In this article Carl shares some of the work placement and internship programmes offered by companies, organisations and institutions throughout the world for physics undergraduates for the summer of 2012, as well as providing some hints and tips on how to maximise your chances of successfully applying…
Gaining hands on and and real world experience during the course of your undergraduate degree course is well on its way to being considered equally as important as the class of degree you graduate with and can set you apart from any other candidates that apply for the same position as you. In short, gaining experience during your degree can give you an advantage after graduation whatever path you choose, be it staying in education or searching for employment – even if the experience has nothing to do with your degree subject!
Student Opportunity Directory
Carl Talks Physics has compiled a detailed list of some of the opportunities available to, although not limited to, physics-based undergraduates in the United Kingdom that wish to gain experience during the summer of 2012.
The below list will be continually updated and added to as we discover new and exciting opportunities over the coming months, so please bookmark this page and revisit it on a regular basis! Get applying and good luck!
Contents
- Astronomy
- Engineering & Defence
- Atomic Weapons Establishment – Undergraduate Sponsorship Programme
- Babcock International Group – Summer Internship Programme
- BP - Engineering Internship
- Defence Engineering and Science Group (MoD)
- Rolls-Royce – Summer Internships
- Business & Finance
- Marketing
- ExxonMobil – Gas & Power Marketing Summer Placement
- GlaxoSmithKline – Pharmaceutical Marketing Summer Internship
- Particle Physics
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) – Summer Student Programme
- Diamond Light Source – Work Placements & Internships
- Fermilab – Internships for Physics Majors (IPM)
- CERN – Summer Student Programme
- Science Journalism
- General Programmes
- IAESTE – International Work Experience for Technical Students
- Institute of Physics – Work Placements Scheme
- Imperial College London – UROP
- Nuffield Foundation – Undergraduate Research Bursaries in Science
- Rutherford Appleton Laboratory & Daresbury Laboratory – Vacation Student Scheme
- STEP Classic Placement Programme
- Other Institutions
- Application Hints & Tips
Astronomy
| University of Leicester – SURE Summer Programme | |
| Description: | ‘SURE is a six-week summer programme which will support up to eight undergraduate students to undertake research within the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Space Research Centre at the University of Leicester. A range of projects will be available in the fields of astrophysics, space science, and condensed matter physics.’ |
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| More Info: | SURE Summer Program |
| Oxford University – Summer Students | |
| Description: | ‘Students will work with a supervisor in the department, usually a postdoctoral researcher or lecturer, on a self-contained research project, with the idea that progress can be made during the summer. There will also be some lectures on current astrophysics topics. Students are encouraged to take part in department life, joining researchers for coffee, discussions and seminars.’ |
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| More Info: | Oxford University – Summer Students |
Engineering & Defence
| Atomic Weapons Establishment – Undergraduate Sponsorship Programme | |
| Description: | ‘Our undergraduate sponsorship programme is an excellent way to lay the foundations for a long-term career at AWE. If you are in the penultimate year of your university degree/PhD or college course (or the year before your sandwich year), and you have the right set of qualities, you can apply. We look for students who are studying a field of science or engineering that is relevant to our work here at AWE and who are keen to develop their skills.’ |
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| More Info: | AWE – Undergraduate Sponsorship Programme |
| Babcock International Group – Summer Internship Programme | |
| Description: | ‘If you want to find out if Babcock is right for you, we offer undergraduate work experience.’ |
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| More Info: | Babcock International Group – Summer Internship Programme |
| BP – Engineering Internships | |
| Description: | ‘You could be extracting energy, looking after the safety of our operations; or making them run more efficiently and more reliably. You may be working out in the field or back in the office. Choose Offshore/Subsea engineering for example, and you could find yourself working with a senior engineer on the structural and dynamic modelling of offshore floating and fixed platforms. Opt for Drilling & Completion and you could be working in interesting and challenging environments, helping the team better understand and quantify drilling rig downtime and operational efficiency.’ |
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| More Info: | BP – Engineering InternshipsOnline Application Form |
| Defence Engineering and Science Group (MoD) | |
| Description: | ‘We offer graduates the opportunity to join what is probably the best graduate development scheme for engineers and scientists in the UK: The Ministry of Defence, Defence Engineering and Science Graduate Scheme.’ |
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| More Info: | DESG by the MoD |
| Rolls-Royce – Summer Internships | |
| Description: | ‘We offer a range of opportunities for university and school students to develop skills and experience while gaining an insight into Rolls-Royce and the people who help shape our business.’ Opportunities available throughout the company, not just in engineering. |
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| More Info: | Rolls-Royce – Summer Internships |
Business & Finance
| Ernst & Young – Summer Internships | |
| Description: | ‘EY FastTracks programmes offer a wide range of experiences including one day insights, internships, international experiences and placements right through to four year degree courses. All these programmes will help you discover what work and life is like at one of the world’s leading professional services firms before you decide on your career.’ |
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| More Info: | Ernst & Young Summer Internships |
| GlaxoSmithKline – Purchasing / Procurement Summer Internship | |
| Description: | ‘We are offering you the opportunity to work with senior procurement professions for 8 to 10 weeks during your summer vacation. The work will focus on specific assignments to deliver benefit to Procurement’s business partners; Commercial, Production, Research & Development, IT and Corporate Services. During this time you will be provided with the appropriate level of support and training.’ |
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| More Info: | GlaxoSmithKline – Purchasing / Procurement Summer Internship |
| PricewaterhouseCoopers – Insight Placements & Internships in Assurance, Consulting, Tax, Finance Advice & Actuarial | |
| Description: | ‘On our summer internship programme, you’ll experience work and life at PwC, and gain a valuable insight into our business and culture.’ |
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| More Info: | PwC – Insight Placements & Internships |
Marketing
| ExxonMobil – Gas & Power Marketing Summer Placement | |
| Description: | ‘You will be given a project with direct relevance to and benefit for the business. You will work closely with experienced staff to scope, develop and deliver a project to address a specific business issue – at the end of the project the results will be reviewed by senior management.’ |
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| More Info: | ExxonMobile – Gas & Power Marketing Summer Placement |
| GlaxoSmithKline – Pharmaceutical Marketing Summer Internship | |
| Description: | ‘We are offering you the opportunity to work for up to 10 weeks of your vacation with senior managers within GSK’s UK Commercial business. You will be provided with a challenging assignment/s which will be underpinned by the appropriate levels of support and training.’ |
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| More Info: | GlaxoSmithKline – Pharmaceutical Marketing Summer Internship |
Particle Physics
| Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) – Summer Student Programme | |
| Description: | ‘Each summer DESY offers undergraduate students in physics or related natural science disciplines the possibility to participate in the research activities of the laboratory. DESY is one of the world’s leading accelerator centres and a member of the Helmholtz Association. DESY develops, builds and operates large particle accelerators used to investigate the structure of matter.’ |
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| More Info: | DESY – Summer Student Programme |
| Diamond Light Source – Work Placements & Internships | |
| Description: | ‘Diamond Light Source is a new scientific facility in South Oxfordshire on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus. This giant machine, called a synchrotron, can be described as a series of “super microscopes”. It is housed in a futuristic doughnut-shaped building which covers the area of 5 football pitches. Diamond will ultimately host up to 40 cutting edge research stations, called beamlines, supporting the life, physical and environmental sciences.’ |
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| More Info: | Diamond Light Source – Work Placements & Internships |
| Fermilab – Internships for Physics Majors (IPM) | |
| Description: | ‘Fermilab’s IPM program offers ten-week summer internships to outstanding undergraduate physics majors. This program has been developed to familiarize students with opportunities at the frontiers of scientific research in particle physics.’ |
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| More Info: | Fermilab – Intern Programs – IPM |
| CERN – Summer Student Programme | |
| Description: | ‘The CERN Summer Student Program offers undergraduate students of physics, computing and engineering a unique opportunity to join in the day-to-day work of research teams participating in experiments at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland.’ |
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| More Info: | CERN – Summer Students Information Page |
Science Journalism
| BBC Focus Magazine | |
| Description: | ‘Focus has a very limited number of one and two-week editorial work experience slots available.’ |
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| More Info: | BBC Focus Magazine |
| European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) | |
| Description: | ‘In ESO ePOD you will work with a team of professional science communicators for the preparation of ESO and ESA/Hubble news and photo releases, publications, web pages, video scripts, exhibition panels and other public communication products.’ |
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| More Info: | ESO – Science Journalism Internship |
General Programmes
| IAESTE – International Work Experience for Technical Students | |
| Description: | ‘The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience, or IAESTE, is a student exchange programme with over 80 member countries worldwide. Since it was founded at Imperial College London in 1948, IAESTE has exchanged more than 330,000 students, often as the first step in their international careers.’ |
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| More Info: | IAESTE UK – International Work Experience for Technical Students |
| Institute of Physics – Work Placement Scheme | |
| Description: | ‘From 2012, the IOP is offering penultimate year undergraduate student members of the IOP the opportunity to gain work experience through our Work Placements Scheme. The scheme enables up to 40 students the opportunity to find work placements which will then be fully funded by the IOP.’ |
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| More Info: | Institute of Physics – Work Placement Scheme |
| Imperial College – Undergraduate Research Opportunities Research Programme (UROP) | |
| Description: | ‘UROP provides an opportunity for students who have yet to graduate from their masters degree to participate in real research. Established in 1980, UROP has hosted over 4000 students, many of whom have gone on to establish careers in research and development both in the academic and commercial environments.’ |
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| More Info: | Imperial College London – UROP |
| Nuffield Foundation – Undergraduate Research Bursaries in Science | |
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| More Info: | Nuffield Foundation – Undergraduate Research Bursaries in Science |
| Rutherford Appleton Laboratory & Daresbury Laboratory – Vacation Student Scheme | |
| Description: | ‘The Science and Technology Facilities Council offer the opportunity for undergraduate students to gain practical work experience during their holidays. Students can work for 4 -12 weeks at either the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Oxfordshire) or Daresbury Laboratory (Warrington) on projects relevant to their intended or current course of study, under the supervision of people qualified and experienced in their chosen field.’ |
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| More Info: | Rutherford Appleton Laboratory & Daresbury Laboratory – Vacation Student Scheme |
| STEP Classic Placement Programme | |
| Description: | ‘We offer first class placement opportunities, generally in smaller businesses right across the UK. Placements are ‘project-based’ and last between 8-12 weeks over the summer vacation, an ideal opportunity to get that first bit of credible work experience to add to your CV.’ |
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| More Info: | STEP Classic Placement Programme |
Other Institutions
Whilst applying to schemes like those above should play a vital part when trying to gain experience during your degree course, it is also wise to contact institutions that do not publicly offer them. Below is a list of institutions that our readers have suggested to us based on their own experiences. Read the hints and tips at the end of this guide on how to go about contacting these places to maximise your chances of getting the placement you want.
- France
- Institut Laue-Langevin
The Institut Laue-Langevin is an international research centre at the leading edge of neutron science and technology. The Institute operates one of the most intense neutron sources in the world, feeding intense beams of neutrons to a suite of 40 high-performance instruments that are constantly upgraded. - United Kingdom
- Jodrell Bank Observatory
Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics comprises research activities in astronomy and astrophysics at The University of Manchester, the world leading facilities of the Jodrell Bank Observatory, the MERLIN/VLBI National Facility, the Development Office of the Square Kilometre Array, and the Jodrell Bank Visitor Centre.
Application Hints & Tips
Whilst applying to many programmes will increase your chances of having something exciting to do over the summer, so will ensuring that the applications you send off are of a high quality and promote you as well as everything you have to offer. Here are Carl’s top hints and tips for applying to internship and work placement programmes…
General Hints & Tips
- Check to see if your own university operates programmes you may wish to apply for.
- Check your e-mails for advertised opportunities your school may send round.
- Be prepared to apply to quite a few placements and internships.
- Be prepared to receive rejections, or in some cases absolutely no reply at all.
- Ask your academic/personal tutor to check your CV and a cover letter, to let you know if your style is right.
Cover Letters
- Be clear, concise and enthusiastic.
- Tell them the reasons behind your application to them.
- Share your previous relevant experience.
- Be professional and always check spelling and punctuation.
Finding a Placement
If a company, organisation or institution does not publicly advertise a placement or internship scheme, it does not necessarily mean they will not take you on. Here are some tips on how to go about contacting a company you want to work for.
- Contact the right person within the company.
- Be polite and professional when contacting them.
- Tell them why their company is special to you.
- Let them know what you have to offer; make yourself stand out.
- Attach your CV with any e-mail/letter you send.
