Careers

Work Experience and Placements

Work experience provides a valuable opportunity to discover more about a career interest in the NHS. Offering an insight into the behaviours, attitudes and values expected in a healthcare setting. 

There are over 350 career possibilities within the NHS to choose from, all of which make a difference to people lives every day. 

Shadowing our teams you will see firsthand what the career role you are considering involves on a day to day basis and will have the chance to meet and speak to our staff about their role and experiences.

Work Experience Placements at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust are on set dates and are for a set number of days.

Work experience opportunities are very popular, and places are limited. The Trust receives a high level of requests each year and we regret we are unable to offer all students who contact us a placement.

We recommend you have explored your career ideas thoroughly before applying. To find out about careers in all areas of the NHS go to https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/ 

For online work experience programmes see:

Eligibility:

  • To be eligible to apply for a placement students must be in Yr 12 or 13 and both resident in and at school in Berkshire. 
  • Applicants must be able to attend on the designated placement dates. We are unable to offer alterative dates. 

Applications for Medicine Placements:

Applications for medicine work experience for those intending to apply for medicine will open on:

  • Tuesday 1st September at 8am and close on Tuesday 15th September 2026 at 6pm Placements will be for 3 days during the week of Mon 12th to Friday 16th October 2026 or the week of Mon 22nd to Friday 26th February 2027. 
  • Thursday 10th December 2026 at 8am and close on Thursday 24th December 2026 at 6pm. Placements will be for 3 days during the week of Mon 19th April to Friday 23rd April 2027 or the week of Mon 12th to Friday 16th July 2027

How to apply

To apply to be considered for a place please complete the following application during the applications dates - https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/Pn90nHP9jS 

We regret that due to the huge number of applications received we can only respond to students whose applications are successful. 

Applications for all other areas:

Applications for all other areas will open on 5th September 2026 and will close when all places for this year are full.

To apply please enquire about availability at healthcareworkexperience@royalberkshire.nhs.uk giving your name, school/college attended and the career role you are interested in within the NHS.

Students are required to provide proof of vaccinations at time of application.

We are unable to offer placements for the following areas - Psychology, Psychiatry, Paramedics, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Drama Therapy, Dietetics, Social Work or Mental Health. 

Medical Students and Doctors

Medical Students/Doctors requesting Clinical Attachments – please contact medicaleducationenquiries@royalberkshire.nhs.uk 

Nursing & Midwifery Open Morning 

This event is an opportunity for students in Yr 11, 12 and 13 who are considering nursing or midwifery to come along and meet our teams to find out more about a career as a nurse or midwife. It takes place in January each year. Details will be sent to local schools/colleges for students to register in December. 

Introduction to Medicine Day

Each year in the spring we host an Introduction to Medicine Day for Yr 12 students applying to study medicine. The day provides a valuable insight into what it is really like to study medicine and work as a doctor or surgeon in the NHS. This year the date will be 14th April 2027.

Information will sent to local schools/colleges for students to register to attend in March.