Work Experience Week

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, you will need to provide your own accommodation. We can provide financial support for public transport costs. We especially encourage applications from students within the Liverpool City Region.

This week consists of talks, 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 4.30 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.

The application form is now closed. Applications received after Monday 15th April 2024 will not be considered.

The week begins on Monday 8th July to Friday 12th July 2024. We are unable to provide placements outside of this week.

We provide scholarships to all work-experience students. These cover the costs of local transport and lunch for the week. We will be organising two optional evening social activities which will include an evening meal.

If you have any questions about the application form or scholarships, please email SchoolsObs@ljmu.ac.uk and we will get back to you during normal office hours. We will let all applicants know the outcome of their application by the 7th May 2024.

Key information

The online application form is now open and will close at the end of Monday 15th April 2024.

Applicants must be residents of England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, or Éire.

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 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.

 

Read about our previous work experience weeks: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023.