Jenza Talk / UK
Life working as a Digital Intern in London
Johanne Bagge
Dec 27
Career progression + travelling overseas? How to have your cake and eat it.
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Want a summer to remember learning and exploring, need academic credit as part of your degree, or wondering what’s next after graduation? Put your career on the map with a 1-12 month overseas internship in the UK.
Fancy a yarn?
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The home of interning in the UK! Our sibling company, BUNAC, is the Tier 5 sponsor for this visa.
Career goals + travel goals
We’re putting our serious hat on for a sec. The pointy graduation one. Getting hands-on work experience in your academic field can be essential to nailing that first job after college. And in a competitive job market, immersing yourself in a different cultural and professional environment with an internship overseas can set you apart from other candidates. Plus, the UK is a total boss when it comes to internships abroad. A cultural, creative and corporate superpower – every sector and industry are represented here. You’ll learn from leaders in your field, build your network, and grow personally and professionally by living and working in one of the most dynamic and diverse places in the world. A win for your work life – and your social life.
How does interning in the UK work?
Choose from two options
You can’t intern in the UK without a visa sponsor. Along with our UK-based sibling company, we’re one of the largest A-rated sponsors for the UK Government’s Temporary Work GAE visa. Not only can we sponsor eligible students or recent grads of all nationalities to intern in the UK, but we can also support you in finding your internship via our Job Hub.
Option 1: Just the sponsorship
You can’t intern in the UK without a visa sponsor. BUNAC, our sibling company, is one of the largest A-rated sponsors for the UK Government’s Temporary Work GAE visa. Not only can we sponsor eligible students or recent grads of all nationalities to intern in the UK, but we can also support you in finding your internship via our Job Hub.
Option 2: Sponsorship + internship
Anyone who’s ever spammed HR inboxes with witty cover letters and creatively designed resumes, will know that getting a foot in the door can be hard. From fashion brands to accounting firms, we have pre-qualified UK employers on our Job Hub who are actively recruiting interns. Find out more about ‘Placement Support’ below.
18+
Full-time student or recent grad
All nationalities (except UK)
Depart year-round
1-12 months’ sponsorship
Access to hiring UK companies
From €1,449
This way to the UK!
Handled by our dedicated London HQ, we provide the UK sponsorship, visa expertise and placement support to intern in the UK for a summer or up to a year on an overseas internship.
If you’re a current full-time student, Intern UK is perfect if you need to get academic credit as part of your degree, or want to use your summer break or a semester away to get valuable short-term work experience. Or if you’ve graduated in the last two years, it’s a unique window to come to the UK for up to 12 months – increasing your earning potential, growing your skillset and building your professional contacts.
Internships can be paid or voluntary, 1-12 months, and we can sponsor you if you're applying from your home country – or if you're an international student on a study visa.
About the visa
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Who and for how long
What visa do I need? To intern abroad in the UK, you need to be eligible for a Temporary Work GAE (Government Authorised Exchange) visa – previously known as the Tier 5 visa. This allows international students and recent grads to come to the UK for 1-12 months to complete short-term work experience. To be eligible for this visa, you must be:
Why do I need a sponsor? Before you can apply for a Temporary Work GAE visa, you must have a government-approved UK sponsor (This is us, BTW). Together with our UK sibling company, BUNAC, we provide the placement and host company vetting to issue the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) you need to apply for your visa.
The visa process includes an online application and in-person biometrics appointment in your home country. (EU passport holders with e-passports can complete their biometrics online). The Temporary Work GAE visa itself costs £298 and must be paid directly to UKVI (UK Visa and Immigration). For internships over 6 months, you are required to pay an IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) of £1,035. This gives you access to NHS (National Health Service) treatment while in the UK and is paid directly to UKVI.
Finding an internship
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Where and what you can do
What industries can I work in? Marketing internships, fashion internships, accounting internships, publishing internships, museums internships... the UK hosts every sector and industry under the sun. (And despite the rainy reputation, we do get epic summers. Not to mention, your Euro Summer is only a 90-minute train under the channel...).
Apart from interning in healthcare and hospitality, we can sponsor you to work in pretty much any field. And unlike some student or grad visas, your UK internship doesn’t have to be connected to your degree - giving you the freedom to get experience in a sector that’s aligned with your future career aspirations.
Where can I work? While most interns tend to head for London, you can intern anywhere in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland – getting to see more than just the capital and saving some ££ on rent.
Option 1: Own Placement From innovative start-ups to leading global brands, most of our participants land a professional placement on their own – either through their own network or the use a placement company. Use the criteria checklist on the below tabs to make sure you’re approaching UK companies with the correct requirements to get your internship placement offer.
Option 2: Placement Support Like any experience worth having, finding an internship can be hard going. It takes research, determination and some minor-but-legal stalking on LinkedIn. Or paying a placement company to sort it for you. We reach out to UK companies actively searching for interns, vet the roles, and add them to our online Job Hub where you can search and apply directly.
Wooing and vetting these employers takes a dedicated team, which is why if you find your internship on our Job Hub, the ‘Placement Support’ is slightly higher than the ‘Own Placement’ option. We think it’s a fair price for the time and effort it saves – and we hope that when you’re smashing it on the London PR scene, you agree.
Currently hiring on the Job Hub We currently have paid and voluntary London-based internships available in Marketing, Fashion, Architecture, Artist Management, Social, Finance, Business and more. Hit 'Placement Support' to apply.
Internship criteria
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Plus, paid and voluntary roles
Are internships paid? We can sponsor you to do a voluntary (or unpaid) internship, or a paid internship. Salaries vary between placements, but they must meet the minimum wage requirements below. The cost of living in the UK, especially in London, might be higher than in your home country. While we don’t offer accommodation, we work with some great people who do. When you book, we’ll give you all the intel you need on how to find a place to live.
Internship criteria checklist It’s a UK immigration requirement that your internship must be:
How we help As a global family of work abroad brands, we’ve worked closely with the UK Government since 2009 to launch this unique program for students and grads. We know the rules inside and out – so get on the dog and bone (Cockney for phone) if you have any questions. Don’t know what a Cockney is? Watch a Guy Ritchie film before you jet in.
How it works
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Process and timeframes
Timeframes We advise starting your Intern UK application 4-6 weeks before your internship start date. Our UK-based team will always work as quickly as they can on your application – with additional options for priority processing along the way. However, each application is different and we are subject to government immigration processes and wait times – so please allow yourself as much time as possible to get through the process.
Own Placement Standard – allow at least 6 weeks Priority – allow at least 4 weeks
Placement Support If you find a position on our Job Hub, please add 1-2 weeks to the above timeframes. If you are using a placement partner, your application will be subject to their timeframes.
Application process
1. Check the eligibility Check the ‘About the visa’ tab above to make sure you’re eligible for the Temporary Work GAE visa.
2. Find an internship You must have an internship offer before we can sponsor you.
If you already have an internship lined up, great – just ensure if meets the criteria checklist in the tab above and pay your deposit for the ‘Own Placement’ cost.
If you need an internship, after you’ve paid your deposit, you’ll get access to our Job Hub of UK employers actively seeking interns. Check out the ‘Placement Support’ inclusions tab for more on how this works.
3. Vetting and paperwork Once you have your internship offer, our team will vet your placement and host company to ensure it meets the immigration requirements for this visa. We’ll then issue the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) you need to apply for your Temporary Work GAE visa.
4. Apply for your visa Unfortunately, we’re not able to apply for your UK visa for you – it must be done via the UK Visa and Immigration website (UKVI). Our team have assisted thousands of students with this part of their application, and provide step-by-step guidance.
5. Attend your appointment You’ll then need to send your passport to a UK Visa Application Centre in your home country and attend a biometrics appointment (mugshot and fingerprints). EU passport holders with e-passports can do this part online.
6. Sort the essentials Once your visa is secured, it’s safe to book your flights and UK accommodation. In your online customer account, you’ll find information and advice with everything you need to know about moving to the UK.
7. Arrive in the UK You’ll independently start your internship in the UK. Our UK JENZA team will be in touch for monthly check-ups, check-ins with your supervisor, and will be on hand if you need anything.
What's included
Placement Support inclusions
From €1,819
Everything Own Placement includes, plus access to our Job Hub of pre-qualified UK companies who are actively searching for international interns for their in-house internship programs.
How Job Hub access works Once you’ve paid your deposit (this is the same amount for Own Placement and Placement Support), you can start searching and applying for internship positions on our online Job Hub. Internships range from marketing internships to accounting internships, with more UK employers being added all the time.
If you find a suitable internship, you’ll then pay the ‘Placement Support’ price when your final payment is due. If you’re not able to find what you’re looking for (however much we’d love to, we don’t have internships for the hundreds of academic courses that out there), then our team will advise on next steps and can recommend placement partners to help.
If you don’t find an internship on our Job Hub, you’ll pay the ‘Own Placement’ cost when you pay your final instalment.
Cost
1-6 month internship - €1,819
6-12 month internship - €2,059
Why is it more the longer you stay? For internships over 6 months, we’re required to do a second site visit to your employer.
See below for visa fees and any additional costs.
Own Placement inclusions
From €1,449
Inclusions
Cost
0-6 month internship - €1,449
6-12 month internship - €1,549
Why is it more the longer you stay? For internships over 6 months, we’re required to do a second site visit to your employer.
See below for visa fees and any additional costs.
Book now pay later
About our pricing Our mission is to make working abroad more accessible. Meaning we do everything we can to pay our team, support our partners and make a profit – without screwing over the people who matter. Find out how our pricing works and the people involved in making your JENZA happen.
We also walk the walk, donating 5% of profits to our overseas scholarship fund.
What’s not included
Employee pre-site visit (if required)
USD $150 (or currency equivalent). We will need to conduct an in-person visit, prior to approving your internship, for any UK company who has fewer than 20 full-time employees, less than £3 million turnover, or who has been trading for less than two years.
SELT
If English isn’t your native language, you’ll need to provide a SELT certificate equal or above of a B2, or IELTS score of 6.0.
Flights
We don’t recommend booking flights until your visa is approved.
Accommodation in the UK
The resource section in your online account has advice and recommendations on finding UK accommodation.
Intern UK Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
For internships over 6 months, this is £1,035
Just graduated and having a ‘what’s next?’ moment?
The UK is one of the top places in the world to do an internship overseas. But there's an expiration date on nailing that global experience and British accent. You must have entered the UK and started your internship within 24 months of your graduation certificate.
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Just some of our UK employers
Intern in the UK / London
Hiring: Architectural Design Intern, London
Placement: Build up your international resume with a professional internship at this innovative and vibrant design studio based in central London. Salary: Voluntary internship. Book Intern UK for access to more info and placements on the JENZA Job Hub.
Placement: Build up your international resume with a professional internship at this innovative and vibrant design studio based in central London. Salary: Voluntary internship. Book Intern UK for access to more info and placements on the JENZA Job Hub.
Intern in the UK / London
Hiring: Modelling Agency Intern, London
Placement: Get a resume that stands head and shoulders above the rest with a Sales/Creative internship at one of the foremost commercial and fashion agencies in Europe. Salary: Voluntary internship. Book Intern UK for access to more info and placements on the JENZA Job Hub.
Placement: Get a resume that stands head and shoulders above the rest with a Sales/Creative internship at one of the foremost commercial and fashion agencies in Europe. Salary: Voluntary internship. Book Intern UK for access to more info and placements on the JENZA Job Hub.
Intern in the UK / London
Hiring: Video Editing/Production Intern, London
Placement: Give your resume an edge with professional work experience at this leading UK artist management that looks after artists, singers and actors. Salary: Voluntary internship. Book Intern UK for access to more info and placements on the JENZA Job Hub.
Placement: Give your resume an edge with professional work experience at this leading UK artist management that looks after artists, singers and actors. Salary: Voluntary internship. Book Intern UK for access to more info and placements on the JENZA Job Hub.
Intern in the UK / London
Hiring: Financial & Economic Analyst Intern, London
Placement: Get the practical skills you need to take your academic achievements to the next level at this London-based finance firm. Salary: Voluntary internship. Book Intern UK for access to more info and placements on the JENZA Job Hub.
Placement: Get the practical skills you need to take your academic achievements to the next level at this London-based finance firm. Salary: Voluntary internship. Book Intern UK for access to more info and placements on the JENZA Job Hub.
Intern in the UK / London
Hiring: Business Development Executive Intern, London
Placement: Just what the doctor ordered for your resume... get hands-on experience working for a leading UK pharmaceutical distribution company. Salary: £25,000/year + 25 days holiday and annual bonus scheme. Book Intern UK for access to more info and placements on the JENZA Job Hub.
Placement: Just what the doctor ordered for your resume... get hands-on experience working for a leading UK pharmaceutical distribution company. Salary: £25,000/year + 25 days holiday and annual bonus scheme. Book Intern UK for access to more info and placements on the JENZA Job Hub.
What our UK roadtester had to say
Why intern abroad vs intern at home?
Doing a professional internship during or after university is a tried-and-tested way of increasing your employability. But doing an internship overseas, is like internship 2.0 for your resume. For future employers, it shows you have the confidence and drive to take on new challenges and adapt to different cultural environments. And for you, it will expose you to wider range of industries, opportunities and cultures that you might not have experienced at home. Plus, the global citizen card is massive. And who doesn’t want a summer of music festivals and rooftop hangs in London, with jollies over to Europe on your weekends off?
All the inspo and intel on work & travel
No placement, no worries
Don't have a placement lined up?
Hit 'Placement Support' when you book for Job Hub access to our database of UK employers with internship positions to fill.
Who you gonna call?
Let's talk UK
Get some facetime with our amazing JENZA Support Squad. When they’re not posing for pool pics, they’re making your work aboard adventures happen with their endless enthusiasm and mad traveller skills. These include: parent whispering, visa geekery and the ability to pack a backpack in 30 seconds flat.
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Did someone say ‘gap decade?’
JENZA Travel International Ltd is a company registered in Dublin, Ireland with Registered Company No. 707281 and registered address at 29-31 South William St, Dublin, Ireland, D02 EY96.