Whatever your experience, there are opportunities for you to get involved with and support the museums and Botanic Garden. Throughout the year, we offer a limited number of work experience placements, internships, apprenticeships and volunteer opportunities

We truly appreciate the time given by people filling these roles as they contribute to the meaningful delivery of the collections' aims and objectives.

On this page

On this page you'll find more information about:

  • New trainee opportunities
  • Volunteering
  • Work experience opportunities
  • Apprenticeships and internships

Volunteering opportunities

Volunteering opportunities at the University of Cambridge Museums are advertised on our dedicated volunteering portal, Volunteer Makers

Volunteers offer their time, skills and experience free of charge. They do not have a contract of employment but will usually sign a volunteer agreement setting out responsibilities and expectations. Volunteer opportunities vary in the time commitment required from one-off events to more formal, recurring roles. Take a look at our volunteering opportunities.

Job opportunities

Full- and part-time job opportunities within the University of Cambridge Museums and Botanic Garden are advertised centrally on the University of Cambridge recruitment website.

Work Experience

UCM will be unable to offer Work Experience to students outside of our partner schools in 2024. We understand that this may be disappointing and we have put some effort in to finding different ways to communicate with students about the different careers that may be available in museums. Below are our lockdown interviews with staff; we are hoping to add to our collection of resources over time.

Virtual Work Experience: the jobs you never knew existed

While we were not able to run our summer Work Experience Weeks in 2020, we have interviewed staff from across the museums about their jobs, what their role involves, and how they ended up working in museums. 

Watch the full playlist to discover museum jobs you never knew existed!

 

Internships and apprenticeships

We aim to offer a range of apprenticeships and internships.

Internships

Internships are temporary, fixed-term placements (usually for three months part time) with a job title and wage. They are available as and when funding is available. Internships are the first step of a career path and provide enough experience during the duration that the participant is then qualified for a permanent job within the industry.

Please note for clarification that internships required as part of a course of study will not be paid and should be considered as a 'placement' or ‘studentship’.

Visit our internships page to see the latest internship opportunities currently being advertised. 

    Apprenticeships

    Apprenticeships are run through a formal accredited structure and provide vocational learning for people aged 16 and over which leads to a certificate equivalent to GCSE passes. As such, this role is not applicable for those who have graduated University. Apprentices will be employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week for one year.

    When available, apprenticeships will be advertised on this page and on the University of Cambridge recruitment website.

    You can find out what it's like to be an apprentice with the UCM in this short interview with Events Apprentice Ella Lange.


    Queries regarding these roles may be addressed to:

    University of Cambridge Museums Opening Doors Project Coordinator
    Email: opendoor@fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

    Post: University of Cambridge Museums, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RB