Work experience at the Society
We have a popular work experience programme for enthusiastic geographers. We strongly recommend that you find out key information about the nature of the work undertaken by the RGS-IBG before making your application.
Placements for school age students
‘This week of work experience has been thoroughly enjoyable and I have learnt a lot, not just about the RGS-IBG but also about working in a team in an office environment’
The five day work experience placement gives students the opportunity to find out about the work of the Society and work on a variety of projects in the education department and the archive.
The current scheme is heavily oversubscribed. We receive in the order of 200 applications for the 20 placements available. Placements are for one week and open to pupils in Year 11 and above who are planning to take geography at A Level and beyond. Demand for placements is highest for the months of April, June, July and August to fit with school work experience weeks and school holidays.
Reserving a placement
Only schools who hold School Membership of the Society are welcome to apply for a placement for one of their pupils. The scheme is oversubscribed with high levels of applications and so schools are advised to make their application for the next year early in the autumn term. The level of applications to the scheme means that there will still be more applications than placements available so where a school member school is not successful we will give priority to that school for the following year. We are unable to offer placements to pupils from schools who do not have schools membership of the society.
If you are successful in securing a one week placement for your school you could use this as a prize, an incentive or recognition of a student’s outstanding contribution to geography at your school.
Application dates
For January 2012 – December 2012: Spaces for this period are fully booked |
Hear what previous work experience students have to say:
Alex (PDF)
Bethany (PDF)
Frances (PDF)
Sam (PDF)
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June to October: Teachers must register your school's interest and list three possible weeks for the placement, in preference order. No student name is required at this stage. Email this information to education@rgs.org with the title work experience for x school name. Please include your schools membership number.
By 31 October: Places will be allocated by the RGS-IBG and schools will be informed if they have been successful in reserving a place on the programme.
By 15 December: Name of applicant must be provided to the RGS-IBG, application form to be completed by applicant and then the RGS-IBG will confirm receipt of application and give both the contact teacher and student the preliminary details about the placement. Detailed information regarding the placement is sent out one month in advance of the programme, direct to the student and copied to the teacher.
Questions and answers
What if our school is not successful in reserving a one week placement?
You will be advised if any other weeks are available and if these are not suitable you will be given priority should you reapply the following year.
Which weeks are available for placements?
With the exception of the Christmas holidays most weeks are available for placements.
What about the paperwork and student expenses?
The Society can provide copies of insurance documents, risk assessments etc. as required. We regret that we are not able to contribute to the costs of fares or accommodation for work experience placements.
How long are the placements for?
These placements are for one full working week and the hours for placement students are 10am to 5pm.
Placements for undergraduate geographers
For undergraduate geographers we have a limited number of two week work experience placements. These project based placements offer the opportunity to undertake some detailed work on one aspect of the Society’s work and you would be based in a department appropriate to the project.
2011/2012 deadlines
Applications for Christmas placements should be submitted between 1 September 2011 and 1 November 2011.
Applications for Easter placements should be submitted between 1 September 2011 and 31 January 2012.
Applications for summer placements should be made between 1 September 2011 and 31 March 2012.
Please state which period you are applying for (you may apply for all three). All applications will be considered after the closing dates and we will then let you know whether you have been successful. Young Geographers and Geography Ambassadors will be given priority.
Those who have completed a placement cannot return for further work experience.
If you wish to apply please send:
- An up to date CV (no more than two pages)
- A covering letter explaining why you wish to undertake Work Experience at the RGS-IBG and which particular aspects of the Society's work you are interested in (no more than one page)
For further details and to apply contact rhed@rgs.org.
All placements are unpaid and based in London at the RGS-IBG. We do not pay expenses or provide accommodation.