Undergraduate placement year

The student placement programme is designed to work within University undergraduate industrial year programmes, usually commencing at the beginning of the academic year (September) and continuing through to July. The year provides a tailor-made learning programme to enable students to gain experience in a wide range of techniques applicable to the zoo professions or to develop useful skills in areas of ecology, conservation and reserves management. Research projects are focussed within our research themes and may be zoo or reserve based.

Applications for the academic year 2013/2014 have now been completed. Applications for the academic year 2014/15 will be taken from September 2013. Please complete one of the following online application forms at that time:

Zoo-based research application form

Ecology-based research application form

You will also need to send in a one-page cover letter detailing why you would like the placement opportunity, and a copy of your most recent CV (no more than two pages long). These documents should be sent to the Trust Secretary, Claire Malkin, at claire.malkin@paigntonzoo.org.uk.

All applications will be responded to within one week of submission.

The deadline for applications is 09:00 on 23rd November 2013.

Interviews will be held week beginning 17th December 2013.

Voluntary internships

The intern programme can be tailored to individual areas of the WWCT’s research programme to meet graduate requirements for work-based learning. This is designed to allow graduates to acquire knowledge and experience of relevant skills, both experimental and practical, within a real and dynamic workplace. A learning agreement is written with each intern to ensure that the needs of the WWCT research programme and the intern are both met. Frequent performance reviews and a training record are completed throughout the internship. Internships usually last for 6 or 12 months and may start at various times of year.

Sorry - there are currently no internships available but please check again soon as they become available at regular intervals.

Placement student and intern quotes:

“Having the opportunity to practice ‘real’ zoology, and the freedom to design and carry out my own project was fantastic.”

“This year has made zoology seem more than a degree and let me see what possibilities there are for the future.”

“I have had an absolutely fantastic year at the zoo…great place, great company, great animals!”

“My year at the zoo has irrevocably changed my perspective of the future, as I now hope to pursue a career in primatology.”

“Special thanks for showing enthusiasm for my lichen work and for teaching me many valuable skills in practical conservation.”

Apply here