Have you been considering how you might be able to enhance your CV and gain valuable work experience during your time at university?
If you’re an international student, you might be unfamiliar with the UK job market or lack professional experience. Gaining work experience through an internship or placement year, can be an invaluable way to significantly boost your employability.
The benefits of work experience
Work experience…..
- enhances your CV and allows you to develop demonstrable employability skills
- provides a unique opportunity to learn about the professional landscape and business culture in the UK
- helps you build a professional network that can open doors to future career opportunities
- allows you to apply your academic knowledge in real-world scenarios
Top Tips When Applying for work experience opportunities
- Do your research. Make sure to thoroughly research the role and the organisation. Showing genuine interest in the company you’re applying to will set you apart from other candidates.
- Demonstrate your skills with examples. The job description and person specification will tell you what skills and qualities the employer is looking for. Make sure you provide specific examples of how you’ve developed these skills, whether through previous work experience, academic projects, or extracurricular activities.
- Make use of the Careers Service website and resources. The Careers Service offers a wealth of resources to help you succeed in your applications. The International student pathway is a great starting point, offering guidance on how to prepare, apply, and begin working in the UK. The CV and Covering Letter Pathway provides information on creating tailored application materials and how to receive personalised feedback.
- Access additional support. Review the information on this site, dedicated to international students. If you feel your written English could use some improvement, the In-Sessional English Language programme can help you.
How to gain work experience through Newcastle University Careers Service
NCL Internships
The Careers Service organises NCL Internships in a variety of fields, including marketing, research, IT, and project management. Internships can be undertaken part-time during term-time or over the summer vacation.
Important: NCL Internships count towards the hours permitted to work on your visa and it is your responsibility to ensure that you don’t work more hours than your visa allows. See the Visa Support pages for full information
What do our students say?
“As an international student, my NCL Internship gave me invaluable insights into the UK work culture, helped me build new skills, and opened doors to a full-time role in the business— an experience I’ll always be grateful for!” – Sinjita, Consumer Insight and Research Intern
“My NCL Internship allowed me to apply my academic knowledge to real-world projects, understand the working environment in the UK, and develop skills that are highly valued by employers” – Deepika, Kinewell Energy Intern
To search for NCL Internship opportunities, go to MyCareer. Click on 'Search' then 'Vacancies' and type ‘NCL Internships’ in the text search box.
Placement Year
Perhaps you are looking towards longer term work experience to build on your CV? Most students can spend 9-12 months working in industry, after your penultimate year of undergraduate study.
A Placement Year allows you to try out a career choice and potentially secure a graduate role. You will also receive recognition on your degree title to help your CV stand out to recruiters.
Important: You remain a registered student and are therefore eligible to work full time in the UK for the duration of your placement year by renewing your Visa. If you plan to do your placement year outside of the UK, see the Visa Support Team guidance on adding an overseas work placement to your programme of study.
To find out more, review the Placement Year pages and Register Your Interest in a Placement Year to access further tailored support.