What is Pathways to Scientific Laboratories?

• Gain an insight into working in a laboratory 
• Increase knowledge of sector specific activities
• Learn in an interactive and experiential environment
• Work with students from different year groups, subjects and levels of degree
• Be inspired by experienced professionals
• Gain confidence in your abilities
• Develop your career plan
• Culminates in an essential work experience, undertaking a paid internship within a laboratory
• This activity counts towards the Exeter Award
• Receive a certificate

To be eligible to apply for this programme, you must be studying a degree within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences (HLS). HLS students from all levels of study from first year to final year are welcome to apply, undergraduate or postgraduate and international students. No prior technical experience or knowledge is necessary, but we would like you to be able to demonstrate a keen interest in this subject area. Please see full eligibility criteria below: 

Student status

• You must be a current University of Exeter student when you apply for and take part in the programme in June/July 2025 (please note, students graduating in Summer 2025 are eligible to apply).
• Students from any campus (as long as within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences) can apply for this pathway, however when reviewing the available internships, please take into consideration your current location and the location of the labs.
• If you have previously completed the Pathways to Scientific Laboratories programme, please note you are not eligible to apply again.
• If you are an interrupted student, you will not have current student status and are therefore ineligible to apply for Professional Pathways.
• If you are a full-time Postgraduate student, you are limited to working a maximum of 6 hours per week, however if you are able to gain supervisor approval to complete both the training and the 35 hour internship, you will be able to undertake the Pathways programme. You will need to seek approval if you are successful in gaining a place on the programme.
• If you are a part-time Postgraduate student, you are limited to working a maximum of 18.25 hours per week, so would need to split your 35 hours across two weeks, unless you get supervisor approval to work full-time (35 hours) in one week. You will need to seek approval if you are successful gaining a place on the programme.

Right to Work (RTW)

• You must have the right to work in the UK at the point the Professional Pathways programme commences in June 2025 and this must cover both the training and the internship taking place into July 2025. 
• In order to expedite the right to work checking process, you will be asked to provide your right to work evidence at the application stage. Please refer to the list of acceptable right to work documents.
• Whatever evidence you are going to use, please ensure you have the original with you at university as this could delay you getting your right to work checked and even jeopardise your place on the programme. If your passport is out of date you can still use this as evidence, but again ensure you have the original with you.
• If you have been employed by the University within the last 12 months and provided your right to work evidence, this should still be up-to-date and you would not need to provide it again. You can declare this to us at the application stage.
• For more information about Right to Work checks please see the Casual Workers webpage. 

International, EU and EEA students

• You must have the right to work in the UK at the point the programme commences and this must cover both the training and the internship taking place. Depending on your visa restrictions, if you are successful onto the programme, we will advise the lab managers to accommodate part-time hours across two weeks, if needed.

We are pleased to confirm Pathways to Scientific Laboratories will be running in 2025 and applications will be opening in February. To register your interest in next year's programme, please complete the form here.

Please note, the training and internships will take place in June and July 2025 and you would need to be a current student at this point to be eligible to apply.

Application process

The application process will consist of two stages; an initial application form and if successful at this stage, you will be invited to an interview with the relevant lab managers.

Students selected onto the programme undertake 4 days of training delivered at the University of Exeter, Streatham Campus. This will take place w/c 16 June 2025.

The training will equip you with the skills, specialist knowledge and preparatory support needed for undertaking your paid 35 hour lab-based internship.

Training topics will be confirmed nearer the time and are subject to change, but may include:

• Career talks from alumni and current staff 
• Health and Safety training
• Lab etiquette
• Maintaining sterile conditions
• Working in an animal facility
• Quality control
• Plus lab tours and an external site visit 

If selected onto the programme, you will undertake a paid 35 hour internship in one of the university's laboratories, supporting the laboratory managers, academic staff and research students. Duties will vary depending on the lab you are based in. Internships will take place after your training has been completed and before the end of July. All work will be undertaken in-person on the relevant campus. The 35 hour internship will take place between 23 June - 4 July 2025.

Quotes from former Pathways to Scientific Laboratories students: 

"It was a great week- I developed many vital lab skills and learnt how to use different techniques and equipment, all of which makes me feel more confident for applying to roles in the future!" - Lola (BSc Biological Sciences with Professional Placement)

"The Pathways to Scientific Laboratories programme was an excellent experience to find out more about research and technician roles in labs, how a variety of labs are run to accommodate the research carried out at the university, and to gain experience in lab skills, and I would highly recommend it!" - Kelly (MSci Conservation Biology and Ecology)

"A very useful internship that prepares you for a future career within a laboratory setting by allowing you to gain necessary experience needed for these roles." - Eleanor (BSc Marine Biology)

"After undertaking my Science Labs professional placement, I felt much more confident and excited about planning my future career and deciding on the graduate jobs the University have to offer. Both the training and internship was extremely useful and were organised with the students' interests in mind, making each day engaging and interesting. I would highly recommend this to anyone considering a career in science or trying to expand their network in their field of interest." - Lucy (BSc Human Sciences)

If you would like to ask any questions, please contact the Pathways team at: professionalpathways@exeter.ac.uk