BBS students have many ways to secure internships. Many companies offer insight days or shorter-term work experiences that fit around your studies.

Summer Internships

These are short-term roles, primarily for penultimate year students. They are often used to recruit for graduate training programmes. But most internships are open to all students.

Graduate Internships

After graduation you can still seek work experience. Graduate internships, like undergraduate ones, are full-time and last between one and six months.

Your reasons for seeking an internship may vary. Whether you want to explore a particular career, gain experience, make contacts, or acquire knowledge in your chosen field, internships are invaluable.

In a competitive market, having work experience on your CV is crucial. It helps you understand your career preferences and gain insights into roles and companies before securing a permanent job.

Consider before you start

Before you begin your internship search, think about:

• The jobs and industries you’re interested in.
• The work experience needed for a career in that area.
• Your current skills and how you want to develop them.
• When you want to gain experience and how much time you can commit.
• Where you prefer to work and if you can travel.

Need Guidance?

If you’re unsure about the best path for you, discuss your options with the BBS Careers team.

The University of Birmingham offers a range of bespoke internship opportunities through the B-Experienced Internship Programme. These internships are available exclusively to current undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as recent graduates.

These internships have many benefits:

• Meaningful projects: Work on impactful projects or business areas for host organisations.
• Skill development: Enhance your CV by developing a wide range of skills.
• Professional experience: Gain practical experience in professional working environments.
• Recognition: Earn recognition on The Birmingham Award and enhance your transcript.
• Financial Support: Receive a bursary to support your internship experience.
• Networking: Make valuable contacts within your chosen industry.
• Flexibility: Choose from in-person, hybrid, or remote internships.

These internships let you make a real impact, especially with non-profits and smaller companies. They are designed to help you gain practical experience and develop skills that are highly valued by employers.

• Find out about Bespoke Internships

What funding is available?

The University provides funding and bursary schemes for eligible students wanting to undertake internships. Financial support is available for unpaid or low-paid work experience relevant to your future career. Check eligibility and explore other options for funding. 

When can I start applying for internships? 

Summer internships are advertised from September at the start of your second year and are open for applications until the summer. Larger companies typically open applications from September to December. Keep checking websites regularly for job adverts throughout the year.

We recommend looking for internships on:

• Bright Network
• Careers Connect
• Indeed
• LinkedIn
• Prospects
• RateMyPlacement
• TargetJobs

Also look out for internships promoted in the weekly BBS Careers newsletter. 

When do larger firms stop hiring? 

Companies will stop hiring if they get a lot of applications and fill their positions. We recommend checking deadlines frequently.

Larger organisations usually close vacancies in December, but some continue recruiting into the following year, advertising unfilled positions until April. Check deadlines frequently. 

What is the difference between internships, placements and insight days? 

The main differences are the lengths and the job role itself. 

• Placement years: last for 12 months.
• Internships: up to 3 months, offering full-time experience with a set role.
• Short internships: last between 2 weeks and a month.
• Virtual internships: up to 1 month.
• Insight days: last between a day and a week, either in person or virtually.

Some companies use 'short-term placement' to describe an internship. 

You may also see 'internship programme', which offers networking opportunities and insights into different roles and day-to-day activities within a company.