STEM Work Experience
Designed to give year 11 to 13 students insight into the working world in a STEM setting, this extra-curricular experience is invaluable for aspiring young scientists and engineers who are making decisions about their higher education and employment paths. However, it is not designed to take the place of work experience organised by schools during term time.
Employers provide a series of opportunities for students that showcase the nature of their work and raise awareness of alternative career paths, such as Higher Apprenticeships. They may also provide a real-world project or challenge for students to tackle. Students have previously used their work experience to study for a Gold Crest Award or complete a project based on the work carried out during their placement.
We have previously placed students for work experience during the summer at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology focusing on practical lab work, BMW Mini Plant Oxford to look at car production, and Magna Exteriors to see how engineering is applied practically in the consumer industry. In 2023, students were placed at the University of Oxford Museum of Natural History, developing professional, data, digital, communication and research thinking skills, and Milestone Infrastructure, shadowing degree apprentice and graduate engineers looking at real world civil engineering problems.
To be eligible for our STEM Work Experience placements, students must:
- be in school year 11 to 13 at the time of application.
- attend a school in Oxfordshire or Buckinghamshire (or be within daily travelling distance of a work location in one of these counties).
- be available for at least one full week during the school summer holidays.
Unfortunately, we cannot offer work placements to students in other year groups or during school term time.
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In previous years
Eleanor did a research project investigating invasive crustacea species at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Brandon did an apprenticeship placement with the Engineering department of Oxford University
Olivia did a research project with CROWN to look at whether pyrolysis could be used for coating identification
I had a great couple of days, very challenging and inspiring. I was really pleased with the level of student engagement. Thank you for your efforts and the opportunity to be involved!
John, a volunteer
Many thanks to the companies who have previously hosted placements:
Abbott, Auberge du Chocolat, BMW Mini, Green Biologics, Chiltern Rangers, Dunn School of Pathology, Imageworks, Olamalu, Skanska, Specsavers, Viridor, Oxford University Museum of Natural History and Oxford University Engineering.