Early careers

We have several work-based learning programmes to help you get that first experience of what working in museums is really like.

Are you 14-18 and thinking about working in a museum? We offer the following opportunities to find out more about museum careers:

Careers Insight Days

Find out about the different roles in a museum and the skills you need to work here.

Virtual work experience

Take part in live Q&A’s and find out what it’s like to work as a curator, conservator, learning professional and more.

Partnership placements

We co-create work placements working directly with local organisations and schools to engage with more diverse young people, especially those currently underrepresented in our workforce. We don’t usually offer placements outside this scheme.

Apprentices get the opportunity to gain workplace skills, get trained up and work towards a recognised qualification.

You must be at least 16 years old when you enrol, but there’s no upper age limit. Apprenticeships are open to those at the beginning of their career as well as anyone looking for a career change. Our apprenticeship vacancies are not dependent on the time of year.

View vacancies

If you have any questions about apprenticeships at the London Museum, please email: [email protected]

Traineeships are designed to help young people get skills and confidence for future employment.

We have a traineeship for one university student each year through the London Collection Bursary. This programme opens up roles to people who may not have considered a museum career, including those who may have faced barriers in education.

The bursary provides one student with the following:

• an annual £1,000 bursary for the duration of their undergraduate studies
• a two-month paid summer placement working within one or more departments of the museum, for each year of their undergrad studies

If you’re interested in applying for next year’s programme, please email [email protected]

Internships are a great way to build up professional skills through a fixed period of employment. They help you apply learning, build a better understanding of your chosen profession and even find a job.

We have a two-week paid placement each year through our Next Gen Creatives programme for people wanting to find out more about creative careers. It's open to people aged 18–25, living in Islington and not in education, employment or training.

Watch this space as we develop more internship opportunities.

Sign up to get updated about future work experience opportunities.