Medical Work Experience for 16 Year Olds: Free Medical School Work Experience for 16 Year Olds
Where to look? Start with local NHS providers and healthcare organisations.
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NHS hospitals: Many trusts offer holiday shadowing. Great Ormond Street Hospital has a Young Visitors Programme with 1–5 day placements for 16–19 year-olds. King’s College Hospital runs multi-day Spring/Summer weeks for 16–19 year-old students. (Note: University College London Hospitals (UCLH) reports it receives hundreds of requests each year, so placements are very competitive – they prioritise local or widening-access students.)
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GP practices: Contact your local surgery; many GPs allow students to shadow clinicians or help with admin for a day or two. The Royal College of GPs even provides Observe GP, a free online work-experience platform for UK students aged 16+.
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Community trusts: For example, Central London Community Healthcare (CLCH) takes any 16+ local student into roles like physiotherapy, dietetics or nursing – they even run AHP summer schools.
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Charities and youth schemes: St John Ambulance offers Cadet programs (ages 11–17) to learn first aid and volunteer in healthcare. NHS England’s NHS Cadets (14–18 year-olds) also provide structured healthcare volunteering in partnership with St John.
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How we help: The Medic Life runs free Medicine Work Experience Opportunities, Workshops and Webinars where real doctors explain different career paths and teach reflection skills. We also provide mentors (current medical students and doctors) and online tools to guide your reflections after each placement.
Join our free Work Experience Workshop and Webinar - it’s a perfect introduction to what you’ll see and do. We’ll show you exactly where to look for placements (and answer your FAQs!). Spots are limited, so register early to secure your place.
Medical Work Experience for 16 Year Olds -> Types of experience & tasks?
Placements for 16-year-olds are usually observational or supportive. You may shadow doctors, nurses or allied health staff – e.g. observe ward rounds, watch basic procedures, and learn to take vitals (BP, pulse, etc.). You can help with non-clinical support: assisting with patient surveys, updating leaflets, making beds or guiding patients (all counted as healthcare exposure). Some programs include projects or group tasks - for instance reviewing a clinic process or preparing a short presentation. Even tasks like volunteering in a hospital café or helping with admin count as valuable experience.
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How to apply & prepare
Start early – most hospital schemes open months in advance. Check NHS trust websites and ask school career advisers for leads.
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Tailor each application
Research the department (e.g. if applying to GOSH, emphasize an interest in paediatrics) and clearly state your motivation. Get a reference from a teacher ready. When emailing or applying, highlight any caring or teamwork skills (volunteering, sports captaincy, etc.).
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Stay professional
Be punctual, dress neatly, and always follow staff instructions.
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Record your experience
Keep a diary or notes of what you observe and learn – reflection on these experiences is crucial for med school applications. (The Medic Life teaches you how to reflect effectively in your personal statement and interviews.)
Support & tips: Medical Work Experience for 16 Year Olds
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Use The Medic Life: Think of The Medic Life as your mentor. We run free Medical Work Experience Workshops (e.g. Feb 2026 at King’s College London) with talks from doctors so you can learn about different roles and how to reflect on what you see. Read our guides and ask our team questions to prepare.
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Volunteer too: If you can’t get clinical shadowing, volunteering in a ward, pharmacy or ambulance service still counts as great experience. (NHS careers explains that any caring role or activity demonstrates the values med schools want.)
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Go beyond doctors: Ask to spend time with pharmacists, physiotherapists, or porters – all healthcare workers who will teach you something valuable. • Show initiative: Be polite, offer to help (e.g. fetch equipment, speak to patients), and always maintain confidentiality.
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Reflect: After each day, write down key things you learned. The Medic Life emphasizes using these reflections in interviews and your application.
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Your mentor: The Medic Life guides you through every step of this journey – so that you too can LIVE THE MEDIC LIFE!
PS: Don't forget about The Medic Life Medicine Work Experience Opportunities!
The Medic Life's Expert Support with Medical Work Experience for 16 Year Olds
We make your journey easier with expert guidance and free resources. Our Work Experience Workshops (online and in-person) pack in lots of value: doctors from different specialties explain what they do and how to shadow them, and we teach you how to reflect on your placements for your medical school personal statement. In fact, our last workshop had over 2,000 applicants for only 340 spots – they sold out in 60 seconds! We also run Q&A webinars where Dr Bakhtar and team will cover “How to get work experience and use it”.
Beyond events, The Medic Life offers one-on-one mentoring: you can get advice from senior medical students who have been through this process. We provide reflection journals and checklists so you don’t miss key learning points during your placement. All of these are free – we want every interested 16-year-old to have a chance.
Sign up now to secure your place in the next free workshop and start charting your path into medicine! (Spaces fill fast – our events are hugely popular.)
Medical Work Experience for 16 Year Olds: The Medic Life’s FREE Medicine Work Experience Opportunities
About The Medic Life Free Medicine Work Experience Workshop for 16 Year Olds
Following on from the success of The Medic Life Work Experience Workshops over the last 6 years, and especially due to the HUGE demand this year. We are very excited to announce the FREE Medical Life Work Experience Workshop on 22nd February 2026.
This will be a day packed full of talks from Doctors across various specialties, explaining what their roles consist of. You’ll gain an understanding of the variety of experiences they go through, along with the pros and cons of working in the medical field. We will also guide you on how to reflect on your medical work experience and use it effectively in your personal statements and interviews.
Last year, over 2000 students wanted to attend The Medical Life Work Experience Workshop on 27th April at King's College London, but with only 340 spaces available in the lecture theatre, free tickets were given out on a first come, first serve basis — and sold out within 60 seconds!
HOW DO I SECURE MY SPOT?
To support your application to Medical and Dental School, we’re offering GUARANTEED spaces to anyone who books onto our 2-day LIVE Online UCAT course this summer. Priority will be given to iIf any tickets remain, they’ll be released 1 week before the event. Please register NOW to join the ticket release list.
FAQs - Medical Work Experience for 16 Year Olds: Free Medical School Work Experience for 16 Year Olds
How can I get medical work experience at 16?
Contact local NHS Trusts or GP practices early (holiday programmes often have deadlines). Use NHS resources like StepIntoNHS to find placements. Consider virtual options too – for example, RCGP’s Observe GP gives 16+ students a simulated GP experience online. Additionally, be active on The Medic Life's website & socials, and sign up for our FREE medicine work experience programme!
Can a 16 year old volunteer in a hospital?
Yes. Almost all NHS trusts allow volunteers aged 16 and over. Many hospitals have youth volunteer programs or wards helpers you can join, which is an excellent way to see the clinical environment and build your healthcare skills.
Does the NHS offer work experience?
NHS trusts do run work experience schemes, but places are limited. It’s best to check each Trust’s website (or national sites like StepIntoNHS) for any programs. In any case, NHS careers guidance emphasizes that relevant experience (including volunteering, part-time jobs with care, or school health projects) is valued by medical schools.