Applications for our 2027 placements will open in October 2026 and will be announced via our departmental newsletter, and through directly emailing local schools.
As part of a placement with OBGA, work experience students will learn about the following:
- The role of a botanic garden and how it differs to other managed landscapes, such as parks
- The role of plants in a modern world
- Current conservation and research programmes underway at OBGA
What work experience programmes can you apply for?
There are two different work experience programmes, one focused on horticulture, one focussed on public engagement, education and science communication.
The public engagement and education work experience placements are available in April and July.
The horticultural work experience placements are available July and October.
What can I expect for a work experience placement at OBGA?
Students taking part in the horticulture placements can expect:
- Time with the glasshouse collections
- Time with the outdoor collections
- Experience propagating plants
- General collection maintenance experience
Students taking part in the public engagement and education placement might expect:
- Time spent online researching plant science, and particular plants, linked to a topic that will be chosen with their supervising staff member
- Time converting information into different educational resources, such as games, posters, leaflets, trails or blog posts
- Time delivering their session, game, poster or trail to the public at the end of the week
- To support formal education sessions or public engagement delivery
- To develop a deeper understanding of communicating and engaging with different audiences about botany and plant sciences
Practical information
Work experience students must come prepared with appropriate, waterproof and comfortable clothing. Inductions and health and safety training will be given where appropriate for certain tasks. There may be days where general site maintenance, such as sweeping leaves or assisting with watering are required.
Space is limited in the office at Oxford Botanic Garden. If working with the education and public engagement team, a desk and computer cannot be guaranteed. If you have your own device you are welcome to bring this with you. iPads can be made available to support those who do not have their own device to use. You must be prepared to work flexibly and be self-motivated to get the most out of this placement.
How to apply
To register your interest, please click the button below and complete the short application form. A member of the team will get back to you as quickly as possible.
