Must medicine work experience be clinical?
No. The Medical Schools Council explains that relevant experience can include retail, hospitality and community volunteering. What matters is developing insight into working with people and reflecting on what you learn, rather than collecting a prestigious placement.
Look at accessible opportunities
Consider community groups, caring or service roles and volunteering opportunities appropriate to your age. Contact organisers about their eligibility, supervision and safeguarding arrangements. Keep schoolwork and practical travel or time constraints in view.
Exploring engineering
A school project, practical build, talk or visit can give you questions to investigate. Describe the problem, constraints, choices you made and what you would change. Check any advertised placements directly with the provider instead of assuming that previous years’ programmes are still running.
Keep a reflection record
After an experience, note what happened, what surprised you, what you learned about working with others and what you want to understand next. Do not record identifying details about patients or other people. A few specific reflections are more useful than a long list of activities.