Work Experience Programme

Durham University Library and Collections offer two opportunities for work experience across the academic year. We invite applications from post-16 (sixth form and college students) who are interested in learning more about the heritage sector. Please note, at this time we are unable to offer work experience placements to Year 11 students and below. During your time with us, you may spend time with staff from a variety of departments such as:

• Archives and Special Collections
• Conservation
• Curatorial
• Learning and Engagement
• Visitor Services

We are a multi-site team, so your work experience will be too! You could be based at:

• Durham Castle
• Palace Green Library
• The Oriental Museum

The aim of the work experience is to offer an insight into the careers and opportunities available within the heritage sector, while giving you the chance to contribute to the delivery and development of our services.

Just like a job, we also ask you to complete an online application form to join one of our programmes. If we have more applications than we have places, we use them to select who to make offers of places to.

There are two work experience offers available:

• Online: Three-day online work experience. Open to post-16 pupils across the UK. 

• On-site: Five-day on-site work experience. Open to post-16 pupils local to Durham University. Successful applicants must be able to travel to Durham University for each of the five days. 

For more information, please contact the Learning and Engagement Team. Please note, we do not accept applications by email, only via the online application form. 

Application process

If you wish to take part in one of our work experience programmes, please complete an online application form – these will be available below when applications open.  

Please note, you will need permission from your school to take part. If you are under 18, you will also need your parent’s or guardian’s permission.  

Once completed, a member of the Learning and Engagement Team will be in touch with you to let you know if you have been successful or not. 

On-site Work Experience July 2023 

Application Open

In July 2023, we will be running a 5-day on-site work experience placement for sixth form students within Durham University Library and Collections.  There will be a maximum of 12 places for each week.  Due to popular demand, we will run this twice during the following weeks:

• Week 1: Monday 17 - Friday 21 July 2023
• Week 2: Monday 24 - Friday 28 July 2023

Please note, you only need to attend one week.

Deadline for online application forms by midnight Friday 21 April 2023

Online Application Form

Online Work Experience February 2024

There will be a maximum of 30 places. 

Applications will open: December 2023 

If you wish to be notified when applications open for either of these work experience programmes, please contact the Learning and Engagement Team.

Quotes from previous participants:

“I’d just like to say how friendly the members of the learning and engagement team were, and also the other departments. I felt as though I always had the confidence to ask questions about anything and everyone I worked with was extremely helpful.” 

“It has given me further knowledge on careers I may be interested in pursuing in the future.” 

“Overall the work experience was brilliant and I would definitely recommend taking it to any student considering History or English.”