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Department of Physics and Astronomy

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Contact Details

Tel.: +44 (0)116 252 3575

Email: mc323@le.ac.uk
Fax: +44 (0)116 252 2770


Department of Physics & Astronomy,
University of Leicester,
University Road,
Leicester, LE1 7RH,
United Kingdom.

 

Work Experience for GCSE / A-Level Students

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers an extremely limited number of placements for students who require a work experience placement as part of their formal coursework. This page provides information on how to apply for a place.

Work Experience Placements in the Department of Physics & Astronomy

 

The Department of Physics & Astronomy receives a large number of requests for work experience placements from students engaged in GCSE and A-Level studies.

We believe that Work Experience placements should be interesting, enjoyable and most importantly, representative of the work carried out by the organisation in which the placement is offered. The research which we carry out is complex, requiring excellent mathematical, scientific and practical skills, so that full engagement with projects is typically only possible in the later stages of an undergraduate course in physics or as a PhD student. However, we understand the value of well structured work placements for students who may be considering science as a subject for University study. Consequently we offer a small number of work experience opportunities that are designed to give some insight into the life of a research physicist, through the use of small, self-contained projects, work-shadowing and simple research tasks, some of which may lead to the production of a poster or web-page on a particular subject.

Our placements are supervised by scientists who are experts in their field. These are physicists who are engaged in full-time research projects, but who are prepared to donate some of their time to supervise well-motivated work experience students. As a consequence, demand for work experience opportunities is far greater than the number of placements we can offer.

 

Applying for a Work Experience Placement

Applications should be submitted as soon as the work experience weeks have been decided by the school or college (note that many schools decide these dates 9 to 12 months in advance, and as a result, our placements for summer are usually completely allocated by November of the previous year). Applications are only accepted through the electronic submission form on this website.

 

What do I need to send?

To apply for a placement, please complete the electronic submission form. You will need to provide the following:
 
  1. A letter explaining why you are particularly interested in a placement in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Leicester. Your letter should include information on any areas of physics and astronomy that are of particular interest to you. You should tell us if you are a member of any relevant clubs or societies (for example, a school science club or local astronomical society), and also outline your career aspirations at the present time.
  2. The dates for which the placement is required. Note that placements, when available, are limited to a maximum duration of 1 week (i.e. 5 working days).
  3. Information on your current grades in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, and predicted exam results if they are available.
  4. A letter of support from the teacher responsible for teaching your mathematics or science class. This letter should be uploaded with the rest of your submission on the electronic form, and should include a contact telephone number or email address so that we can verify the information and discuss your performance with the tutor.

Please note: formal school paperwork should not be submitted at this stage. We will request this information later, should a placement be granted.
 

What happens after I submit my application?

  1. We shortlist submissions which indicate an academic ability and enthusiasm for the subject. 
  2. We then search for a supervising member of staff who can offer a placement for the required dates, in an area that is likely to be of interest to the student. 
  3. If a potential supervisor is available then he/she may ask you to attend an interview. In some cases this can be via telephone, but may be a face-to-face meeting in the Department.
  4. If your application passes the three stages above, then we will issue a formal offer of a placement. At this stage you should ask your school's Work Experience coordinator to send all necessary paperwork to us at the address below. 
  5. Unfortunately due to the number of requests which we receive, we will not contact you unless a potential supervisor is available. You are welcome to contact us for an update on progress.
 

How long does the process take?

 
Typically ~4 weeks from your application being received. If you have not received further communication from us within this time, then your application has not been successful. You are welcome to contact us directly at the end of this period for confirmation of your application status.