Search for work experience

There are many ways to build your work experience and develop the professional and transferable skills that employers seek. On this page you will find a range of examples with weblinks.

What work experience opportunities are at the University?

Worklink is the University of Birmingham’s casual recruitment agency. Find flexible, part-time work right here on campus. A part-time job is a brilliant form of work experience, which graduate employers value and want to hear about in your job applications and interviews. Worklink advertises paid roles on campus.

Become a student rep, representing the views and needs of fellow students on your course to academics and other University staff to help continuously improve the academic student experience. This is a great opportunity to develop your networks and transferable skills- such as communication, public speaking and negotiation skills. The deadline for becoming a Student Rep this year is 19th Oct 2025.

Work related and work-based programmes

Careers Network also run a number of work experience programmes to assist your learning and professional development in readiness for future work and life after graduation. Please click on the links for further information and eligibility.   

For undergraduate first year students

For undergraduate second year students

  • 125 Future Focused Micro Internships programme (part funded by Santander, held in Semester 2 (5 days)
  •  Impact Challenge, held in June 2026 (5 days) 

For undergraduate third year students:

  • 125 Future Focused Micro Internships Programme (part-funded by Santander – 5 days), held in Semester 2
  • Impact Challenge, held in June 2026 (5 days)
  • University of Birmingham Graduate Internship Programme, held in summer/autumn 2026 (13 weeks)

For postgraduate masters students: 

For all years, including graduates of 2024 and 2025

  • B-Experienced Programme (10 or 20 days)

For graduates:

  • University of Birmingham Graduate Internship Programme held in summer 2026 (13 weeks)

What work experience can I gain from the Guild of Students?

Be part of a Student Group or Society. What do you care about? What would be fun? There are over 300 groups to choose from. You can create work experience by helping to organise an activity; create content or help build connections with wider communities. You could even become a committee member.

Form your own Student Group. Gain work experience by managing and organising something that is meaningful to you and others, building skills and friendships along the way.

Join a student-led volunteering society and make a difference, locally, nationally or internationally. 

Enactus UK is an organisation that encourages students to engage in social action and environmentally responsible enterprise. Become a leader by running your own social project or assist a student project. Help transform communities and society. Every year you could enter a regional competition, judged by recruiters. Register via the Enactus website and get linked to the UoB Enactus student team.

Where can I find virtual work experience opportunities?

Bright Network's Internship Experience UK is a four-day virtual internship programme which takes place every summer. You don’t need any previous experience. This is a chance for you to learn about different sectors and gain clarity over what roles suit you.  

Forage's Virtual Experience Programmes, delivered in association with the University of Birmingham, are all free to students. These job simulations contain real industry tasks, to develop transferable skills for workplace readiness, and can highlight your motivation, drive and commitment to employers.  

Springpod is a careers platform offering on-demand work experience courses which provide some insight into specific sectors and companies, undertaken in your own time. Note there may be age constraints as some courses are for School/College leavers. But the ages mentioned on the programmes are more of a guideline than a strict limit. Springpod welcome older students to apply as well!

Where can I find insight weeks or days?

Insight programmes spanning a day, a few days or a week, are available in the Spring, aimed predominantly at undergraduate first year students, but can also be for second years. Opportunities are advertised from early Autumn, with deadlines for applications usually from September to December.

Gain insights from companies, learn about their roles and work. Get a "behind the scenes" picture. Activities can offer a work experience taster.

Find out which companies offer Spring insight programmes through sources such as:

Further information on Insight days, Insight Weeks and Spring Weeks can be found on the target jobs website.

Where can I find summer internship opportunities?

Summer internships take place during the summer vacation in a professional role within industry. They are usually 8-12 weeks duration. Formal internship programmes are targeted predominantly (though not exclusively) at penultimate year students and are also used to recruit to graduate training programmes. Internship deadlines can also be as early as October, but can be advertised all year round. They usually start in July. It is best to apply early in case places get filled before the deadline. 

Sample sources:

Where can I find 12-month placement opportunities?

Year-long placements are normally taken between the second and final year of study as part of your degree or a year’s absence. They are a great opportunity to get an in-depth understanding of a role and are used by many employers to recruit to graduate training programmes. Closing dates for opportunities can be as early as October - the year before. Students are advised to start looking from the summer (July/August/Sept) for placements (12 months before the placements start).

If you are a first year student, you could start finding out about placement opportunities now, to learn what the employers are seeking. Then you can use your time building the knowledge, skills and attributes required. 

Sample sources:

Where can I find volunteering opportunities?

Volunteering is a great way to make a difference. As a volunteer, you have lots of flexibility, enabling you to work-shadow, observe and contribute to worthy causes. Charities and not-for profit organisations are usually looking for volunteers all year round, enabling you to develop transferable skills and leadership capabilities. 

  1. For local opportunities in Birmingham, visit Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC): Volunteer in your community | BVSC
  2. These sources are from Prospects.ac.uk. For more information, visit the Prospects website on UK volunteering: 
  1. The University's Careers Connect lists more volunteering roles. For live volunteering roles, go to the bottom of our volunteering page 
  2. You can also approach specific organisations direct, taking a speculative approach. For more information on speculative applications and preparation, visit our page on Speculative application preparation. 

Funds for volunteering

Volunteering opportunities may offer reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses, such as travel, food, or childcare, but if this isn’t provided, you may be eligible to receive funding from the University, for example for travel expenses and accommodation for opportunities further afield. For UK-based opportunities, eligible students can access the Gateway to Work Experience Bursary. Postgraduate students can access the Postgraduate Work Experience Bursary. Student Development Scholarships are open to all full time registered students to financially support worthwhile and original travel projects intended to further their personal or academic development. 

Where can I find opportunities for volunteering outside of the UK?

Volunteering abroad provides a very different experience, travelling to another country which you may not have visited before. Your experience could be related to education, equality, the environment, law, conservation and more – aligned to the UN’s sustainable goals. Become more culturally and globally aware, developing competencies in perhaps other languages. 

The Go Global team at the University promote overseas opportunities, such as study abroad, research, work and volunteering. Visit the Go Global main webpage. For a list of global opportunities, please visit Go Global Summer. Funding may also be available, e.g. Turing funding. For further enquiries, email goglobalsummer@contacts.bham.ac.uk. 

Careers Connect also advertises international opportunities. You will need to log in.

There are a variety of organisations that offer overseas volunteering opportunities. There are usually fees / payment required. Your attention is required to research and delve into the detail to assess your budget, and due diligence. The Government website offers quality advice on Gap years, volunteering overseas and adventure travelling - GOV.UK. You should also seek foreign travel advice before travelling abroad. Third party organisations that are advertised via the Go Global team have been approved by the University.

International opportunities listed on Careers Connect and via Go Global which seek payment from students are restricted to UK campus students only (not Dubai campus).

Where can I find part-time opportunities to fit around my studies?

Part time work not only provides you with a wage. Recruiters value students who have part time work for their valuable transferable skills, such as time-management, customer service, communication, teamwork and reliability. Part time work is often found in the hospitality, health, retail and transport/warehousing sectors, and can also be seasonal.

The University recommends that students work for no more than 20 hours per week to ensure a healthy balance between studies, other commitments and earning money to support yourself.

Examples of sources to find part-time work:

Creating my own opportunities

You don’t have to get work experience through an advert. You could reach out to an employer or organisation yourself for work-shadowing, volunteering or part-time work. Why wait for something to spot, when you can take control yourself.

  1. Make a list of the organisations whose work interest you. Check what type of roles they offer on their website and use LinkedIn. The University’s Alumni Group on LinkedIn is another useful source, finding out what jobs graduates have gained with your degree. You can use online directories to assist you, or search which companies are located close by.
  2.  What skills and graduate attributes do you possess and seek to develop?
  3. What skills do you have that would match their needs, benefiting them?
  4. Make some phone calls to find out if they offer work experience, outlining why you have got in touch; what you are seeking and how you can assist them. Follow up with an email and you could send your CV.
  5. Students have even taken their CV to an organisation, gaining voluntary experience from having a face to face conversation.

For further guidance, go to Speculative application preparation.

Important information for international students - working on a student visa

International students who are on a visa must ensure their visa regulations permits them to undertake the work experience they are applying to or scheduled to undertake.

It is the responsibility of applicants on a visa to ensure they comply with their visa requirements and do not exceed the maximum hours they are permitted to work in the UK.

International students who hold a Student Route Visa to study in the UK are subject to working restrictions imposed by UKVI (UK Visas & Immigration). Breaching the working conditions and taking up work where you do not have the appropriate permission is considered illegal working and will affect your immigration record. Illegal work has additional serious consequences.

Please read further information about Working in the UK and Working during your studies from the International Student team.

 If you have any questions about your ability to work in the UK whilst on a student visa, contact the University of Birmingham’s International Student Team. 

Please also read the UK Council for International Student Affairs webpage on student work which provides helpful advice and guidance: Working as an international student

Important information on job scams

Navigating the job market can be challenging, and unfortunately, not all jobs advertised are genuine. A job scam happens when a fraudster claims to be a recruiter and seeks your personal details and bank account information. They seek to trick you into paying for something that doesn't exist. Scams can also occur when you are in work, such as receiving emails pretending to be a real person from your organisation.  

It is your responsibility to conduct your own research and due diligence on any employer which advertises a position, which includes the University’s Careers Connect. This includes checking that the position and employer are genuine. Be alert and vigilant. 

 Examples which suggest fraudulent behaviour: 

  • being directed to a business name, website, or contact information which is different, e.g. from that displayed on the advert (and/or any premium rate telephone number)
  • salary or benefits which seem ‘too good to be true’
  • requests for any upfront payments, for bank or financial information, or for a copy of your passport, driver’s licence or other identification. 

Visit: Stay vigilant avoiding job scams to receive helpful advice and tips.

For guidance on other scams and what to do if you are think you are being scammed, visit the University webpage: Advice on avoiding scams. 

The University accepts no liability in connection with any fraudulent advert or publication on Careers Connect. If you believe that an advert might be fraudulent, do not contact the employer: instead, please contact a member of our Careers Network team  careersenquiries@contacts.bham.ac.uk. 

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