We are looking for enthusiastic and friendly individuals to support the front of house operation at UCL's Grant Museum of Zoology and Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese Archaeology.
As a museums volunteer, you will support our visitor services team in welcoming the public to our internationally renowned collections, engaging with visitors as they explore the many thousands of objects on display. No specialist experience is necessary and full training is provided, all we ask is a regular commitment and a willingness to get stuck in across one (or both) of our museum sites.
About us
Our front of house team is made up of Volunteers, Visitor Services Assistants, and a Visitor Services Manager. Collectively we are responsible for running UCL's museums during public opening hours, school visits and out-of-hours commercial events.
UCL Museums are dedicated to encouraging a supportive and inclusive culture across our team. We recognise that a diverse volunteer team brings a range of voices to our museums and helps us to remain relevant and accessible to all who visit. A key responsibility of the role is to provide a safe and inclusive environment where visitors from all backgrounds can discover the objects and stories within our collections.
Locations
MVSAs and volunteers are based in the UCL Grant Museum of Zoology and Petrie Museum of Egyptian & Sudanese Archaeology, so you will get the opportunity to work across both sites on a regular basis if you wish. UCL looks after two other important collections of Art and Pathology however these are currently only available for research and teaching, and we do not offer volunteering opportunities at present in connection with these.
Grant Museum of Zoology:
The only remaining university zoological museum in London, the Grant Museum houses approximately 100,000 specimens covering the story of life on Earth over the last 500 million years. The museum, founded in 1828 as a teaching collection for UCL students, is packed full of skeletons, mounted animals, and specimens preserved in fluid. Many of the species on display are now endangered or extinct, and our collection includes Dodo bones, a Quagga skeleton, Thylacines (Tasmanian Tiger) and even a Jar of Moles!
Petrie Museum of Egyptian & Sudanese Archaeology:
The Petrie Museum houses an estimated 80,000 objects, making it one of the largest and most significant collections of Egyptian and Sudanese archaeology outside of Egypt. Specialising in objects of daily life, the museum tells the story of life in the Nile Valley from prehistory through the time of the Pharaohs to the Ptolemaic, Roman, Coptic and Medieval Islamic periods. We house a number of 'world firsts' including the oldest example of a woven garment, the oldest examples of worked iron, and the oldest example of a will on paper.
Shift commitments & hours
Shifts are available during museum opening hours as follows:
Tuesday – Friday: 13:00 – 17:00.
Saturday: 11:00 – 14:00 & 14:00 – 17:00.
As part of your induction, new volunteers will need to attend a training day, and a recommended four shadow shifts in your first month. Thereafter, we ask for a minimum commitment of two shifts per month, although you are welcome to pick up more! All volunteers are entitled to (and encouraged to take!) a 15-minute rest break during shifts, alongside comfort breaks.
Role Description
Our volunteer team supports the front of house operation to provide an inclusive, safe and welcoming visitor experience. You will play an important role in helping to bring the museum collections to life for all our visitors. Volunteer responsibilities include:
- Museum gallery invigilation.
- Providing a warm welcome, wayfinding support and answering visitor questions.
- Keeping our museums well presented and tidy
- Supervising visitor engagement activities such as object handling or delivering short talks.
- Assisting with building evacuation during emergencies.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for people who are passionate about museums and with sharing our collections far and wide! You do not need to be affiliated with University College London or a UCL student to volunteer with us, nor do you need to have any previous museum experience. All we ask for is a willingness to learn. We would love to hear from you if you:
- Are interested in museums and / or our collections, and are excited to share your passion with visitors.
- Have good communication skills and the ability to connect with people in a clear and friendly way.
- Can commit to attending a minimum of two volunteer shifts per calendar month.
- Are willing to feedback on the volunteer experience at UCL Museums so we can continually improve the programme.
What can we offer you?
We are committed to investing in our volunteers, providing encouragement, support and training to help you achieve your goals. As a volunteer with UCL Museums you can expect the following:
- Full role training as part of your induction, as well as refresher sessions when needed.
- The chance to get involved with supporting visitor experience projects such as our family learning programme, short talks, and content creation.
- Career development advice including signposting opportunities and industry experience.
- A reference when applying for other jobs or positions.
- Regular news and updates from the museum visitor services team, as well as optional social activities and knowledge-sharing opportunities with fellow volunteers and museum colleagues.
- Reimbursement of travel expenses up to the value of a London Zones 1-6 travelcard.
- Affiliation with the Student Union Volunteering Service and associated benefits if you are a UCL student.
To apply:
Volunteer applications open on Wednesday 17 September 2025 and will close at midnight on Sunday 5 October. If you are interested in volunteering with us, please complete our online application form by clicking this link: https://forms.office.com/e/1ECsE2709X . Note that the form will be available from the 17 September 2025.
We are committed to making our application process accessible to all, if you would prefer a different application format, please get in touch at [email protected] or call us on 020 3108 9000.
Following the end of the application window, successful applicants will be invited to attend a volunteer assessment afternoon (dates to be confirmed). Regrettably due to the volume of applications, we are unable to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants who are not invited to an assessment afternoon.
We endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for those who face barriers to attending the assessment. Please contact us using the email address below if you would like to discuss additional requirements.
If you have any questions or would like more information about the role, please contact our museum visitor services team at [email protected].