Work Experience

Variety of careers available in the NHS 

There are over 350 different career opportunities available within the NHS ranging from Doctors to Dentists, Nurses to New-born Screeners, Pharmacists to Porters, Secretaries to Sonographers, Audiologists to Accountants and many more. For more information about the variety of roles available in the NHS please visit the NHS careers website 

Which career is right for you? 

NHS Careers website also offer a comprehensive Careers Quiz which will consider your professional aspirations and work environment preferences and may suggest a career you are currently unaware exists. With the opportunity to then explore each role in detail this could open up new and exciting careers opportunities. Take the NHS careers quiz

Benefits of work experience 

Everyone will have their own reasons for applying for a work experience opportunity and in turn each opportunity will have its own benefits which can include:

• Meeting professional colleagues and understanding their career journey

• A real-life glimpse at working within our acute hospital setting.

• The opportunity to explore career pathways on offer here at UHP.

• Real experience to reflect upon when applying to further education or alternative academic pathways such as apprenticeships.

How do I prepare before applying? 

When you apply, you will need:

1) An active email address

So we can communicate with you throughout the process. We'll update you when each step of the onboarding process is complete so watch out for any emails from us.

2) Identification

1 x photo ID e.g. a passport or driver's licence

3) Parental Consent

Required for those under the age of 18 years.

4) Plenty of enthusiasm!

While traditional work experience can be a great option, it can also feel a little restrictive at times, especially when age requirements, limited hours, or specific role restrictions don’t quite fit your needs

If you’re 13 years or older, you can access virtual work experience through Springpod, a nationally recognised platform offering on‑demand learning that you can complete at your own pace. 

Virtual experience gives you a real insight into a wide range of NHS careers, both clinical and non‑clinical and is perfect if you’re still exploring your options or unsure which direction to take.

Programmes include:

• Career Modules

• Interactive quizzes

• Videos and activities

• Webinars and Q&A sessions

Best of all, Springpod is completely free to sign up to and can be accessed from anywhere in the UK, making it an easy and flexible way to start your journey into the world of health and care.

Current Opportunities:

• Sign up to HealthCare Science Careers (kindly provided by NHS England)

• Sign up to HealthCare Careers (kindly provided by Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust) 

Once you’ve found a career that sparks your interest, it’s really helpful to explore the real experiences of people already working or training in that role. The NHS Careers, Explore the Roles section is a fantastic place to start. It features real‑life stories, videos, and insights from staff and students across a wide range of professions, giving you a clearer picture of what each career is really like.

Explore NHS roles

Established by NHS England and working in partnership with St Johns Ambulance and local NHS trusts this amazing opportunity is open for young people aged 14-18. The NHS cadets programme is a free, fun, and hands‑on weekly experience designed to help you discover what it’s really like to work in health and care.

As a Healthcare Cadet, you’ll get to:

• Try out practical activities

• Meet inspiring healthcare professionals

• Explore exciting career pathways you may not have heard of

• Build confidence and new skills

If you’re curious about the world of health, enjoy trying new things, or want to find a future career you’ll love, this programme is a fantastic way to get started!

Find out more about the NHS cadets programme

Here at UHP we are committed to offering a variety of opportunities, creating a fair and simple application process for all.

Students are encouraged to engage with their speciality area of interest in order to secure a host available to support a work experience placement. 

• A list of departments and wards with floor maps can be found on our Finding your way at Derriford Hospital page

• Ward contact details can be found on our Ward Contacts and Visiting Times page  

• A-Z list of our services

What happens next?

Once you have secured a host they will begin the onboarding process. This will include the requirement to provide photographic ID, parental consent (if required) and sign a confidentiality agreement. In addition, some roles may also require the completion of a full Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and /or health clearance from our occupational health team.

Once the host has all the documents they require you will be ready to begin your placement. 

Need help securing a placement?

If you’ve explored the options above and still need a placement to support your higher‑education application, we’d love to help. Please complete this short online form, and we’ll do our very best to match you with a suitable opportunity.

Work Experience Placement Request Form

Please note:

We receive a high number of requests, so while we can’t guarantee a placement, we are committed to supporting you as much as we can.