Introduction

The terms internships, work placements or work experience, volunteers are commonly used across the University, and are regularly associated with individuals gaining experience for a professional career or supporting research. These terms have no legal status on their own, and are therefore dependent on the individual's employment status as one of the following:

• a worker
• an employee
• a volunteer

Each engagement must be assessed carefully on the basis of the nature of the activity being carried out, any agreement written or otherwise that sets out the terms of the engagement including any obligations on the individual.

Aspects such as how any payment is funded eg. research body, or what the payment is called eg. stipend, bursary etc, do not in themselves exempt the scenario as these are used to cover a variety of situations.