Internships
The Internship Office, part of Oxford University’s Careers Service, offers exclusive internships, work experience and mentoring opportunities for Oxford students. Available throughout the year, these range from short, flexible placements to longer summer internships, helping you develop skills, explore career options and gain valuable experience.
Students in a library. Copyright © OUImages / Ian Wallman
The Internship Office
The Internship Office provides access to internships, work experience and mentoring opportunities exclusively for Oxford students. These run throughout the year and are designed to help you develop practical skills, explore career options and gain insight into different sectors.
Opportunities vary in length, format and location, from short, flexible placements during term time to longer summer internships. The placements may be in person or remote. Whether you want to explore a particular sector, build confidence or strengthen your CV, there are options to suit different interests and stages of study.
Here are examples of some of the internship opportunities our students have had in the past:
- Intern for UNICEF Jordan (Amman, Jordan)
- Intern at the Ashmolean Museum (Oxford, UK)
- Shepperton Studios (Surrey, UK)
- Publishing intern for Tradewind Books (Vancouver, Canada)
- Legal intern, World Food Programme (Rome, Italy).
Support and advice
The Internship Office offers a range of support to help you find and make the most of internships. This includes guidance on applications, CVs and personal statements, as well as advice on funding and practical considerations such as when working abroad.
Opportunities are advertised on CareerConnect, the University’s Careers Service platform, where you can search and apply for internships. You can also sign up for alerts to receive updates on new opportunities, application deadlines and related events.
The Internship Office Photo and Video Competition
Each year, all University of Oxford students who take part in internships facilitated or funded through the Internship Office are invited to submit original and interesting photos and videos that best represent their internship experience. For inspiration check out the winning entries from previous Internship Office Photo and Video Competitions.
Summer internship Programme
The Summer Internship Programme offers access to hundreds of paid/funded internship opportunities worldwide, exclusively for University of Oxford students. Opportunities are provided by a wide range of organisations, including international alumni, multinational companies, leading NGOs and cutting-edge research institutions.
Each year, students undertake internships all over the world, gaining valuable work experience while contributing to meaningful projects. The programme also offers opportunities across a variety of sectors within the UK, allowing students to explore different career paths.
The programme is open to all current Oxford University students, both undergraduate and postgraduate, including those in their final year of study.
Internships take place during the long vacation (June to September), typically lasting between two and twelve weeks. Opportunities are advertised from the beginning of Hilary (spring) term each year.
Read more about the Summer Internship Programme.
Read about former interns' experience on the Summer Internship Programme.
Watch student testimonials to find out what to expect and how to make the most of an internship.
Micro-internship Programme
These are short, two- to five-day placements that take place in each vacation period at the end of each University term. They provide a flexible way to gain experience alongside your studies, offering insight into an organisation’s work and culture. Internships can take place remotely, or in person at the host employer's premises. These arrangements are considered carefully according to the circumstances surrounding each placement. Micro-internships are voluntary, with expenses typically covered for in-person placements.
These placements often involve completing a small project or assisting with ongoing work, as well as work shadowing. They are particularly useful if you want to explore different sectors, develop key employability skills and make initial professional contacts.
Placements can take place in a range of sectors, including think tanks, international development, consultancy, start-ups, charities, arts and heritage, or within the University (colleges, faculties and departments). Many of the projects that interns assist with combine skills and experience from numerous sectors, such as consultancy or marketing in service of charities and not-for-profits.
Each placement aims to provide a snapshot into the workings of the organisation and its sector, as well as transferable experience for your CV.
Read about former micro-interns' experiences on the programme.
Watch a former micro-intern describe their experiences and share advice for future micro-interns.
Crankstart Internship and Careers Mentoring Programme
As a Crankstart Scholar you are encouraged to gain work experience during your time at Oxford and funding and support are available to help you to do so.
You can receive advice and guidance through the programme with a view to undertaking a work placement in one of your vacations.
The Crankstart Internship Programme is facilitated by the Internship Office. The features of the programme include:
- Exclusive internships for Crankstart Scholars taking place in the Christmas and Easter vacations (for up to three weeks) and summer vacation (up to eight weeks)
- A weekly bulletin highlighting internships and career opportunities as well as events of interest/available to Scholars
- Unlimited one-to-one CV and Internship Advice Sessions, with dedicated Crankstart Programme staff to help Scholars find an internship corresponding to their skills and interests
- Access to funds to support unpaid/poorly paid work experience and research placements
- A Crankstart Careers Mentoring Programme for Crankstart Scholars interested in having a mentor in a profession of their interest
- The Crankstart Career Development Programme which supports Scholars to generate their career ideas and job-search strategy
The Crankstart Internship Programme offers both remote and in-person internships. These arrangements are considered carefully according to the circumstances surrounding each placement.
Read about previous interns' experiences on the programme.
Read more about who is eligible for a Crankstart Scholarship.
