Yes, the scheme guarantees an internship to every eligible student who registers on time and actively engages with the process - regardless of prior work experience or prior qualifications. Students can apply for any of the first three types of internship listed above (excluding students on courses with a mandatory clinical placement) but we cannot guarantee which type they will secure. Students who are unable to find an in-person internship will be guaranteed a remote internship.

As hybrid and remote working have become standard practice across most industries, remote internships offer practical experience and provide networking opportunities, all of which are highly valued by employers. Aston University has supported many students to complete remote internships, of which:

• 92% (268 out of 292) agreed that they were satisfied with their internship at their host company
• 91% (265 out of 292) agreed that the placement matched their Chosen Industry
• 90% (243 out of 270) agreed that they gained value and learned from this internship experience
• 21% (67 out of 312) of students reported that they were offered to extend their position at their host company.

For further testimonials visit our website.

The scheme is open to all full-time students studying taught Master’s programmes at either our Birmingham or London campus, including MA and MSc, for students joining Aston in September 2025 and all future postgraduate intakes. It is not dependent on prior experience. The scheme is not open to students studying Aston Online or MBA courses. Our full-time MBA programme offers extensive work experience – visit our MBA page for more details.

Yes - it is open to both international and UK students.

No. There is no fee to register or participate in the scheme.

Aston’s Postgraduate Guaranteed Internship Scheme helps improve employability by giving students practical work experience, enhancing their CVs, and developing professional skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. It also provides opportunities to network with employers, gain industry insights, and potentially secure future job offers.

Our Careers and Placements Team supports students by sourcing and quality-checking internship opportunities and sharing them with eligible students. They also guide students through the application process, including CV writing, interviews, and other selection activities.

The exact number of hours per week may vary depending on the specific internship opportunity, but it will not exceed 20 hours during term time, in line with UK visa regulations for international students. This applies to both paid and unpaid internships.

The duration of the internship will usually be around two months, but could range from around one month up to six months. The internship will not normally exceed the course duration. The length may vary depending on the type of internship and the employer offering it.

Internships will usually be completed during term time.

Internships are usually carried out during term time, so students will be able to access support from university staff.

Wherever possible, students will be provided with an internship that matches their chosen area of study or career ambitions. However, this cannot be guaranteed.

The internships offered through the Postgraduate Guaranteed Internship Scheme can be:

• In-person (with an employer or at Aston University),
• Remote (online, via a third-party provider),
• Or hybrid (a mix of in-person and remote work, depending on the employer or line manager).

Internships offered through the Postgraduate Guaranteed Internship Scheme can be paid or unpaid, depending on the type:

• In-person internships with employers: May be paid, unpaid, or offer travel cost reimbursement - this is at the employer’s discretion.
• In-person internships at Aston University: Are usually paid, though the exact rate is to be confirmed.
• Remote internships via our third-party provider: Are not paid.
• Integrated placements (part of some degree programmes): Are not paid.

In the past, Aston students have completed internships at large multinationals such as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), IBM, Microsoft, Samsung, Network Rail, Aldi, The Prince’s Trust, and Rolls-Royce, as well as SMEs (small-to-medium-sized enterprises). For further testimonials visit our website.

For unpaid internships under the Postgraduate Guaranteed Internship Scheme, students may need to cover travel expenses, unless the employer offers reimbursement (some may cover travel costs, but this is not guaranteed).

While some internships will be local to Aston’s campuses, others - especially remote ones - could be based elsewhere in the UK or even overseas, depending on the employer.

Although remote internships may be offered by overseas employers, we do not anticipate that the scheme will involve in-person internships overseas. The University can only provide assistance on UK immigration law so any advice for overseas visas will need to be done from an independent legal advisor. However, if an overseas in-person internship is secured we can direct students to sources of visa information.

Job offers are not guaranteed but employers may choose to extend internships or offer further opportunities based on performance.

Yes, but there are a few things that students will need to do once they have enrolled on their course:

• Students must register for the scheme in the stated time frame, the timing and registration process will be communicated once they have enrolled on their course (students can’t register before they have fully enrolled). This is not an application which students pass or fail; it is just to register their interest in participating.
• Students will need to actively engage with the opportunities communicated and will need to follow the employer/organisation’s application process. Students can apply for any of the first three types of internship listed above (excluding students on courses with a mandatory clinical placement) but we cannot guarantee which type they will secure. Read our terms and conditions.

Yes, internship hours will not exceed 20 hours per week during term-time, in line with UK visa rules.

International students will typically be able to work for up to 20 hours per week during term-time. Whether your internship is paid or unpaid, it will be classed as work and therefore is included within your allocated allowance (with the exception of students completing a mandatory clinical placement).

For example, if an internship is 12 hours per week, students would only be permitted to do a further 8 hours of work per week, during the period that the internship is taking place. Students should check their visa carefully to understand what their working entitlement is. If students are unsure, they can ask our International Student Advice team before commencing additional work. This is to ensure that students do not inadvertently go over the 20 hour limit.

No problem - taking part in the scheme is entirely optional (with the exception of students studying a course with a mandatory clinical placement). There are a wide range of other career-boosting activities, including the Aston Global Advantage and careers support from our multi-award winning Careers and Placements Team, which is available to students both during their course and for three years after they graduate.

Introduction

Aston University’s Postgraduate Guaranteed Internship Scheme (“Internship Scheme”) is available to MA and MSc students studying full-time campus-based programmes at Aston University’s Birmingham or London campus.

The Internship Scheme is available to these students beginning their programme in September 2025, January 2026, April 2026, May 2026, September 2026, January 2027, April 2027 or May 2027.

Applying for the Internship Scheme is optional. There are no costs to register or to be accepted onto for the Internship Scheme.

* The Internship Scheme is not available to students whose degree programme already includes a mandatory internship/placement such as a clinical placement due to the integrated nature of existing professional experience.

About the internships

The three types of internship available under the Internship Scheme:

1. In-person internship with an external employer
This may include both in-person attendance and remote (online) working, at the discretion of the employer. Whether the internships is paid, unpaid, or unpaid but with some expenses paid will be at the discretion of the employer and will usually be stated when the internship opportunity is shared with prospective applicants. The rate of pay and/or expenses (if applicable) will be determined by the employer.

2. In-person internship at Aston University
This may include both in-person attendance and remote (online) working, at the discretion of the line manager. These internships will usually be paid. The rate of pay will be stated when the opportunity is shared with prospective applicants.

3. Remote (online) project-based internship with an employer
These internships are provided via a third party partner of the University.

Whilst we will try to accommodate a student’s preference and provide assistance to students during the application process, the University cannot guarantee:

• That a student will be accepted on to an internship of their choosing.
• That the internship will match a student’s specific area of study or sector interest.

Eligibility

To qualify for the Internship Scheme, students must:

• Be a registered postgraduate student studying a campus-based MA or MSc programme Aston University’s Birmingham or London campus.
• Complete and submit an expression of interest to the Careers and Placements Team by the deadline communicated to you within your first term of study. The University cannot guarantee an internship to students who do not register by the stated deadline.

Student Responsibilities

When applying for and undertaking an internship, students must:

• Proactively engage in seeking internship opportunities and with any application or selection process.
• Respond to communications from the Careers & Placements Team and/or the internship provider in a timely fashion during the on-boarding process.
• Conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner during the course of the internship and adhere to the rules and expectations of the internship provider.
• Ensure that they remain compliant with the terms of any visa they hold.

Failure to fulfil these responsibilities may result in the student losing their eligibility to take part in the Internship Scheme and/or their internship being brought to an end early.