Each summer, the Astrophysics Research Institute (home to The Schools' Observatory) runs a work experience week.
We welcome students from school year 12 (or equivalent) to this non-residential event. While we welcome students from all across the UK and Ireland, please note that you will need to provide your own accommodation. We may be able to provide financial support for public transport costs. We especially encourage applications from students within the Liverpool City Region.
This week consists of talks and workshops and will give the students an idea of how professional research is done at a university. The students will work in pairs to research an area of astrophysics and produce a poster summarising their work. Each day will start at 9.30 am and end at 4.45 pm.
Some of the talks and workshops include:
- Introduction to Astrophysics
- Using Astronomical Data
- Introduction to Robotic Telescopes
- Design a Telescope
- Science Communication skills
- University life
- Careers in Physics
There will also be opportunities to talk with current students about what it is like to go to university.
Applications for the week will open on the 3rd of February and close on the 7th of April 2025.
The week begins on Monday, the 7th of July, and runs to Friday, the 11th of July 2025. We are unable to provide placements outside of this week.
We will cover the costs of local transport and lunch for the week.
If you have any questions about the application form, please email SchoolsObs@ljmu.ac.uk, and we will get back to you during regular office hours. We will inform all applicants of their application's outcome by the 28th of April 2025.
Key information
The application will be online through a platform called HEAT (Higher Education Access Tracker).
Applicants must be England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, or Éire residents.
Applicants must be under the age of 18 and in the school year:
- England and Wales - Year 12
- Northern Ireland - Year 13
- Scotland - S5
- Éire - Fifth Year
- Or equivalent full-time education
As this event aims to support students from under-represented groups in Higher Education and physics, applications are ring-fenced to students from the following groups:
- attend, and have always attended, a state-funded school or college (non-fee paying) in the UK
- from an ethnically diverse background
- young carer
- care experienced
- seen or unseen disability
- the first generation to consider university
- have you ever qualified for free school meals
There is no charge for this work experience week.
Read what students have said about Work Experience Week
It was such an informative and hands on week that I would recommend to anyone considering Physics at university in the future, as it really helped to affirm my choice of doing a Natural Sciences degree at university.
By Emma Durkin.
All in all it was a really fun and interesting week, it provides a realistic insight into research jobs and student life at any university...I would highly recommend that all students apply to this, as it really was intriguing and provides amazing opportunities and a lot of information.
By Louis Wilks-Reeves - Read Louis' full blog post.