Creative Business Internships
Creative Business Internships offer short paid internships to graduating and recently graduated students, placing them with small creative businesses.
These internships are a great way to gain professional experience to include on your CV, explore career options and build your network.
All internships are with businesses set up by UAL graduates and will provide insights into what is involved in working for yourself and running a creative enterprise.
In 2024 there will be 2 internship periods which will run 3 June – 12 July and 2 September – 31 October.
Applications for the Summer 2024 programme are open. Deadline for applications is 9am 25 March 2024. Applications for the Autumn 2024 programme will open end May/ early June 2024.
Who can apply
Internships are aimed at final-year students and recent graduates from an undergraduate bachelor programme only. Those completing or graduated from MA or other higher courses are not eligible.
Creative Business Internships are open to:
- UAL students currently in the final year of their undergraduate, bachelors, programme (due to graduate in summer 2024).
- UAL alumni who graduated from an undergraduate bachelors programme in 2023. Those who graduated before 2023 are not eligible.
- UK home students/graduates
You cannot apply if you:
- have had an internship in 2023 as part of the Enterprise Experience Programme,
- are completing or graduated from an MA or other higher courses other than a bachelor programme,
- graduated before 2023,
- cannot be on a Student or Tier 4 Visa.
Why take part
- Gain real-life work experience and employability skills which you can include on your CV and cover letters and in interviews for future job opportunities.
- Develop professional skills like communication, time management and problem-solving.
- Explore career options in the creative sector.
- Network with professionals and increase your industry contacts.
- Gain insights into what is involved in working for yourself or running your own business.
- See how UAL graduates have launched and run their own creative enterprise.
- Add your internship employer as a reference for future job applications.
- Internships are flexible and can fit around other commitments like work, study or care responsibilities.
What you will get
- Over 6 to 8 weeks, you will have the opportunity to work up to 150 hours. Some employers will be able to offer flexible hours.
- You will be paid an hourly rate of £14.69.
- Your internship includes 2 sessions, run by UAL’s Careers and Employability team – you must take part in these sessions:
- 1 before the internship starts which will support you in how to prepare for the internship and get the most from the opportunity.
- 1 at the end of the internship will help you take forward your experience and what you have learned.
- You will have a named contact in UAL’s Careers and Employability team who is available to provide support to you throughout the programme.
- Each internship is unique, but you can expect to experience what it is like to work in a professional environment, apply your existing skills to real-life work scenarios, learn new skills and gain an understanding of some of the things involved in running a creative business.
- The internships offered are a mix of working from home, some are based at the employer’s premises and others will be both working from home and on-site with the employer.
How to apply
Roles for summer internships will be advertised on Creative Opportunities from early March 2024.
You can apply for up to 3 different internships. However, the maximum internships you can do is 1.
You can read our applicant guide (PDF 302KB) for more information on the program and tips on applying.
Upcoming deadlines
Keep updated about all deadlines by signing up for the Careers and Employability newsletter and this webpage regularly.
4 March 2024 – internship roles will be advertised on Creative Opportunities
April 2024 – interviews for shortlisted applicants
3 June – 12 July 2024 – Summer internships take place
Look out for more details about the application period for autumn internships which will take place from 2 September – 31 October 2024.
Supporting you
We will run an online session providing support with the application process and more details about the internships.
Event: Creative Business Internships – How to apply
12 pm - 1 pm, 6 March 2024.
If you believe there are any barriers to your participation in this opportunity or you have any access requirements (not limited to disability), please get in touch in advance.
Contact enterprise@arts.ac.uk to start the discussion and see how you can be supported.
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