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 usually take place during vacation periods and are most 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.
Finding internships
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.
Look for advertised internships using the below links:
Top tip
If you're looking for work experience in a particular job sector, you can find information in our career guides - we have over forty different guides with lots of industry specific resources.
Make your own internship
If you're unable to find a suitable internship in your chosen field, or if you are finding you are not meeting the eligibility criteria for advertised internships, then you can always try and ‘create your own’ internship by making a speculative application. This is where you approach an employer yourself to enquire if they can to offer any suitable opportunities, and works well with smaller or medium-sized organisations.
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).
Applying for internships
Internships are very competitive, so it is important to make your applications stand out. You'll likely need to submit a CV and cover letter tailored to the job description. Read our CV Writing Toolkit and cover letter guide for advice on creating a good quality CV and cover letter.
Once you have done this, you can always drop into the careers centre between 1.00pm - 4-00pm Monday - Friday (during term time) for feedback on your CV and cover letter before you apply to your chosen internship!
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
Volunteering
Discover how we can help you find and apply for volunteering opportunities to enhance your employability and get experience to add to your studies.
Placements
Increase your employment opportunities and strengthen your skills by completing a placement.
Using online learning to boost your career search
Find out how to utilise online learning platforms to supercharge your skills and experience!
