to-two day pilot)
Building on feedback from our staff community, we're piloting a new one-to-two-day career taster programme for Year 10 students (aged 14–15). This shorter format is designed for younger students who are exploring early career options. It aligns with the national movement toward multiple, progressive workplace experiences throughout secondary education, giving younger students their first structured encounter with the world of work.
We're initially offering this to Year 10 family members and friends of our staff community as a pilot, helping us assess the format before potentially expanding in future years.
Departments hosting Year 12 students will also have the option to participate in the Year 10 pilot, giving you flexibility to support both age groups if capacity allows.
We are currently finalising when placements will run. The MS form includes a selection of possible dates for departments to choose from, and we'll confirm the final dates once we’ve reviewed everyone's availability.
A reminder about informal arrangements
We know some of you may be considering arranging informal visits for family or friends outside our official programmes. While we appreciate your willingness to support young people, structured placements deliver significantly better outcomes:
- students gain formal recognition useful for university applications
- you're covered by proper insurance and safeguarding processes
- the experience aligns with meaningful learning outcomes, not just observation
- it ensures fairness for students who don't have University connections
By channelling everyone through our official programmes, you're giving your family and friends a better experience and receiving full support from our team.
Register Your Interest
To register your interest for both of our June 2026 work experience programmes, please complete this short Microsoft Office form
Please do also explore our other diverse outreach initiatives.