Work Experience

4 minutes reading time.

Our Work Experience weeks will be 8th June – 12th June & 29th June – 3rd July 2026.

To submit an Application Form click here. Deadline for applications is 11pm Monday 6th April 2026.

“I have really enjoyed my time at the Vindolanda Trust and I feel that I have gained a lot of knowledge
surrounding heritage that I didn’t have beforehand”

“I loved meeting people who work in the field that I aspire to work in one day”

“I was looking to make friends and gain insight, and I did”

2025 Work Experience Students

“Everything presented by all the staff was absolutely fascinating and I found the project really rewarding”

“Thanks for the chance for me to do this, it was really cool!”

2024 Work Experience Students

Work Experience Programme

The Vindolanda Trust is offering an exciting work experience programme for students aged 16 – 17 that lets you dive into the world of heritage, culture, archaeology and the fascinating Roman history of Hadrian’s Wall. This work experience would especially suit students who are interested in Heritage, Culture and Museums. However, there are a variety of careers within the heritage sector, and so this programme could meet a broad range of interests and subjects, including STEM. This work experience programme is open to both school and home educated students.

What You’ll Do

You’ll spend the week at the award-winning Roman Army Museum and Vindolanda Fort and Museum, getting up close with archaeological excavations at Roman Magna and Vindolanda Fort. You’ll even help with post-excavation processes and see how we preserve the amazing artefacts we find. Please note, excavation experience is not part of this work experience. If you would like to join us as an excavation volunteer, please click here.

You’ll also go behind the scenes with key people from the Trust like our Deputy CEO, Communications Manager, and Museum Manager, who will give you an insight into all the different careers you could have in the heritage world. Plus, there’s a chance to do accessibility training and learn how the sector is making sure history is enjoyed by everyone.

By the end of the week, you’ll create your own project, sharing everything you’ve learned and experienced. This is a great chance to build your communication skills, teamwork, and research abilities, while getting a taste of the heritage sector.

Take a look at our draft timetable to learn more.

You’ll develop skills such as disability awareness, object handling training, post-excavation skills, collaboration and teamwork, and active listening whilst experiencing a wide range of roles within the archaeology, heritage, museum, and arts sector.

Applications

We are able to offer 10 placements per week, and in the case we receive more applicants than we are able to support, we will be prioritising applicants who are:

• From lower income households

• Care-experienced

• Asylum seekers and refugees

• Carers

All applicants will be judged on their ability to show how this work experience will be of interest to them. If you are a priority applicant, you will be asked to provide the name and contact details of a teacher, member of staff, or trusted person who will be asked to provide us with a referral to support your application. Please complete an Application Form here.

FAQs

Can I be reimbursed for travel expenses?

Yes, we will be able to reimburse you for travel expenses of up to £10.

Can I do a placement on a different week?

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer work experience outside of these dates. This is to ensure the work experience programme is well supported by our staff and you have the best experience possible.

I am not a priority applicant. Does this mean I won’t get a place?

We don’t know how many applications we will receive for our work experience programme and have limited spaces per week. If there are more applicants than there are spaces, we will prioritise applicants from the groups mentioned above but all applicants will be judged on their ability to show how the work experience will be of benefit to them.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with sophiewestlake@vindolanda.com