How to Get a Summer Internship

4th April 2025 Shannan Humphrey Careers and Finance, Jobs & Careers

Summer internships are the perfect opportunity to gain job experience before or after your studies, getting you ready for the real world. Great for upskilling or giving you a boost in your career field, they can help you network and may even land you a full-time position. Whether you’re looking for opportunities across the UK or in London specifically, we’ll help you through the process.

What Is A Summer Internship?

A summer internship is a short-term temporary position offered by organisations during the summer months. Usually running from June to September, they provide practical work experience that allows you to build your skills in a chosen industry. Great for students, recent graduates, or those seeking a career change, summer internships are a great opportunity to try out the career you’re aiming to get into. Depending on the company and employer, summer internships may vary in length and can be unpaid or paid.

Why Get A Summer Internship?

Gain practical experience: Offering real-world experience, they help you apply the knowledge gained during your studies to a hands-on situation.
Develop new skills: You’ll improve key skills like communication, organisation, and teamwork which are valuable anywhere.
Build your CV: Summer internships are a great way to enhance your CV. They showcase your work ethic, skills, and industry experience, which boosts your employability in the future.
Networking opportunities: Summer internships give you a chance to meet professionals and get your name out there to other companies, which can be beneficial for gaining career advice or advancing job searches.
Potential job offers: At the end of a summer internship, some companies will hire you as an employee either right away or when it comes to securing a job after studies. This makes the transition into working life a little easier as you’ve already got a place at a company that you’re familiar with.

All in all, summer internships for students are a great way to practice what you learn in the real world, learn industry knowledge, and improve your skill set. They’re a great way to make your CV stand out when applying for jobs and provide great networking opportunities that could even help you secure your first job after graduation. Even if you aren’t sure about your career field, internships give you the chance to try an industry to see if it’s the right fit for you – providing an all-rounded learning experience.

When Do Summer Internship Applications Open?

In the UK, summer internships usually open their applications from September to December of the previous year, with deadlines ranging from January to March. Aim to research and apply as early as possible to avoid missing any opportunities. However, if you do miss the earlier applications or need more time to decide, some employers offer summer internships closer to the time. If you aren’t sure about the application dates for the exact internship you’d like to apply for, reach out and ask the company about what they offer and when.

Steps To Getting A Summer Internship In The UK

Getting a summer internship in the UK is as simple and easy as applying for a job. To help you, these are our expert tips.

1. Start Early

Summer internships can be popular and therefore competitive. Make sure you begin your research well ahead of time to find the right one for you and start your application early to make sure you meet the deadline.

2. Research Summer Internship Opportunities

There are a lot of places to look for summer internships, depending on what career field or opportunities you are looking for. These include:

University careers services: Most UK universities have their own career or employability hubs which provide resources and information on summer internships at partner companies. Visit your university’s career page or building for more details.
Job boards: Popular sites like Indeed and LinkedIn feature listings for summer internships, intern positions, or volunteer work for you to apply for, along with tips for building your CV. Sites like LinkedIn for students are a great way to network, showcase your skills through your profile, or view student-friendly opportunities.
Company internship programmes: Many large or high-up companies offer their own structured and targeted summer internships. These are highly competitive and aimed at university students. The best way to find these is to contact them directly or check their website regularly.
The UK Government website: The UK Government provides career skills and training courses and resources for students looking for apprenticeships and internships in various fields.
Graduate career websites: Milkround and RateMyPlacement are great platforms for students or graduates to search for summer internships by industry or location.

If you can’t find a summer internship option for a specific company or job you’re eyeing, try emailing or going into their store or head building itself to ask; sometimes, this is a great way to get an offer.

3. Read Carefully

Once you find an internship you like the look of, make sure you read the description fully. This will give you clear details about the company, role, and what you’ll be doing and learning during the internship. Look out for information on the length of the internship, the daily hours, whether it’s paid or not and any qualifications you need to see if it’s right for you and your summer schedule.

4. Apply For The Internship

Specific information on how to apply for an internship is usually found in the job description or communicated via email or over the phone if you are contacting the employer directly. While some offer a more straightforward process, only requiring your personal information and background, others can include:

Updating your CV: If an internship application asks for your CV, make sure to tailor it with the highlight relevant skills and academic achievements related to that student internship to showcase why you’re the best candidate. For help, look at our guide to how to create an employable CV.
Writing a cover letter: This should explain why you’re interested in the internship, what skills you bring, and what you’re hoping to gain from it for your career. There are several online resources to help you with writing a cover letter, such as the official UK Government website.
Adding references: Some applications may ask for references. Ask one of your lecturers or past employers if they’re happy to be contacted.

Read more: How To Apply For A Job

5. Follow Up Or Prepare For Interviews

After applying, if you’ve not heard back within a week or two, it’s good to follow up over email to show your interest. If you have heard back and you’ve been selected for an interview – great! Prepare by researching the company, understanding the industry and practising interview questions such as:

“Tell me about yourself”: Briefly mention your education and any relevant experience or skills.
“Why do you want this internship?”: Mention specifics, such as why their company stands out to you and why this internship aligns with your career goals or studies.
“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”: Employers like to see how your long-term goals align with their company and how you want to develop professionally.

Companies will want to see that you took the time to learn about them and that you are a great fit for them just as much as they’re a great fit for you. You might have to talk about your strengths, weaknesses, how you handle pressure or examples of when you’ve worked in a team. Most importantly, be honest and be yourself. It’s nothing to panic about!

Tips For Applying For Summer Internships

They can be competitive: Early application and preparation is key to securing a role.
Multiple interviews are common: Many internships, especially those at bigger companies, have a structured application process with multiple stages, including online assessments, interviews or group exercises.
Network: Whether online or at career fairs or events, networking can help you connect with potential employers and learn about internships.
Stay flexible: Internships can vary from paid to unpaid, full or part-time
Apply for more than one: This gives you backup options just in case you don’t get the one you want, or the chance to choose your favourite from multiple options if you’re successful.
Don’t be disheartened: If you don’t get a summer internship, don’t feel too let down. You can always apply for another or consider alternative routes such as volunteering or freelance work to build experience.

For more tips, take a look at our student job-hunting tips.

Summer Internships In London

London offers a wide range of opportunities for studying and working. As the capital of the UK, London is a major hub for all kinds of industries, from smaller companies and public sectors to larger corporations in finance, law, technology, media and consulting.

Applying for a student internship in London offers great opportunities to get your foot in the door with bigger names. Job board websites, student internship sites, or government sites all allow you to search by location so you can find summer internships all over the city. Whether you study or live in London or thinking about moving to the capital, there are plenty of work experience opportunities to choose from.

Related: A Guide To Moving To London

Accommodation For Summer Internships

If you’re taking the leap and doing an internship away from home or closer to where you study, you’ll need to think about accommodation. Some student accommodation will allow you to stay outside of term time during the summer. Contact your provider or landlord to check if they offer this or not.

At urbanest, we offer student accommodation in London for both summer internships or those looking to continue the summer in their university city. Choose from twin, en-suite, private, or studio rooms and luxury penthouse suites all situated in the heart of London, across 9 prime locations. Enjoy the sites of London, top attractions, transport links, and all-inclusive rents with a 24/7 on-site team. For more information or to book a viewing, find more details on summer accommodation in London page.