How to Land a Paid Summer Internship Without a Degree

Manuela Willbold

1 month ago

Summary

Every year, nearly 11 million graduates in the UK enter the job market with little to no experience. Getting that first role is tough.
A paid internship is the best way to solve this problem because it pays you for real work experience, which helps your CV stand out from the crowd.
Internships can also fast-track your entire career. UK research shows that former interns reach director-level positions 34% faster on average.
Amazing opportunities exist in every sector, from marketing and charity work to high-demand IT summer internships in the UK. This guide lists 8 such internships.
This guide explains all tips and tricks to find a paid internship in the UK without a degree (using Gov.uk portal, specialist internship search portals, company career websites, and popular job search portals).

Every year, nearly 11 million graduates and school leavers in the UK start job hunting with little or no experience.

Many struggle to get job interviews, let alone a job offer.

A paid summer internship in the UK is one of the fastest ways to change that — it gives you real work experience, professional references, and a stronger CV.

But competition for paid summer internships in the UK is fierce. Ads attract hundreds of applicants, and over 84,000 entry-level hospitality/retail roles have disappeared since autumn 2024. That’s why your search needs to be focused.

Here is your action plan:

Start with the GOV.UK Find an Apprenticeship service.
Platforms like Not Going to Uni and RateMyPlacement are designed specifically for you.
Visit the ‘Careers’ page on the websites of companies you admire. For instance, to find IT summer internships in the UK, make a list of the UK’s top 50 IT companies and search their websites’ careers sections.
On Indeed and LinkedIn, use search keywords like “trainee” and “school leaver” to find less obvious internships.

To kickstart your search, we’ve handpicked 8 brilliant internship opportunities.

8 Paid UK Internships to Apply For (No Degree Required)

Notes:

Internship Locations

You’ll notice many of these internships are based in London. While it’s an expensive city, an internship there offers unparalleled access to company headquarters, industry events, and networking opportunities. Roles outside London offer a lower cost of living and the chance to make an impact in growing regional hubs.

About the UKEB Trust Score

To calculate the UKEB Trust Score, we rate each internship on five factors, with different weights:

Fair Pay & Clear Terms (30%)
Credible Employer (25%)
Career Skill Growth (20%)
Accessible Entry Route (15%)
Values & Community Impact (10%)

Each factor is given a score out of 5. These are then weighted, adding up to 100%. The total is converted into a final Trust Score on a 10-point scale.

UKEB-trust-score

1. Summer Internship Programme at Wellcome Trust (London) – UKEB Trust Score: 9.3/10

For eight weeks, you can join one of the world’s biggest charities and work on projects that tackle huge health challenges like mental health and infectious diseases.

Pay: London Living Wage (currently £13.85 per hour)
Who it’s for: Current undergraduate students who are not in their final year.
When to apply: Applications for the 2026 programme open in February 2026 – Apply here.

2. Summer Intelligence Internship at MI5, MI6, or GCHQ (London or Cheltenham) – UKEB Trust Score: 9.1/10

If you’ve ever wanted a peek behind the curtain of the UK’s spy agencies like MI5, MI6, or GCHQ, this is your chance. In this 11-week paid internship, you will help investigate threats and learn about global anti-terrorism operations.

Pay: Around £6,729 for 11 weeks (plus free accommodation if you need to relocate!)
When to apply: Applications for summer 2026 open on 26 August 2025.
Who it’s for: This is a targeted programme for university students in their final or second-to-last year from specific underrepresented backgrounds – Apply here.

3. Client and Product Summer Internship at BlackRock (London & EU cities) – UKEB Trust Score: 9/10

Get a front-row seat to the world of global finance with an eight-week internship at BlackRock (the world’s largest investment manager). You’ll work with teams that handle big clients and develop financial products.

Pay: Competitive salary
Deadline: 24 October 2025 (but it’s a rolling deadline, so apply early)
Who it’s for: University students in their second-to-last year of study – Apply here.

4. Marketing Intern at Eastleigh Borough Council (Eastleigh, Hampshire) – UKEB Trust Score: 8.9/10

This is your chance to jump into marketing and experience the inner workings of local government. You’ll be helping the local council promote its housing brand by creating cool social media content.

Pay: £24,309 per year
Deadline: 17 August 2025
Who it’s for: Anyone with enthusiasm. No degree or formal experience needed – Apply here.

5. Operational Excellence Internship at GE Healthcare (Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire) – UKEB Trust Score: 8.9/10

In this role, you will be tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), supporting process improvements, and working with a global team.

Pay: Competitive salary and benefits
Deadline: Rolling, but it’s recommended to apply by early October 2025.
Who it’s for: This role is open to applicants with educational qualifications of a diploma or beyond – Apply here.

6. Charity Internship Programme at Cancer Research UK (Various UK locations) – UKEB Trust Score: 8.6/10

This is a fantastic entry point into the non-profit world. You’ll join a diverse group of interns and get structured support to launch your career in the charity sector, doing work that makes a real difference.

Pay: Paid (details are provided upon offer)
When to apply: The programme usually opens for applications in early spring for a summer start. Check their careers page for specific 2026 dates.
Who it’s for: Open to all backgrounds – Apply here.

7. Fundraising & Partnerships Intern with Generation Success and Movember (London) – UKEB Trust Score: 8.5/10

Team up with the famous men’s health charity Movember for a six-month paid internship. You’ll help the fundraising team with their major campaigns, support events, and connect with communities and partner companies.

Pay: Paid (at least the London Living Wage, that’s £13.85 per hour)
Deadline: Applications are reviewed as they come in for a late August 2025 start.
Who it’s for: Anyone with passion. It explicitly says “No degree required | Open to all backgrounds” – Apply here.

8. Inside Sales Intern at Johnson Controls (Manchester) – UKEB Trust Score: 8.1/10

This part-time role in Manchester offers a brilliant chance to learn the ropes of sales and customer relations within a global engineering and technology company.

Pay: Competitive hourly rate
Deadline: Rolling applications.
Who it’s for: Anyone with strong communication skills and a proactive, team-oriented attitude – Apply here.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do you really get paid for summer internships in the UK?

Yes, you should. If you’re doing real work for a company, you are legally entitled to be paid at least the National Minimum Wage. Most paid summer internships in the UK offer a decent salary.

2. How much can I actually earn with a summer internship in the UK?

An internship at a big finance firm like BlackRock will likely pay more than one at a small charity. As a rough guide, you could earn anywhere from the National Minimum Wage to over £25,000 per year (pro-rata).

3. What’s the best way to find a paid internship?

Start by looking for paid summer internships in the UK on official sources like the GOV.UK apprenticeship website. Also, check the “Early Careers” pages on the websites of companies you admire. Use keywords like “trainee” or “school leaver” on major job boards like LinkedIn and Indeed to find great internships.

Author Profile

Manuela WillboldChief of Marketing

As the Chief of Marketing at the digital marketing agency ClickDo Ltd I blog regularly about technology, education, lifestyle, business and many more topics.