Internships might feel like something for later. But if you’re planning to go to university, TAFE, polytechnic or college after school, they could become part of your life sooner than you think. An internship lets you work in your chosen field while you’re still studying. It’s a chance to test a career, build skills, and meet people who could help you later on.
If you’re not sure what an internship involves, read our article, What is an internship and is it worth doing? Then read on to find out where to looks for internship opportunities, and how to secure a place.
Why it’s worth thinking about this now
Some of the choices you make in high school could shape the internships open to you later. Some tertiary courses build work placements into the course itself. Areas like nursing, teaching, and engineering degrees often include time in real workplaces as part of your study, because you’ll need to know you can handle the work before you graduate and you’ll also need to practise and prove you’ve got the necessary skills.
In the UK, some degrees include a placement year, where you spend a full year working in industry before your final year. Courses like this are sometimes called sandwich courses, because the work year sits between your years of study.
If you’d love to experience an internship or work placement, it’s worth making a note to check when comparing courses. They might be called work placements, work-integrated learning, or a year in industry, as well as internships. If you’re not sure you can always ask the future students teams at the institutions whose courses you are considering. Two courses can look almost the same on paper, but if one of them puts you in a real workplace for a year, that could make a huge difference when you start looking for work.
Start with your careers service
Once you start studying, your university or college careers service is the best place to begin. Many have their own job boards, where employers post internships aimed at their students. They might also run careers fairs, CV workshops and practice interviews. Think of the careers service as your local branch of the job market. The roles listed there are often aimed at students like you, so you’re not competing with experienced workers.
Where to look in Australia
In Australia, many large employers run summer internships, often called vacation programs. These usually take place over the long summer break between university years.
As one example, engineering firm Arup runs a 12-week paid Summer Vacation Program for students in their second-to-last year of study, from November to the following February. Students who finish it are automatically considered for a graduate role. Law firms often run similar programs called clerkships, usually for law students in their second-to-last year.
To find these opportunities, try student job boards such as Prosple and SEEK Grad. You can search by industry, location, and the type of role you’re after.
Where to look in New Zealand
New Zealand’s tertiary summer break also runs from around December to February, so many internships happen then too. Your institution’s careers service and student job boards are good places to start.
If you’re interested in technology, look into Summer of Tech. It’s an industry-led program that connects tech companies with university and other tertiary students. Students take part in workshops and events during the year, and the program leads to paid summer internships. Prosple and SEEK Grad are also options in New Zealand, and MoneyHub have a great list of internships to get started with too.
Where to look in the UK
In the UK, students often look for summer internships in their second-to-last year of university, there are plenty on offer. Some employers also offer shorter insight programmes, sometimes called spring weeks, for first-year students. Placement years are another popular option, as mentioned above.
The UK Government runs a Civil Service Summer Internship Programme for undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds. It offers around 200 paid placements, where students spend two months working in a government department. Interns might help plan events, write briefings for ministers or carry out research. It’s open to students in their final two years at university.
Your careers service will also point you towards the student job boards that suit your subject.
What to do if you live somewhere else
Wherever you plan to study, the same steps apply. Look for courses where work integrated learning if offered. If they’re not available in your chosen field, start with your institution’s careers service and its job board. Look for national graduate and student job websites in your country. Professional associations for the field you’re interested in often list internships or run student programs too.
There are lots of organisations offering internship experiences or programs that ask you to pay, we recommend doing your background research and making sure it’s the right move for you before signing up for any of those. Remember, if you’re thinking about an internship offered in another country, check your eligibility and any visa rules that apply before going any further with your application. Some countries have special visas for students or interns, while others don’t allow overseas students to do certain kinds of work.
How to secure an internship
Finding an internship is the first step. Winning a place takes some planning.
Start early, big internship programs often recruit many months ahead and can get competitive. For example, applications for the UK’s Civil Service Summer Internship Programme opened in October 2025 for placements starting in summer 2026. If you wait until just before the holidays, you may find that applications have already closed.
Tailor every application. A CV and cover letter that could be sent to any employer won’t stand out. Explain why you want to work for that organisation, and link your skills to what they’re looking for.
Be ready for each stage. Many larger employers use online tests, video interviews, or group activities as part of their process. Your careers service can help you practise for these and make sure you’ve got all the technical equipment you’ll need.
Make connections and network, going to careers fairs, chatting with lecturers, and joining professional networking sites could all lead to opportunities. Some internships, especially at smaller organisations, are never advertised. A polite email asking about opportunities could open doors.
Finally, start building experience now. Part-time work, volunteering, school leadership roles and personal projects all give you examples to talk about. If you’ve coached a junior sports team, you can show that you’re reliable and good with people. Employers know students are still learning, they want to see that you’re curious and willing to put in the effort.
Explore your future career
Internships are one of the best ways to bridge the gap between study and work. Knowing where to find them, and how to apply, means you can make the most of your time as a student. And the things you do now, from choosing courses to building skills, could help you get there.
Want to start exploring where your study could take you? Browse our jobs and careers articles to find out more about different career paths and how to get started.
