Pupils → Preparing for applications
STEP 3 of 9
Preparing for applications
How to get clinical work experience, organise a placement and build your extra-curriculars.
Clinical Work Experience
Clinical work experience is your chance to step into healthcare and see what it's really like – in a hospital, GP practice or care home. It will help you decide whether medicine, or another healthcare career, is right for you.
Talks from doctors and programmes designed for pupils, like our Virtual Work Experience, are useful too
What you'll do
Join a ward round
Follow the team as they review each patient on the ward
Shadow the wider team
Spend time with nurses and other allied health professionals
Sit in on clinics
Observe interactions at GP or hospital appointments
Chat with patients
Talk to patients or care home residents about their care
Types of placement
Hospital
About 1 week
Shadow specialists and see how patients on the wards (inpatient care) are looked after.
GP practice
About 1 week
Shadow GPs and see how patients are treated in the community.
Care home
3-6 months
Volunteer once a week, helping and spending time with residents.
Top Tip: How long?
Length isn't the most important thing – what you learn is. As a guide, aim for about 1 week each in a hospital and a GP practice, and 3–6 months volunteering once a week in a care home.
Why does it matter?
Medical schools care a lot about clinical work experience. You'll draw on it in your personal statement and at interview to show that you:
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understand what being a doctor is really like
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have reflected on the skills doctors need - communication, empathy, problem-solving and scientific understanding - and have them, or can develop them
Organising a placement
Finding possible placements
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List local GP practices and their contact details
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Pick hospital specialties that interest you and find the doctors' secretaries
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Search for care homes near you
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Expect some rejections – places are limited
Get in touch
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Email early, using our email template
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Say when you're available
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Follow up after a week if you hear nothing
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Send emails early morning or late evening, so they're near the top of the inbox
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No reply? Try phoning or calling in
While you're on placement
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Be on time and dress smartly
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Ask lots of questions – about the doctor's career, their specialty and anything you don't understand
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Keep a diary using our work experience log
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Look out for the qualities of a good doctor, like communication and empathy
Reflect on what you see
What did I see?
What went well - and what didn't?
What did I learn?
How did it make me feel?
Why did it happen?
What would I do differently?
Writing this down after each day makes your personal statement much easier to write
Extra-curricular activities
Medical schools want rounded people, not just people who are great academically. Volunteering, part-time jobs, sport, music and clubs can all show qualities like teamwork, commitment and leadership.
Keep a record of what you do and the skills it shows – you'll use it for your personal statement and interviews.
Free templates
Download these, fill them in and keep them up to date
Useful Links
YCBAD Virtual Work Experience - our free online programme
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde - work experience opportunities
RCGP Observe GP - free online GP work experience
NHS Lothian: Step into Healthcare - work experience in Lothian