Work experience

Work experience is a fantastic way to gain an insight into a wide range of career opportunities in NHS.

It gives you an opportunity to experience and observe the day to day work of NHS staff.

They can help build your confidence and give you an understanding of the attitudes, behaviours and values that are expected in a healthcare setting.

Explore your future career

Not only doctors and nurses work in our Trust - there are over 350 different careers within the NHS, each with a vital role to play in delivering high quality, compassionate care.

Clinical and non-clinical careers include:

Healthcare Support Worker (HSW)
Allied Health Professional (AHP)
Healthcare Scientist
Estates
IM&T
Finance

and many more.

Visit the NHS Health Careers website to discover NHS careers that match your interests:

Take our careers quiz | Health Careers

Who can apply

We give priority to applicants from Oxfordshire schools and our immediate area.

From 15 years of age students / participants may apply for a placement in non-clinical areas and undertake administration / clerical duties.

From 16 years of age students / participants may be placed in a clinical area or ward for work shadowing/observation only - they should be assigned to shadow an employee undertaking their normal duties, allowing close observation to gain an insight into the role.

From 18 years of age students / participants / adults considering a change of career are permitted to observe in our theatres and emergency departments.

Work experience does not include longer industry placements (T-levels).

Roles within OUH

We offer work experience across clinical and non-clinical roles.

Medicine
Nursing
Midwifery
Pharmacy
Operating Department Practice (ODP)
Radiography (Diagnostic)
Therapies (Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy)
Biomedical Science (Microbiology, Biochemistry etc.)
Finance
Health Administration
Human Resources
Property Services and Estates

We cannot offer work experience in our Emergency Department or Mortuary.

Locations

We have four main hospital sites and some services in the community. Some specialist roles are only available on certain sites.

For details of our sites and the transport options available please visit:

Our Hospitals - Oxford University Hospitals

How and when to apply

We open application windows five times a year. While we do our best to fulfil as many requests as possible, we have a limited capacity, and we cannot guarantee a placement for every applicant.

Placements usually last three days: if you need a full week of work experience or more you you will have to source the remaining time with an additional employer.

We offer a maximum of one week to any individual for work experience, so if you apply for multiple placements we will reject your application.

We cannot offer placements at weekends or during festive periods.

We aim to let you know if your application has been successful no more than six weeks after the closing date.

Contact us

Email: ouh.workexperience@ouh.nhs.uk

Application windows

July and August 2025 placements

Due to the large number of applications received, this window has now closed.

Dates for the next academic year will be published soon.

Discover careers in NHS - After School Talks

We invite secondary school students to attend our after-school talks. They help you understand range of healthcare professions and how they work in multidisciplinary teams.

Events for next academic year will be advertised here.

Virtual programmes

The NHS offers online work-related learning through Springpod, providing an excellent introduction to various healthcare careers and helping you prepare for in-person work experience.

This is open to students aged from 13 years living in the South East of England.

Each program takes six to eight hours to complete at your own pace with a certificate on completion.

The following areas are available:

Allied Health
Dentistry
Health and social care
Useful if you are not sure where to start - covers clinical and clinical support careers
Medicine
Nursing and Midwifery
Pharmacy
Psychology

Other opportunities

Elective placements

If you are a medical student looking for a placement on the Medical School Elective Programme, please visit:

Electives - University of Oxford, Medical Sciences Division

Overseas applicants seeking elective placements please visit:

Honorary contract holders - Oxford University Hospitals

Resources

Below is a selection of links of interest to those thinking about careers in medicine, health and social care. Many others can be found online by searching.