Student placements and work experience

The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute welcomes students at all levels who wish to gain hands-on experience of working in scientific research environment while studying.

Pursue your research dreams for three months

The Sanger Institute Prize is an opportunity to experience the very cutting edge of genomic research for three months in a Sanger Institute laboratory.

Entries should be submitted by 19 March 2010

We can offer a range of options depending on course type (GCSE, A levels, first degree, higher degree or medical/veterinary qualification) and time available. Click on the links below for further details:

Work Experience Placements (14-19 years) Applications are now closed.
Undergraduate Placements Applications are now closed.
Industrial Placements Applications are now closed.

If you have questions on any of the above schemes which are not covered by the information on our web pages, please email recruit@sanger.ac.uk.

You can find out more about life at the Sanger Institute and the working environment by visiting the Working Life and On Campus pages.

Accommodation & other useful links

Cambridge has many accommodation options. The following websites contain useful information to help you with your search:

For further information about accommodation and the local area visit moving to work at the Sanger Institute.

Work experience

Work experience placements are available to school age students (14 to 19 yrs) who are looking to gain an insight into careers in scientific research.

Placements are typically for one or two weeks.

Placements are based within specific teams where students will observe and where possible, become involved in the work of that team. Although choosing your own team is not possible, it is helpful for us to have an indication of any areas you are particularly interested in. You can find out more about the work of the Institute by visiting our research or scientific resources pages.

Applications are invited from November until the end of January each year and should be made using our on-line recruitment facility.

Successful applicants are selected by team managers on the basis of their written application. All applicants will be informed if they have secured a placement by April.

Useful background information on work experience placements can be found on the following websites:

Undergraduate

Undergraduate placements are available to degree level students (including medical and veterinary students) who are seeking research/work experience, usually during the summer break. Placements are typically for three months between June and September although it may be possible to accommodate alternative periods on request.

Placements are potentially available across the full spectrum of the Institute's activities and, where possible, we will seek to match students with their area of interest. You can find out more about the work of the Institute by visiting our research or scientific resources pages.

Placements are open to EU students or non-EU students who are studying at a UK university. We regret that we are unable to accept applications from non-EU students studying at overseas universities owing to UK Border Agency visa requirements.

We will pay you a salary of £979 per month (£11,755 per annum). This is subject to UK standard tax and National Insurance deductions. However, if you have not had any other earnings in the tax year you are unlikely to pay income tax.

Applications are invited from November until the end of February each year and should be made using our on-line recruitment facility. To apply, visit Current jobs and look for Undergraduate Placement.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview during April and early May.

If you are shortlisted for interview, you will need to provide a letter of recommendation from your Course Tutor.

Industrial

Industrial placements are available for students who are following a degree course with a 'sandwich year'.

Placements are available for 12 months starting in the summer or autumn.

Placements are potentially available across the full spectrum of the Institute's activities and, where possible, we will seek to match students with their area of interest. You can find out more about the work of the Institute by visiting our research or scientific resources pages. We regret that we are not able to accommodate student's own independent research projects.

We will pay you a salary of £14,960 per annum. This is subject to UK standard tax and National Insurance deductions. Contracted working hours are 37 hours per week. The Institute's normal working day is 9am - 5pm (4:30pm on Friday).

You will also be entitled to 25 days per annum paid holiday.

Applications are invited from November until the end of January each year and should be made using our on-line recruitment facility.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview during March and early April.