Internships for Students in the UK

Making the most of a student internship

An internship is the single most impactful thing most students can do to improve their graduate employment prospects. Most structured UK internships run over summer (June to August) for eight to twelve weeks and are paid. At investment banks and large professional services firms, a successful summer internship converts into a full-time graduate offer — meaning the internship is effectively the final round of graduate recruitment. At other companies, internships are evaluated independently but often lead to return offers or strong referrals. Apply early: many large employers fill internship cohorts months before the programme starts, and applications open as early as September for the following summer. Tailor each application to the specific firm and role — generic applications are rarely successful at competitive employers.

Frequently asked questions