Students

As you will often have been told, work experience is highly regarded by employers because it gives students highly relevant skills and insights gained from working with a company.

Evidence suggests that students who have undertaken work experience are more likely to gain employment after graduation. Communication, team working, organisational, networking and project management skills are a must have for graduate recruiters, and these are the types of skills that you should gain during a work placement. 

And, of course, an insight into the culture and environment of a particular company.

The IOP work placements scheme offers penultimate year undergraduate student members the opportunity to gain paid work experience. Placements must be carried out in the business or industry sector in the UK or Ireland.

Successful applicants will each receive a bursary of £2000, or the equivalent in euros for the Republic of Ireland, to cover the duration of their eight week summer vacation placement.

Eligibility

• Penultimate year undergraduate physics students, including mature students, studying at a higher education institution in the UK or Ireland are eligible to apply
• Students must carry out their placements during the summer vacation before starting their final year
• Students must be studying on an accredited or recognised physics degree course (PDF, 90 KB) and be members of the IOP
• Placements must be carried out in the business or industry sector in the UK or Ireland

Applicants must read and adhere to the student terms and conditions relating to the 'Top 40' work placements scheme.