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Internships
Gain valuable short term industry experience
Internships are a great way to build industry work experience, gain specific skills and increase your network in a particular sector. This page will explore what an internship is, where to look for them and other useful information.
What is an internship?
Internships are short-term work experience opportunities that last between 1 and 4 months. They take place during vacation periods and are common with large employers in industries such as Business, Finance, Law, Engineering and Technology.
Internships vs Placements
The terms Internships and Placements are often interchangeable. Whilst both internships and placements can be optional, placements are taken as part of a degree programme, usually for a whole academic year, and you will receive academic credit for completing one.
How to find Internship opportunities
Internships are usually advertised in the autumn term, with closing dates in January - March, although some can be earlier. Traditionally advertised internships are aimed at penultimate year undergraduate students to complete during the summer months, but you may find some are open to a wider pool of candidates (such as first years, postgraduate students, and graduates). Always check your eligibility for an advertised internship before applying.
Summer Internships
A fantastic way to gain valuable industry experience is to do a Summer Internship. Lasting from two weeks to three months, gaining a place is as competitive as applying for a job and you should treat it as such. Many employers ask you to complete an application form and send a cover letter detailing why you want the internship and what you can offer.
Virtual Internships
Virtual internships are becoming increasingly popular. They usually last a few days but are a great way to build valuable skills and experience that you can add to your CV.
Look for virtual internships at Forage or Internship Experience UK (applications for the latter tend to open in spring).
Make your own internship
Not finding any suitable internships in your chosen field? Found a company you'd love to work for but no advertised jobs? ‘Create your own’ internship by making a speculative application. Contact smaller or medium-sized organisations, approach the employer to enquire about 'hidden' opportunities they can offer.
Use the below sites to search for advertised Internships:
Top tip
Explore our Career Guides to search for Internship opportunities in specific sectors; Our career guides
Useful resources
Read the below articles for more advice and information about completing an internship:
- Internships FAQs - Targetjobs article which answers frequently asked questions about internships
- Internships - informative article from Prospects
- Internships: know your rights - important information about what you can expect in terms of payment from an internship opportunity
- Internships abroad - information about completing an internship overseas
- Discover hidden internships - more advice and information about using the speculative approach to 'create your own' internship opportunity
Explore more
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Placements
Increase your employment opportunities and strengthen your skills by completing a placement.
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Find out how to utilise online learning platforms to supercharge your skills and experience!
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