Finding Internships in the UK

Internships provide a fantastic opportunity to build your professional skills by offering you a fixed period of employment within a particular field. This makes them a great way to apply your learning, build a better understanding of your chosen profession and even find a job. In fact, many companies use internship programmes to assess a graduate’s capabilities, before fast-tracking them into a full time position.

While internships aren’t usually accredited as part of your course, they can be accredited or formally acknowledged by professional training organisations. Which means your experience as an intern could count towards a recognised industry qualification, in addition to your degree.

How do they work?

Unlike work placements which form part of a degree, most internships will help you to gain important industry experience outside of your studies, by placing you within a specific company or workplace.

In many ways these internships work exactly like a real job and you can expect to be paid for your time. You’ll join a specific team or department, and you’ll be expected to be as enthusiastic, flexible and hardworking as every other employee.

This will give you valuable real-world experience of your chosen profession. It will also help you to make important new contacts within the company and wider industry, and it will give you a distinct advantage when interviewing with other employers and recruiters in the future.

When do they take place?

Many internships are undertaken at the end of your studies and after you graduate, but you can apply for an internship while you’re still a student.

If it’s easier for you to commit to a shorter placement, then ‘Summer internships’ tend to cover your holiday from university or college, and last for around two or three months. While not as in-depth as longer placements, these are still a great way to gain useful experience and build professional relationships.

How long do they last?

Depending on your chosen field or profession, an internship could last anywhere from a week up to a year.

Internships undertaken in student holidays (Summer internships) are often shorter in length than graduate ones, and for some graduates (such as those who have studied medicine) you might be considered an ‘intern’ until you progress to the next professional level.

How do I find an internship that’s right for me?

As internships are especially relevant to your chosen career, it’s important that you only apply for placements that you have a real interest in.

Consider the following steps to help you improve your chances of getting an internship:

Speaking to your UK university’s careers service:  In the UK, internship opportunities are typically posted at the beginning of the year, so it is better to start your search early. This gives you additional time to explore potential opportunities and submit applications before the deadlines.
Use online job portals: Search for internships on various websites and filter your search by location, industry and other criteria to find opportunities that match your interests and qualifications. You can also check the UK government’s official website to find opportunities.
Network: Networking is a good way to find internship opportunities. Participate in career fairs and industry events, join organisations related to your field and network with graduates from your university who are working in the UK for advice and referrals.
Research companies:  After identifying prospective employers, research their internship programmes and application procedures. This information is often available on their website or you may contact their human resources department.
Create an impressive resume and cover letter: Customise your resume and cover letter for the specific organisation and position to which you are applying. Highlight your skills and experience that align with the internship’s requirements.
Apply to multiple internship: Multiple internship applications may increase your chances of securing an offer. Apply for internships that align with your skills and interests.
Reaching out to potential employers on social media: using sites such as LinkedIn, and discussing any intern programmes that they provide.

Do I get paid during my internship?

The majority of interns in the UK are classed as workers, which means that you should expect to receive a salary for your time. This should be no lower than the UK National Minimum Wage for your age range. Typically, UK interns earn just under £15,000 a year pro rata – but this can vary.

With some internships you may be mentored by a particular individual, observing what their role involves and learning from their skills and expertise. This will give you a lot of opportunities to ask questions, and to gain a great understanding of your mentor’s job, position and the wider industry.

These types of internships are sometimes referred to as ‘Work shadowing’, and the majority are unpaid.

Why Are Internships Important?

Internships help students improve their skills by providing practical industry experience in their field. Some fields like law and medicine may make an internship a compulsory credit required to complete the course.

Before beginning your career, an internship provides you with an opportunity to gain industry experience and determine if the field suits your interest. It helps you understand the hard and soft skills required by the job and understand the career trajectory. It provides hands-on experience with real-life projects. This hands-on experience can give you a better understanding of whether this is a career or industry you would like to pursue after graduation.

Visa requirements for Interns

To work in the UK as an intern, you generally need a Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange (GAE) visa. This visa is for those participating in approved exchange schemes for work experience, training, or research.

Eligibility

You must:

have a certificate of sponsorship or sponsorship reference number from your UK sponsor
have enough money to support yourself in the UK
- you’ll usually need to have at least £1,270 available (unless you’re exempt) You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row.
- Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.

Your employer must make sure your job pays at least the minimum wage and follows the UK rules for how many hours a week you work. If your employer does not do this, your application will be refused.

Your sponsor will give you either a certificate of sponsorship reference number or sponsorship reference number. You’ll need to add this to your application form.

You’ll also need to confirm some information from your sponsor such as:

the job you’re being sponsored for
the date you start work
your working hours
if your sponsor is financially supporting you
how long you can stay
If you have a certificate of sponsorship, it is valid for 3 months from the date it is assigned to you.
If you have a sponsorship reference number, it is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued to your sponsor.

Money to support yourself

You’ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply, unless either:

you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months
your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1,270

Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they’re in the UK.

If your employer can support you instead

Your employer must confirm they can support you when they assign a certificate of sponsorship to you or make a sponsorship submission for you.

Your work, training or research in the UK must relate to the work of your sponsor organisation.

Your sponsor can be any of the following:

an organisation running an approved exchange scheme
a higher education institution (if you are a sponsored researcher, visiting academic or examiner)
a government department or agency

How long it takes

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK.
As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.
You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within:

3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK
8 weeks, if you’re inside the UK

How much it costs

You, your partner or children will each need to:

pay the application fee £319
pay the healthcare surcharge, which is usually £1,035 per year

How long you can stay in the UK

The amount of time you can stay depends on the length of your visa and the start and end dates of your job.
Depending on the scheme you apply for, you’ll get a visa for a maximum of 12 months or 24 months.
You can enter the UK up to 14 days before the date your job starts, as long as you do not arrive before the start date on your visa.
You can stay in the UK for up to 14 days after the date your job ends, as long as you do not stay past the end date on your visa.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

study (for some courses you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate)
work in the job you have a certificate of sponsorship or sponsorship reference number for
do a second job for up to 20 hours per week
do a job on the Skilled Worker immigration salary list for up to 20 hours per week as well as your main job
bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible

You cannot:

take a permanent job
get public funds

Brief overview of internship opportunities in various Industries

While applying for internships, it is essential to evaluate your professional interests and goals. Internships for college students provide much-needed practical industry experience that helps students map out their career trajectory and future goals. Some sectors where you may find internships are:

Hospitality: The hospitality industry is customer-focused, fast-paced and detail-oriented. Students pursuing a degree in hotel management or a related field can look for opportunities in this sector. These internship opportunities are available at hotels, resorts, restaurants and event planning companies.
Human resources: The human resources department helps companies recruit, onboard and manage their employees. An internship in this sector can help students understand the nuances of working with the management and employees. Experienced professionals in this field may also teach interns how to complete day-to-day responsibilities and tasks in the role, which can include processing payroll, updating policies and handling employees’ records.
Public relations: Public relations internships help students understand the nuances of managing a brand’s public image and reputation. These internships can teach them crisis management, people management and critical thinking. Students pursuing a degree in media management or a related field often take up internships in this sector.
Administration: The administration department creates efficient systems to manage the day-to-day work in a company or for a government entity. Students interested in organisation, documentation and clerical work often take up internships in this sector to gain valuable industry knowledge. An internship in administration helps students learn how to improve their management and organisational skills.
Journalism: Journalism is a fast-paced job that may require a strong network in the field. An internship in this industry prepares you to work with a team to research and write articles on varied topics. It is a detail-oriented job that requires excellent communication, crisis management and people-management skills.
Social service: Students pursuing a degree in humanities, social sciences or any other field may intern with a non-governmental organisation (NGO). These organisations often work towards a social cause and often look for passion-driven individuals interested in helping others improve their daily lives. Interning with such organisations helps students understand how to resolve issues humans may be facing like unemployment, addiction or poverty. This helps interns develop empathy, people management, and crisis management skills.
Engineering: Depending upon their areas of interest, engineering students can intern in product development, construction, manufacturing, supply chain management or production. It helps engineers apply their theoretical knowledge to help solve real-life problems and also improves their technical skills. Such internships for engineering graduates are available in start-ups and even various government departments.
Marketing: College students keen on conducting market research and creating marketing campaigns may take up internships in this field. They may work as part of market research agencies or work in the marketing department of companies. This field enables students to derive consumer insights and use them for creating campaigns that help brands improve their return on investment (ROI)
Technology: Internships in this field may include working with teams to create products, applications or build technology for the future. Interns work with multiple software programs, test tools and understand the software and technology landscape in-depth. They may work in software, web development, app development, manufacturing or even finance.
Legal: Students pursuing law often take up internships in private law firms or work with the government in policymaking. Interns improve their knowledge of legal procedures. It serves as an opportunity to understand the industry, network and identify opportunities within the legal field like criminal law, corporate law or legal analysis. Such internships are often unpaid and mandatory as part of the college coursework.
Healthcare: Healthcare internships help students studying medicine or nursing gain practical experience in providing care to others. Interns learn to work under pressure, communicate with doctors and patients and understand medical procedures. They may intern in private or government hospitals and often work across various departments throughout the course of the internship.
Goverment: The state and central governments offer several internship opportunities in various ministries, including corporate affairs, finance and external affairs ministry. Such internships help students understand the functioning of these ministries and may also assist in policymaking. The government offers internships across different ministries and departments, and in most cases, students can apply online for them.
Data analysis: Data analysis requires knowledge of coding. Interns in this field learn to gauge patterns and insights from structured and unstructured data to help businesses make informed decisions. An internship in this field allows students to improve their problem-solving, analytical and coding skills.
Social media: Brands and advertising agencies hire interns to manage social media channels for businesses. Students studying media and communication often take up internships in this field. Interns gain experience in content strategy, content creation, online advertising and community management through such internships.
Graphic design: Graphic design requires creativity and technical skills. The interns in this industry may work with design studios, advertising agencies or even private companies to help improve their artistic and technical abilities. Such internships provide on-the-job training to help students understand creative briefs and enhance their software knowledge.
Performing arts: Performing art internships range from managing artists, makeup, and stage design to being a part of an orchestra or a play. Such internships suit someone with a keen interest in entertainment or performance. These interns often work with theatre groups, dance troops or improve groups.
Industries offering internships for college students: While applying for internships, it is essential to evaluate your professional interests and goals. Internships for college students provide much-needed practical industry experience that helps students map out their career trajectory and future goals.

Top Industries That Hire Interns in the UK

Here are some industries that hire interns in the UK:

Finance and banking:  The UK is one of the world’s financial centres with numerous global banks and financial institutions, making it a popular location for internships in finance and banking. Many companies seek interns with finance skills, including accounting and statistics, from other countries and if you are from a finance background, it can be a great opportunity for you.
Technology:  With a fast-growing tech sector, the UK is a good location to gain experience in the technology industry. Numerous technology companies offer internships in software development, website designing, data analytics, cybersecurity and other programming-related roles.
Creative industries:  The UK is also renowned for its flourishing creative sectors, which include advertising, marketing and media. These internships can provide experience in graphic design, content creation and digital marketing.
Hospitality and tourism:  The hospitality and tourism sector is a major employer with a rich cultural heritage and numerous popular tourist destinations. This industry offers internship opportunities as an event planner, event coordinator or server in hotels, restaurants and other tourism-related businesses.
Public sector:  There are numerous internship opportunities in policy development, public relations and social services within the public sector, which includes government agencies and non-profit organisations.

How to make the best use of Internship?

Grow your network: An internship provides an opportunity for students to network with industry professionals. Some students may also find further opportunities through the network they build during internships. Students may also find mentors to guide them and help advance their careers through such internships.
Improve professional skills: Internships provide students with the opportunity to work as a team on projects. It teaches accountability, teamwork and problem-solving abilities. Working on projects also helps you advance your technical knowledge within your field.
Provides a competitive edge: An internship provides you with experiences that you may add to your resume. It helps students get better employment opportunities, as many companies look for candidates with previous work experience. This added experience in the industry or field related to the role you are applying for can make your resume stand out to hiring managers.