Pay, Contracts and Working Hours

Below are the answers to some common questions we are often asked about internships.

Please also see our advice on advertising, which helps you navigate the recruitment process from start to finish. 

How to advertise your job

Read these in addition to our general guide to recruiting, which covers the full process from advertising to inducting your new team member: 

Guide to Recruiting our Students and Graduates

Yes. Workers must receive at least the National Minimum Wage. To ensure a diverse range of students can apply to your role, we recommend you pay at least the Real Living Wage as outlined by the Living Wage Foundation.

National Minimum Wage Guidance 

The Living Wage Foundation

Unpaid and underpaid internships - The Sutton Trust (2025)


Yes. Interns should have an employment contract, in the same way as your other employees. If this is your first time hiring, Business Gateway has an employee contract template you can use as a starting point. 

Employee Contract Template


Yes. Interns should be treated in the same way as your other employees and are entitled to holiday in line with their contract. There is a statutory minimum entitlement, which you can calculate online, but you may decide to offer more. This should be set out clearly in their employment contract. 

Holiday entitlement guidance


Yes. Interns should be treated as employees for right‑to‑work purposes, and you must complete the same checks you would for any other staff member. 

If you are recruiting an international student, you must make sure the role fits within their visa conditions, including any limits on working hours. Please check the latest government guidance or your organisation’s HR guidance before confirming an offer.  

Recruiting and hiring - GOV.UK 


Inclusive recruitment helps you reach a wider pool of students and supports fair access to opportunities. You may want to consider: 

  • Using clear, jargon‑free language in your advert 
  • Focusing on skills and potential rather than requiring lots of prior experience 
  • Avoiding unnecessary criteria (for example, asking for specific grades or experience that are not essential to the role) 

You can find more detailed guidance in: 

Promoting EDI in recruitment | Careers | Careers Service


It is helpful to know when students are able to work so you can plan your recruitment. Check our semester dates here: 

Semester Dates

Hiring a summer intern: 

  • Most undergraduate students will usually finish their exams by the end of May. 
  • Most postgraduate taught (Masters) students will usually finish their dissertation by mid‑August (course dependent). 

Hiring a part‑time intern during semester: 

  • During semester time we recommend students work no more than 15 hours per week. 
  • For PhD students, we recommend an average of no more than 9 hours per week across the year. 

Most internships run on a fixed‑term, part‑time basis during semester or full‑time over the summer. We are happy to discuss what might work best for your role and the students you want to attract. 

If you are considering a remote or hybrid internship, you may also find our guidance on Managing an Intern Remotely helpful. 

Managing an intern remotely

Get in touch with the Careers Team with any other questions about internships or recruitment.


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