UK • Summer & Industrial Placements • 2026
A sector-by-sector shortlist of UK internships that routinely consider international students, plus the work-rights essentials you need on a Student visa. Use the comparison table and the step-by-step plan to move from shortlisting to interviews fast.
Work-rights basics (Student visa)
- Degree-level Student visa holders can usually work full-time during official vacations and up to 20 hours/week in term (check your uni’s dates).
- Course-integrated, assessed placements may be full-time and can be up to 50% of the course at degree level.
- If you’re classed as a worker, you’re normally entitled to at least the National Minimum Wage.
- Always read the internship page for right-to-work notes; many employers cannot sponsor separate visas for short internships.
Important: “Work placement” has a specific meaning in UK immigration rules (integrated & assessed). A regular summer internship during vacations is separate from a formal placement and must fit your term/vacation limits.
Tech & Research (AI/CS)
Microsoft Research Cambridge — Research Internships (12 weeks)
Location: Cambridge Field: ML, systems, HCI, privacy + more
Industrial research internships in MSR Cambridge labs; strong publications/engineering track helpful.
Google/DeepMind — Student Researcher (London & UK sites)
Location: London (varies by team) Field: AI/ML/Research Engineering
Student Researcher roles (BS/MS/PhD) across Google Research & Google DeepMind teams; duration & location vary by project.
Bloomberg — Software Engineering Intern (London)
Location: London Field: SWE, data, infra
Large London program with central application + team match process; strong coding/data structures expected.
Finance (Investment Banking, Markets)
Goldman Sachs — Summer Analyst (EMEA)
Location: London + EMEA Length: ~9–10 weeks
Competitive program with orientation, training and real desk work. Opens well ahead of summer 2026.
J.P. Morgan — Summer Analyst (London)
Location: London Tracks: IB, Markets, Corporate
London roles publish early; deadlines can fall in late 2025 for summer 2026 seats. Read each program page carefully.
Bloomberg — Analytics & Sales / Engineering
Location: London Field: Markets tech + client
Mix of technical and client-facing paths; good option for quant, CS, finance-curious candidates.
Consulting & Professional Services
Big 4 (Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC) — Summer & Industrial Placements
Locations: Nationwide Field: Consulting, Audit, Tax, Risk, Tech
Right-to-work is required; many summer roles open rolling from late summer/early autumn for the following year.
Strategy Houses (McKinsey, BCG, Bain) — Summer Associate/Intern
Location: London Field: Generalist + Analytics
Highly selective; structured tests + case interviews. Check each firm’s London internship eligibility for non-UK students.
Pharma, Bio & Health
GSK — UK Industrial Placements & Internships
Locations: London & UK sites Length: 10–12 months (industrial) or summer
Wide range: lab, engineering, data, comms. Some listings publish salary bands and open months ahead.
AstraZeneca — UK Summer Internships / 12-month Industrial Placements
Locations: Cambridge, Macclesfield, Liverpool Fields: R&D, biopharma development, data
Annual cycles; 2026 summer intake typically opens in the new year. Expect competitive lab-based roles and 12-month placements.
Engineering, Energy & Industrials
Rolls-Royce, BP, Shell — Summer & Year-in-Industry
Locations: Nationwide Fields: Mech/Elec/Chem/Software
Core engineering & digital programs; right-to-work required. Watch for early postings and online assessments.
FMCG & Product
Unilever — Summer & Industrial Placements
Locations: UK sites Fields: R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing, Data
Strong training + fast-track potential to Unilever Future Leaders Programme for high performers.
Quick comparison (at a glance)
| Organisation | Sector | Location | Who it suits | Typical 2026 window* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Research Cambridge | AI/Research | Cambridge | Strong research/engineering profile | Rolling; check lab page |
| Google / Google DeepMind (Student Researcher) | AI/CS | London (varies) | BS/MS/PhD with research skills | Opens across the year |
| Bloomberg | Tech/Markets | London | CS/SE, data & infra | Opens early; rolling |
| Goldman Sachs | Finance | London | IB/Markets candidates | Opens mid-year prior |
| J.P. Morgan | Finance | London | IB/Markets/Corporate | Deadlines often in late 2025 |
| GSK | Pharma | UK sites | STEM/Business | Opens months ahead |
| AstraZeneca | Pharma | Cambridge + | STEM (lab & data) | Summer 2026 opens in new year |
| Unilever | FMCG | UK sites | R&D/Supply/Marketing/Data | Rolling by function |
*Windows are indicative. Always confirm the current posting and deadline on the programme page.
How to apply (step-by-step)
- Check right-to-work. If you study in the UK on a Student visa, align with your vacation dates. If you study outside the UK, you’ll typically need separate UK work permission.
- Shortlist 8–12 roles by sector. Aim for a mix of reach/target/safe options (e.g., 4/4/4).
- Craft a 2-page CV for ATS. Put outcomes first (“reduced latency 35%”), not duties.
- Portfolio proof. One mini-result beats five claims: GitHub, paper, poster, design, dataset.
- Practice assessments. Code tests (LeetCode-style), numerical/verbal reasoning, and scenario tests for finance/consulting.
- Interview loops. Prepare 6–8 STAR stories (impact, conflict, leadership, failure, ambiguity).
- Apply early & track. Use a spreadsheet: role, link, deadline, status, contact, notes.
Documents checklist
- CV (2 pages max), transcript(s)
- Right-to-work note (Student visa + vacation dates)
- Portfolio or GitHub (tech); case prep log (consulting)
- Cover letter (tailored with outcomes)
- Two references (emails enough at application stage)
- Proof of enrolment and official term/vacation dates
Avoid: unpaid “internships” that class you as a worker without pay. If you’re a worker, you’re normally due at least the National Minimum Wage.
Timeline for Summer/Industrial 2026
- Now–Nov 2025: shortlist roles; start applications that are live (finance/tech open earliest).
- Dec–Feb 2026: more postings go live (pharma/FMCG); sit online tests and first interviews.
- Mar–May 2026: final rounds; convert to offers; arrange housing/visa evidence if needed.
- Jun–Sep 2026: internship/placement period (varies by uni term dates and program).
FAQs (short & straight)
Can international students work full-time in summer?
Degree-level Student visa holders can usually work full-time during official vacations; check your university’s published dates and conditions.
What’s a “work placement” vs. a summer internship?
A placement is part of your course, integrated and assessed, and can be full-time up to 50% of the course at degree level. A summer internship during vacations is separate and must fit your term/vacation work limits.
Should internships be paid?
If you’re classed as a worker, you’re normally entitled to National Minimum Wage. Check the employer’s status and offer details.
Final word: Get your work-rights clear, apply early to programs that fit your skills, and show evidence of impact. That combo gets interviews — and offers.
© 2025 riflum.shop • This is guidance; always verify each programme’s current eligibility, work-rights notes, and deadlines.