T Level science students reveal top tips for success 

As part of British Science Week, we interviewed three T Level science students at Capital City College (CCC) about their science work experience placements.  

British Science Week is taking place between 7-16 March this year, and it is a celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths. 

Students at CCC can do work experience placements in a wide range of industries, including in science and healthcare. We spoke with three students about their experiences. 

Johanna, T Level science student

“I completed my science placement at NHS Blood and Transplant in Colindale, London, within the Manufacturing department. My role involved a variety of tasks, from blood collection to labelling and storing blood components. 

“The most valuable part of this experience was gaining insight into what it’s like to work in the science sector while also developing skills that will support my future career. However, one of the challenges I faced was learning to differentiate between the various blood processing procedures. 

“I would recommend that students interested in a science placement stay open to new opportunities and take the time to learn as much as possible about the field.”  

Quluuda, T Level science student

“I did my placement with the NHS Blood and Transplant Centre at Colindale for forty-five days, where I was placed with the manufacturing team. Within the team, there were different sections, I worked in primary and reception at the start of my placement.  

“In reception, we would receive blood bags from hospitals, donation centres and clinics. The goal was to separate the packs into two categories; NQT and FQE, FQEs and NQTs were further separated into different hierarchies based on the blood group and gender. We would then scan them into the system, ensuring proper records for each bag.  

“I gained insight into what it is like to work in a professional environment, I made friends and connections, gained hands-on experience, confidence and the work I did made an actual difference in patients’ lives which was very rewarding.  

“The most challenging thing about my placement was the physical demands, I was on my feet most of the time, I was constantly moving from one place to the other, it was physically exhausting especially at the beginning, but as I kept doing it, I adjusted and towards the end I wouldn’t even feel the exhaustion till the end of the day. 

“The tip I would give other students wanting to do a science placement is to be resilient. Working in science is trial and error, sometimes you get the results, sometimes you do not, my advice would be to push through, learn from your mistakes, and improve.”

Sogdiana Mamurova, T Level science student

Sogdiana Mamurova, a T Level science student, recently completed a placement at Synnovis, in St Thomas’ Hospital. She said: 

“Synnovis provides pathology services in their Diagnostic labs, working closely in partnership with the NHS. I worked in the coagulation, homeostasis and nutristasis labs during my time there. My placement mainly consisted of shadowing other members of staff as they went about completing their tasks. I was taught how to use and calibrate specialised scientific equipment, such as coagulation analysers and HPLC machines. Over time, I was also given a chance to do computer work, such as booking in patient samples and creating calibration curves from the analyser results.  

“The best thing about this experience was getting to become familiar with a professional laboratory environment, which allowed me to assess whether this was a work environment that suited me. I greatly enjoyed learning about homeostasis and nutristasis. It was also immensely interesting to learn how clinical specialists treat problems and illnesses related to coagulation and vitamin deficiency. I enjoyed talking to my more experienced and knowledgeable mentors, who were always happy to answer my questions and give me honest feedback.  

“Some tips I’d give to my peers, would be to be honest with your colleagues and mentors. If you don’t understand something at work, always ask for further clarification, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Asking questions also shows that you are engaged and are taking an interest in your placement. Try and network as much as possible whilst in your placement. Networking can help build connections that may be important later, especially if you are considering pursuing a career in science later in life. But most importantly, enjoy your placement, and be honest with your placement manager if you aren’t enjoying it.”  

Daniella Plummer, Group Head of School, Applied Sciences, said: “It’s fantastic to see our students gaining real-world experience through science placements. Hands-on learning not only brings their studies to life but also helps them build confidence, problem-solving skills, and connections in the industry. Opportunities like these are invaluable in shaping the next generation of scientists.”  

Want to know more about T Levels? See our website for what are T Levels, including information on the courses we offer and some of the T Level work placement opportunities our students can do.

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