Work experience, voluntary work and work shadowing

These are excellent ways to improve your application prospects by showing Admissions Tutors that you have relevant experience and gained useful insights. It’s also something you can talk about at selection interviews. Here are some suggestions:

Agriculture/Forestry/Horticulture- organise a year's work experience on a farm, do work experience with a forestry company, garden centre or local authority parks department.

Archaeology - go on archaeological digs, visit museums or sites.

Architecture - get work experience with a firm of architects, a construction company or local authority architects' department.

Business Studies - arrange work experience in any size or kind of business, do an Insight into Management course, attend Industry Days, shadow a manager.

Computing - try to get experience using a wide range of computer programs, use the internet, get some work experience with a computing company or a firm with a large computing department.

Engineering - attend an engineering 'taster' course at a university, shadow a professional engineer, check if there is a Neighbourhood Engineers Scheme locally. Girls could do a WISE (Women into Science and Engineering) course.

Environmental Science - do some voluntary work e.g., with BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) and attend field courses.

History - join a local historical society, get work experience or voluntary work with the National Trust or local museum.

Law - shadow a solicitor or barrister, visit courts, do voluntary work with offenders.

Media - write for your school or college magazine/website or start your own, visit local newspapers, radio and TV stations, work shadow a reporter or producer.

Medicine - shadow a family doctor, learn first aid, do voluntary work in a hospital or residential home for the elderly or people with disabilities.

Pharmacy - shadow a hospital or industrial pharmacist, get work experience as a sales assistant in a chemist's shop.

Teaching - do voluntary work or work experience in a primary school, help at a Sunday School or Youth Club.

Therapies - e.g., occupational therapy, orthoptics, physiotherapy, radiography, speech therapy; it is essential to visit a hospital department and shadow a professional before applying for any of these courses.

Veterinary Science - get work experience on a livestock farm, help at a cattery, kennels, stables or animal welfare organisation, shadow a vet.