Shadowing Opportunities at CUH
The application process is now closed due to the volume of applications already received to allow for the processing of these placements. Please see dates below for application opening times.
Work Shadowing is facilitated by the Work Opportunities Team. Placements are subject to paperwork clearance including risk assessments and health checks. Therefore, placements are available for Year 12s (16+) and over and paperwork can take up to two months to be completed during the offer period.
Students over the age of 14/ Year 10 up to year 13 can get involved in some of our insight day programmes. Please see here Insight programmes | CUH Careers (opens in a new tab)
CUH offers work shadowing opportunities for students attending colleges within Cambridgeshire and Fenland areas, or just over the border into Suffolk, Herts and Essex for schools / colleges within a 25 mile radius of Cambridge University Hospitals. Please email cuh.workexperience.addenbrookes@nhs.net if you're unsure.
If you live / attend college in another part of the UK your application will automatically be declined due to the volume of applications received.
Application open date and close dates for 2025 -2026
Open Close
1st January 2026 31st January 2026
1st April 2026 30th April 2026
1st June 2026 31st July 2026
Please click on the link to apply to shadow during the application open periods only https://forms.office.com/e/6h3G0gGpMK (opens in a new tab)
Establishments within our catchment area are informed of available programmes each academic year, and placements are allocated through an application process managed by the Work Opportunities Team. Please ensure you have approval from your school/college’s Careers Advisor or Tutor before applying.
We prefer that students contact us directly regarding work experience (instead of a family member).
Due to the high volume of emails, please allow some time for a response.
Medical & Clinical Shadowing (Including Laboratories, Health Sciences, and Allied Health Professions)
These placements are for sixth form students interested in medicine, Allied Health Professions (AHPs), or science fields, with opportunities in departments such as Radiology, Emergency Department, Psychology, Acute Medicine and more.
Medical Shadowing Priority is given to students applying to study Medicine at University. The placement aims to provide an insight into the working life of a Consultant or Junior Doctor to aid the student in completing their UCAS application for Medical School.
Dietetics (Half-Day Sessions)
The Dietetics department offers monthly half-day shadowing opportunities to gain insight into this role.
Occupational Therapy
Shadow an Occupational Therapy team across the hospital. Learn about disabilities in various clinical settings and observe assessment/treatment sessions (with patient consent). These placements run bi-monthly.
Physiotherapy (Four Half Days)
This program is ideal for students interested in biology and physiotherapy careers. Over four days (Monday to Thursday, 9 am to 12 pm) in the second week of each month, students will shadow various physiotherapy teams and gain an overview of the role.
Diagnostic Radiographer Work Experience
This opportunity is available for students and/or those interested in imaging and training to be diagnostic radiographers. We can provide a single day programme (08:30hrs – 17:00hrs) which includes working with various Imaging outpatient teams (e.g. X-ray, CT, ultrasound and MRI) to gain a comprehensive overview of the role of a Radiographer. During the day, participants can observe real-life clinical procedures, engage with experienced professionals, and ask questions to deepen their understanding of this vital healthcare field. This programme is arranged on demand, so please get in touch if you want to learn more about gaining some work experience with us.
There are also opportunities to shadow other Allied Health Professions (AHP) and non-clinical departments, such as Estates, Finance, and Payroll. Please specify your area of interest on the application form. Availability may vary.
Students will shadow a Consultant/Clinician for 1-3 days depending on availability. During which time they may observe patient consultations, ward rounds, procedures, and multidisciplinary team meetings.
Placements are subject to staff availability and are highly oversubscribed, so not all requests can be fulfilled. If a preferred area is specified, we will try to accommodate but cannot guarantee placement.
Application process for shadowing:
Once you have completed and submitted the application form an automated confirmation email will be sent. This is proof we have received it. If successful, your details will be put onto MyCority platform and you will be emailed a log in to complete a health questionnaire on line. We will then be in contact with regards to a placement as soon as possible. Please note due to capacity this could be 2-3 months.
Please note, placements can get oversubscribed, we cannot guarantee a placement. We aim to respond to applications within 3 months, so please check your spam folder for confirmation emails.
Volunteering routes
As well as supporting our patients, volunteering provides an excellent route to gaining experience and appreciation of the types of careers available in the NHS and CUH. Opportunities are available for people over the age of 16 years old, via an application process. For all volunteering opportunities, please see Home - Our Volunteers or email: Cuh.volunteer@nhs.net
Email Details for Support:
- For work experience or careers events queries email:
- For career advice or apprenticeship information, please email:
- For all volunteering opportunities, please email: