Careers Centres

Most universities have a careers centre, some offer a "Graduate Service" to students who have already graduated. Services vary but they offer basic careers guidance and have general information and resources that are available for use.

Careers Fairs

Careers fairs are useful events that will offer a chance to explore many different areas of work and meet different employers. To find out more about careers fairs in your area look at your University careers website or visit your local careers centre.

Search Online

Here are selection of websites which have information on current job vacancies within biology and in science-related areas:

• Royal Society of Biology - Job Board
• Biomedical Science Jobs
• Environmental Jobs
• Jobs in Science
• Naturejobs 
• New Scientist Jobs 
• Overseas Biology Jobs
• Science Careers - worldwide

General Graduate Jobs

• Guardian Jobs
• Target Jobs    
• Milkround  
• Prospects
• Jooble
• LinkedIn

Speculative approaches

Jobs that are in areas that are very competitive are often never advertised, instead the companies rely on speculative applications, when an application letter is sent to a company that is not advertising vacancies.

Work experience

There are some science organisations that offer work experience specially for A level students. Here are some examples:

• The Nuffield Foundation offers bursaries to support A level students on work experience placements
• University College London offers lab based workshops and work experience via its Zebrafish group
• The MRC Clinical Sciences Centre in London runs a summer studentship (however this is not taking place in 2020 due the COVID-19 pandemic)
• GlaxoSmithKline offer experience in labs in institutions in London, Essex and Hertfordshire
• The EDA Year in Industry helps post A-Level/Higher/Advanced Higher and undergraduate students find 9 to 12 month paid work placements in all areas of science
• STFC offer students lab work experience at Chilbolton Observatory, Daresbury Laboratory, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and The UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UKATC)

Studentships and placements

Placements should be valuable to both the individual and the organisation. They may be integrated into your degree course as industrial placements, or you may do them outside of your studies as summer placements.

In some cases you can receive bursaries and grants in order to support your placement. The Society no longer offers Undergraduate Research Bursaries, but many of our Member Organisations offer support for research based placements as undergraduate studentships. They can also offer support in the form of bursaries and awards to attend conferences related to their discipline.