Work experience is an excellent way to explore careers within the NHS and gain valuable insight into working in a healthcare environment. Whether you are considering a clinical career or would like to learn more about the wide range of professions available, our programmes are designed to provide a meaningful, informative and inspiring experience.
Why take part?
Our work experience programmes can help you:
- Explore a variety of healthcare careers.
- Develop your confidence and professional behaviours.
- Gain an understanding of the NHS values and what is expected of staff working within the organisation.
- Make informed decisions about your future education and career pathway.
Applying for work experience
To ensure our opportunities are fair, transparent and accessible, all placements are allocated through a structured application process.
Applications must be submitted during the advertised application windows using the relevant online application form. Applicants must:
- Be aged 16 to 18 years.
- Live or study in Kent, with priority given to applicants from Medway.
- Provide photographic identification.
- Supply the details of a referee from their school, college or education provider.
Each application is carefully reviewed, and applicants will be notified of the outcome by email.
We are committed to providing inclusive opportunities for all young people. As part of this commitment, priority is given to care leavers and young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Due to the high demand for our programmes, we are unable to offer a placement to every applicant. However, applicants who are unsuccessful and reapply during the next application window will receive priority consideration.
If you are unsure about any part of the application process, please contact us – we will be happy to help.
Application windows
Applications are only accepted during the designated application windows. Please submit your application from the 1st day of the application month to be considered. Applications received outside these periods cannot be accepted.
- Apply in April 2026 for placements in August 2026
- Apply in June 2026 for placements in October 2026
- Apply in November 2026 for placements in February 2027
- Apply in February 2027 for placements in June 2027
- Apply in April 2027 for placements in August 2027
- Apply in June 2027 for placements in October 2027
Please note: Applications can only be made for the placement dates linked to each application window. For example, applications submitted in April will only be considered for the August placements and cannot be transferred to October.
Our work experience programmes
Our programmes are delivered during scheduled placement weeks throughout the year. To ensure every participant receives a high-quality, safe and consistent experience, we are unable to accommodate individual or ad hoc placement requests outside of these programme dates.
Medical Professionals Programme (Observational Placement)
Designed for students considering a career in medicine, this programme provides the opportunity to observe consultants and multidisciplinary teams across a range of specialties. Participants will gain an insight into the realities of medical practice and develop an understanding of the skills, behaviours and commitment required to become a doctor.
Clinical Professionals Programme (Observational Placement)
Ideal for students interested in careers such as nursing, midwifery or the Allied Health Professions (AHPs), this programme offers exposure to a variety of clinical settings. Participants will meet healthcare professionals and gain an understanding of the many rewarding career opportunities available across the NHS.
Important information
- All placements are observational only.
- Students will be supervised at all times.
- Successful applicants will receive full joining instructions before the start of their placement.
- To provide a safe, well-supported and consistent experience, we are unable to arrange placements outside our scheduled programme weeks.
Contact us
Completed application forms should be emailed to:
Medical professionals observation placements
At Medway NHS Foundation Trust we want to support your medical career by offering you admission to specialist areas within Medway Maritime Hospital via our UCAS work experience. Our bespoke observation / shadowing placements will give you an opportunity to experience what happens within specialist clinical areas and meet professionals within their working environment. It will also give you an insight into the varied job roles vital to the NHS. You will be fully supported and supervised during your placement. We hope your placement will also provide insight and experience to help support your UCAS application to university so you can start your journey towards a healthcare career.
These placements are aimed at giving you a first-hand view of the healthcare profession, with potential areas for observation/shadowing that may include (depending on business needs at the time of placement):
- Emergency Department
- ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat)
- Medicine
- Orthopaedics
- Paediatrics
- Prehabilitation
- Radiology
- Research and Innovation
- Respiratory
- Rheumatology
- Theatres
Due to the high demand for placements, we use a shortlisting process to review applications which ensure that placements are offered to students whose academic achievements and career goals align with these opportunities. This process can take up to eight weeks. Please be aware, if you are unsuccessful we are unable to give feedback.
Placement availability is limited, and unfortunately, not all applications will be successful. If your application is successful, please be aware that your preferred area of interest may not be guaranteed due to business needs. However, we will make every effort to offer a placement that enhances your NHS experience, which may include exposure to a variety of departments to provide a broader understanding of healthcare careers.
Entry Criteria
To be eligible for the UCAS Observation Placements, you should:
- be studying towards and expect to achieve the qualifications that will enable you to start a career in medicine
- from 16 to 18 years old
- are educated or live in Kent with preference given to candidates from Medway
- be committed to apply to a UK medical school within the next 24 months
- have gained or predicted at least five GCSEs at grades 9 to 8 in Mathematics sciences
Please apply from the 1st of the application month to be considered. Applications sent outside of these allocated windows will not be considered.
- Apply in April 2026 for placements in August 2026
- Apply in June 2026 for placements in October 2026
- Apply in November 2026 for placements in February 2027
- Apply in February 2027 for placements in June 2027
- Apply in April 2027 for placements in August 2027
- Apply in June 2027 for placements in October 2027
For example you can’t apply in April to be placed in October.
Completed forms should be emailed to medwayft.workexperience@nhs.net
Clinical professionals observation placements
Clinical professionals work experience (Nurse or AHP) is an observational shadowing programme for school or college students wanting a career as a clinical professional. This programme is designed to help you build confidence, knowledge, and an understanding of nursing nd CSW careers within the NHS, supporting your future applications for university or healthcare roles.
Due to the high demand for placements, we use a shortlisting process to review applications which ensure that placements are offered to students whose academic achievements and career goals align with these opportunities. This process can take up to eight weeks. Please be aware, if you are unsuccessful we are unable to give feedback.
Placement availability is limited, and unfortunately not all applications will be successful.
If your application is successful, your placement programme will include experience across a variety of departments throughout the week, rather than within a single department or preferred area of interest. Placements in specific areas cannot be guaranteed and will depend on business needs.
However, we will make every effort to provide a placement that enhances your NHS experience by offering exposure to a range of departments, helping you gain a broader understanding of healthcare careers.
Entry Criteria
- from 16 to 18 years old
- are educated or live in Kent with preference given to candidates from Medway
- applicants must be considering a career in one of the areas that full under clinical professionals and can demonstrate this in your application. Please note these areas are Nursing and AHP.
Please apply from the 1st of the application month to be considered. Applications sent outside of these allocated windows will not be considered.
- Apply in April 2026 for placements in August 2026
- Apply in June 2026 for placements in October 2026
- Apply in November 2026 for placements in February 2027
- Apply in February 2027 for placements in June 2027
- Apply in April 2027 for placements in August 2027
- Apply in June 2027 for placements in October 2027
For example you can’t apply in April to be placed in October.
Completed forms should be emailed to medwayft.workexperience@nhs.net
16 to 24 years with EHCP
Supported internships
Supported internships with us are currently paused and under development.
Further information can be found from local specialist providers:
Please email medwayft.workexperience@nhs.net for any further information
T-Level Industry Placements
We host T-Level industry placements for those over 18 years old within healthcare. We provide a minimum 45-days placement within the hospital to support the new knowledge, skills and behaviours taught in college.
Visit the MidKent College website for more information on T-Levels.
Are you a parent or carer?
For enquires regarding T-Level placements at Medway, please email Lucy Mason.
Clinical Attachments
Clinical attachments are a useful way for international medical graduates to get a taste of the working lives of doctors in the NHS. You can observe a consultant in a relevant specialty without having the responsibility of patient care.
Attachments usually last between two and 12 weeks and cost £350.
During the attachment, you are not given any responsibility and are not able to make clinical decisions or give clinical advice. The experience you gain will be relevant to your GMC application for registration. It will ask for details of all your work experience from the last five years both medical and non-medical.
Experience shows that it is advisable to do a clinical attachment shortly before taking part two of the PLAB test or after you have passed it. This ensures you will get the most out of it.
Please email our Medical Staffing team for more information.
For medical student electives / medical student clinical attachments, please email our Medical Education team.
University Student Placements
Student nurse placements
We offer placement opportunities to students studying with our university partners – Canterbury Christ Church University, University of Greenwich and London South Bank University. It is important to note that these placements are organised through the university that the student nurse is studying at which means that no student should contact us directly to organise a placement. If a student has any placement requirements, they should contact the placement office at the university they are studying at.
The exception to this is if a student is interested in undertaking an elective placement within the organisation and is studying at a university which is not one of our usual partners. Please note, that to undertake an elective placement, we will require confirmation and approval from the student’s own university, and we will not be able to accept any student who is in the final placement of part 1, 2 or 3.
If you are interested in undertaking an elective placement at Medway, please contact our Nurse Education Team: