Last updated: 9 Nov 2026 · Facts checked against official sources on 9 Nov 2026
Internships in the UK on a Student visa
Where UK internships are listed, which companies run internships and placements by sector, and the visa rules that decide when and how much you can work. Every link was checked on 9 Nov 2026.
1. The Student visa work rule
At degree level at a university, you can usually work up to 20 hours a week in term time and full time outside term time (official vacations). A placement that is an assessed, integral part of your course is allowed separately. Your own visa conditions are what count – check your eVisa.
| Situation | What the rules say |
|---|---|
| Degree level or above, university with a track record of compliance | Up to 20 hours a week in term time; full-time employment allowed outside term time (Appendix Student, ST 26.1) |
| Below degree level, sponsored by a university | Up to 10 hours a week in term time; full time outside term time |
| Part-time course | No work allowed |
| Work placement that is part of your course | Allowed if it is assessed as an integral part of the course. At degree level it can be up to half the course length; below degree level, up to one third (ST 17.2–17.3) |
| Never allowed | Self-employment or business activity; professional sport or sports coaching; work as an entertainer; filling a permanent full-time vacancy (ST 26.5) |
| Exception | After a valid Skilled Worker or Graduate visa application, you may start a permanent job in some cases (ST 26.6) |
Sources: GOV.UK – Student visa and Immigration Rules – Appendix Student. “Term time” means your university’s official term dates – ask your international student team if you are unsure.
2. Where UK internships are listed
Use 2–3 boards plus your university careers portal. The specialist boards list the big graduate-scheme employers; LinkedIn and your university portal add smaller firms.
| Site | What it focuses on |
|---|---|
| Gradcracker | STEM: engineering, technology and science internships, placements and graduate jobs |
| TARGETjobs internships | Graduate-employer internships and spring weeks across sectors |
| Prospects | Work experience and internship listings plus careers advice |
| Handshake UK | University-linked job board – log in through your university |
| LinkedIn – UK internships | All sectors; set alerts and message recruiters |
| Sheffield Hallam Careers | Example of a university careers portal – use your own university’s portal for local, often visa-friendly roles |
| Bright Network (brightnetwork.co.uk), RateMyPlacement (ratemyplacement.co.uk), Indeed UK (uk.indeed.com) | Popular boards for internships, placement years and student reviews. Our link checker was blocked by these sites, so type the address yourself |
3. Tech companies
Big tech firms run summer internships and some placement years. Coding tests are common.
| Company | Students & internships page | Sponsorship / international students |
|---|---|---|
| Google – students | Not stated on the page we checked – ask the recruiter | |
| Microsoft | Microsoft – students | Not stated on the page we checked – ask the recruiter |
| Amazon | Amazon – internships | Not stated on the page we checked – ask the recruiter |
| Arm | Arm – emerging talent | Not stated on the page we checked – ask the recruiter |
4. Finance & banking
Banks run spring weeks (first-years) and summer internships (penultimate year). Applications often open in late summer and close early.
| Company | Students & internships page | Sponsorship / international students |
|---|---|---|
| Goldman Sachs | Goldman Sachs – programs & internships | Not stated on the page we checked – ask the recruiter |
| J.P. Morgan | JPMorganChase – programs | Not stated on the page we checked – ask the recruiter |
| Barclays | Barclays – early careers | Not stated on the page we checked – ask the recruiter |
| HSBC | HSBC – students & graduates | Not stated on the page we checked – ask the recruiter |
| Morgan Stanley | Morgan Stanley – students & graduates | Not stated on the page we checked – ask the recruiter |
| Lloyds Banking Group | Lloyds – careers | Not stated on the page we checked – ask the recruiter |
5. Consulting & Big 4
The Big 4 run summer vacation schemes and industrial placements in audit, tax, consulting and technology.
| Company | Students & internships page | Sponsorship / international students |
|---|---|---|
| Deloitte | Deloitte – early careers | States it welcomes all applicants but “there are some UK Government restrictions on who we can sponsor” – see its Work Permits and Sponsorship section |
| PwC | PwC – early careers | Not stated on the page we checked – ask the recruiter |
| EY | EY – students | Not stated on the page we checked – ask the recruiter |
| KPMG | KPMG careers | Not stated on the page we checked – ask the recruiter |
6. Engineering
Engineering firms offer summer internships and 12-month industrial placements, often listed on Gradcracker too.
| Company | Students & internships page | Sponsorship / international students |
|---|---|---|
| Rolls-Royce | Rolls-Royce – students & graduates | Not stated on the page we checked – ask the recruiter |
| JLR | JLR – early careers | Not stated on the page we checked – ask the recruiter |
| Arup | Arup – early careers | Not stated on the page we checked – ask the recruiter |
| BAE Systems | BAE Systems – early careers | Defence roles often need security clearance, which can limit some nationalities – check each advert |
7. FMCG (consumer goods)
Consumer-goods firms hire interns in marketing, supply chain, finance and engineering.
| Company | Students & internships page | Sponsorship / international students |
|---|---|---|
| Mars | Mars UK careers | Not stated on the page we checked – ask the recruiter |
| Procter & Gamble | P&G UK careers | Not stated on the page we checked – ask the recruiter |
| Reckitt | Reckitt careers | Not stated on the page we checked – ask the recruiter |
8. Tips before you accept an internship
Check the hours fit your visa, that you are paid properly, and that the employer is real.
- Most interns who are “workers” must get at least the minimum wage: GOV.UK – employment rights for interns and minimum wage rates.
- Keep a record of hours worked in term time – breaking the 20-hour limit can hurt later visa applications.
- Never pay a fee for an internship or a “guaranteed sponsorship” – see the scam section in Job tips.
- Ask at the interview whether interns are considered for graduate roles and whether the graduate role can be sponsored.
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Sources
- GOV.UK – Student visa — checked 9 Nov 2026
- Immigration Rules – Appendix Student — checked 9 Nov 2026
- GOV.UK – Employment rights for interns — checked 9 Nov 2026
- Gradcracker — checked 9 Nov 2026
- TARGETjobs internships — checked 9 Nov 2026
- Prospects – work experience and internships — checked 9 Nov 2026