What's an Internship? A Guide for Students

Internships: Key Facts

Typically lasting between one and four months, internships usually take place during the summer holidays and allow students to work full-time within a specific industry for a company of their choice.

Most students apply in their second year of university, but many internships are open to first and even final-year students.

Much more than just making coffee, the opportunity will provide you with an insight into different areas of the professional environment, including:

• Company culture, values and vision

• Operating high-tech software and equipment

• Working for a small, medium-sized or large organisation

• Collaborating across different teams

• Working on real-life projects

• Completing tasks and taking on work as needed.

Internships are REAL jobs, and you are considered a REAL employee during your time as an intern. You'll also be paid pro-rata for your time.

For employers, internships are also an opportunity to identify future graduate talent, meaning a successful internship can often lead to graduate schemes, full-time roles or further career opportunities. So they’re super worth it.

What are the benefits of doing an internship?

Whilst you might have to give up some of your summer holidays, there is so much to love about internships.

Here are just some benefits:

Stand out from the crowd

With around 140 applicants per graduate job, the competition is tough once you leave university! An internship can be the extra boost your CV needs to get noticed, especially if it's with a relevant employer or industry. In fact, many interns return as graduates at the same company; it's a proven way in.

Try before you buy

Think of an internship as a "test drive" for your future career. It’s your chance to explore a profession before fully committing. If you're lucky, you may get multiple internships throughout your time at university, meaning that you can be really sure about your future career. At the same time, you'll be filling your CV with valuable experience.

Put theory into practice

University is full of theory, but internships let you apply it in the real world. That’s why employers love graduates with internship experience.

Make valuable connections

You'll meet experienced professionals who could become key contacts. These connections could prove fruitful for your future graduate job search, especially for references. Plus, there’s plenty of time to make friends with other interns and join in on the social side of work!

We host thousands of internship reviews on our website, written by real students who have interned at employers nationwide.

Here's what one intern thought about their time at Expedia Group:

Other types of internships

Off-Cycle Internships

You'll find some industries will offer internships 'off-cycle'. Common in the financial services industry - as well as for SMEs - this means that they take place at other times of the year rather than the summer.

They still last for one to four months, so you must consider your studies or exams. These tend to work better for graduates or master's students.

Spring Week Internships

Spring Week Internships, or insight weeks, tend to run for one to two weeks during the Easter holidays. Primarily found in finance and aimed at first or second-year students, they are your golden ticket to a career with one of the world's top banks.

What's the difference between an internship and placement?

Placements are another form of work experience you may have heard of. Below we highlight the key differences between placements and internships:

For more information about this longer work experience scheme, read our guide to placements by clicking below.

Do interns get paid?

YES. At Higherin, we believe every company should pay its interns a fair salary. An internship is a real job; therefore, you deserve to be paid for your work.

Many employers are offering more competitive salaries than ever before, with lots of perks included. Using reviews submitted by thousands of interns on Higherin, we found that the average salary for an internship is currently £20,000 per year (pro rata).

Internships in London or other major cities tend to pay more than similar schemes in other parts of the UK because the cost of living is higher. The same can be said for certain industries, such as Financial Services and Banking.

You can dive into in-depth salary statistics in our Best-Paid Internships article.

When should I apply?

Most of the companies we work with at Higherin open their internships between September and February, ready to start just before the summer kicks off.

Many employers hire on a first-come, first-served basis. Your best bet is to start looking around September time once you're back at university and spend the next few months actively applying alongside your studies.

There have been instances where companies close their jobs before the deadline. This is usually due to the volume of applications, so you must keep abreast of when roles open so you don't miss out.

Some of the larger companies in the UK, such as the Big Four accounting firms, advertise their work experience programmes throughout the year. As you can imagine, they receive more applications than Britain’s Got Talent, so you’ll still want to get yours in as early as possible.

How to successfully land an internship

• Start searching - Use job boards to filter internships by area, employer, or industry. You can start your internship search right here on Higherin. We have a handy application tracker to track every job you apply for, as well as keep track of where in the process you are with each role. Fancy going international? It’s possible, but keep relocation costs in mind.

• Polish your CV - Don’t worry about tons of experience; focus on showcasing your skills. Highlight what makes you stand out, like running a society or being a spreadsheet whizz.

• Use your network - Leverage any contacts in your desired industry or network on LinkedIn. You never know where a tip or connection might lead!