IT Internships

How does an IT internship work?

IT internships give you real workplace experience in the tech industry. You'll work full-time alongside experienced professionals, working on actual projects for between one to six months.

Most internships run during the summer break, though some companies offer year-round opportunities.

During your internship, you can expect regular feedback sessions, mentorship opportunities, and the chance to apply all you’ve learned at university into real work situations. Best of all, you’ll be paid a salary for the duration.

If you’re not quite internship-ready (or in your first year), insight days are the perfect way of getting on an employer’s radar. Think of them as a taster session where you’ll learn all about an employer, their opportunities, the technology industry, and how you can score a full-time internship.

What do you do in an IT internship?

Not the coffee runs, that’s for sure! You'll get stuck into real projects from day one that’ll make a difference in the business.

Your day-to-day might include:

• Developing software applications

• Troubleshooting technical issues

• Supporting system updates

• Coding new features for mobile apps

• Strengthening cyber security defenses

• Analysing data

During your internship, you could work on a specific project, multiple projects or support behind the scenes as the resident tech person. One of the best parts of an IT internship is that you’ll see real-time results of your work.

What types of IT internships are there?

No matter what your skill set and interests are, there is something for everyone in the IT world. Let’s explore the types of IT internships you can do.

Software development

You’ll build apps, websites, and systems using languages like Python or JavaScript. Some roles here include:

• Software engineer

• Frontend developer

• Full Stack developer.

Cyber security

You’ll stop hackers and protect company data. Some roles include:

• Security analyst

• Penetration Tester

• Ethical hacker.

Data Science

If you love numbers, you’ll turn numbers into insights that help businesses make smart decisions. You could be a:

• Machine learning engineer

• Data analyst

• Data scientist.

Cloud computing

You’ll manage apps and systems on platforms like AWS or Microsoft Azure. Some roles you can do include:

• Cloud engineer

• Solutions architect

• Cloud security specialist.

IT support

A business’ resident ‘tech person’, you’ll keep everything running smoothly and fix tech problems when they pop up. Roles can include:

• IT support technician

• Help desk analyst

• Network administrator.

UX/UI design

Great at design? You’ll create apps and websites that work well and look good. You could work as a:

• Product designer

• User researcher

• UX/UI designer.

DevOps

You’ll bridge the gap between building software and getting it live.

Ever wanted to know what it’s like to work for TikTok? Hear from this machine learning engineer intern.

Do tech interns get paid?

YES! Interns earn a full-time wage for the duration of their internship. The average salary for an IT internship is £30,600 (pro rata).

Once you’ve finished university, new IT graduates typically start on around £32,000 per year, with experienced professionals earning an average of £39,000 per year.

Of course, salaries depend on the company, seniority and the actual role. But your earning potential will only grow as you gain more experience. Some roles could get you around £90,000 per year.

How to apply for an IT internship?

Most companies recruit between September and March for summer internships, but some hire year-round so keep your eyes peeled.

If you’ve found a role you love, it’s time to apply. You'll submit an online application and attach your CV. If you have any coding experience, this is your chance to highlight it. Internships are all about learning, so don’t worry too much if you don’t have any formal experience. Talk about any projects you’ve done outside of university like coding clubs or other relevant bits.

If you impress, you’ll be invited to a final interview or assessment centre where you’ll get stuck in with group tasks and online tests.

Ready to get started? Check out all our application advice, where you’ll find everything from crafting a CV to acing your assessment centre and interviews. Scroll down to start applying.