Summer internships in the UK: when to apply, pay and how to get one

Key takeaways

• →A summer internship is a short work placement that lets you try a job and an employer.
• →Large employers in business, finance, retail, law and IT usually close applications around January or March, so start in the autumn.
• →Whether you must be paid depends on your arrangement, not on the word intern.
• →Smaller employers and other sectors often take speculative applications instead of running a set scheme.
• →Employers look for evidence of skills such as teamwork, communication and problem-solving.

1. What is a summer internship?

A summer internshipA short work placement in the university holidays., sometimes called a summer placement, is a way to gain experience in a particular job and to find out whether you would want to work for that organisation after you graduate. St Mary’s careers service adds that many recruiters use internships to find graduate hires, so doing well can lead to a graduate job.^[2]

Length varies. Sussex’s own scheme, for example, is six weeks, usually 225 hours in total, starting in June or July. That is one university’s programme, not a rule for every employer, so always check the advert.^[1]

2. When should you apply for a summer internship?

Earlier than most people expect. St Mary’s says large organisations in business, finance, retail, law and IT usually set deadlines around January or March, and some are earlier. King’s College London makes the same point from the other side: many internships had already opened in the autumn.^[2]

So if you want a summer 2027 internship at a large employer, the search starts now. King’s suggests keeping a calendar reminder, a spreadsheet or an application tracker so that you do not miss a closing date. Sussex’s own university-run scheme opens for applications on 1 March, which shows that timing differs between schemes.^[3]

3. Do you have to be paid for a summer internship?

Often, yes. GOV.UK says what decides your right to the minimum wageThe legal minimum hourly pay for most workers. is the contract with the employer, “not their job title”, and that “intern” and “unpaid” have no legal status. An agreement can be spoken as well as written, and benefits with a money value can count as pay.^[4]

There are limited exceptions. GOV.UK lists students on a required part of a UK further or higher education course, if the placement lasts no more than a year, genuine volunteers, and work shadowingWatching someone do a job without doing the work yourself. where you only observe and do no work. Only a court or tribunal can make a final decision in a given case.^[4]

TARGETjobs advises checking whether an offer fits those rules and asking your careers service before you agree, especially if a contract is involved. Some university schemes set their own floor: Sussex says all of its internships pay at least the real Living WageA voluntary pay rate set above the legal minimum., £14.10 an hour in the UK or £15.45 in London, with tax and National Insurance deducted.^[5]

4. How do you find a summer internship?

Start with your university careers service and the large employers’ own graduate pages. St Mary’s names its own careers service, ProspectsA UK graduate careers website., TARGETjobs, Careers Tagged and Employment 4 Students as places to look, and King’s points to the Bright Network deadlines page.^[3]

If your sector does not run set schemes, St Mary’s suggests short work experience, volunteering or contacting organisations speculativelyContacting an employer that has not advertised a role.. King’s adds that smaller companies may not advertise widely, so researching them directly can pay off.^[3]

5. What do employers look for?

St Mary’s lists communication, negotiating, teamwork and collaboration, analytical thinking, problem-solving and presentation skills. You can build and show these through work experience and activities outside your course.^[2]

Check each advert for its own entry requirements, including degree subject and any minimum UCAS pointsThe score for your A-level and other grades used for entry.. St Mary’s gives 220 UCAS points as one example. For roles open to any degree, use your application to explain why you want that internship. King’s notes that employers may ask what research you have done on the company and the role.^[2]

6. What if you miss out?

King’s suggests that summer jobs and part-time jobs also build knowledge and skills, and that you can book an appointment with a careers consultant. Many employers also run later schemes, so see our graduate schemes guide for how those work.^[3]

When an interview comes, our STAR method guide shows how to structure answers, and our situational judgement tests guide covers a common online test.

7. How Brainhub can help

Brainhub offers coaching for students and graduates preparing for applications and interviews. We help you plan your search, find your best examples and practise answering out loud. We coach, so your answers are always your own, we never write applications or assessed work for you, and we cannot promise an offer or a job. See our online tutoring page for how sessions work, our university pathways for more guides, and book a free assessment choosing “University or graduate”.

1. 1. What is a summer internship?

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2. 2. When do large employers usually close applications?

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3. 3. Does the word “intern” decide whether you must be paid?

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4. 4. Name two skills employers look for.

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Your next steps

1. 01

   List the employers you like and their closing dates.

2. 02

   Put those dates in a calendar or spreadsheet.

3. 03

   Check the pay terms of any offer before you accept.

4. 04

   Book a CV check with your careers service.