Can I still come to the UK for an internship as a student?
We understand the situation might seem complicated for students to come to the UK for an internship after Brexit.
In fact, this has been quite a journey for us all to learn, especially after the disappointing news of the UK not partaking in the new round of Erasmus+ funding for the period of 2021 – 2027.
Fortunately, after navigating through various updates and evolving regulations, we’re excited to now confidently say:
YES, students can still come to the UK to for an internship
YES, students can get an Erasmus grant for the UK internship
YES, at ESPA, we continue to help students find internships in the UK! Check our current internship opportunities here!
Erasmus+ funding
The Erasmus grant has been a major support, over the years, for millions of students to perform an internship abroad.
Therefore, it came as very disappointing news for many to hear the UK was pulling out of the new Erasmus programme. As a result, many thought that this would mean the end for thousands of students having the possibility to either study or do an internship in the United Kingdom.
However, thanks to the evolution of the new programme, the door is still open to students to come to the UK for an internship!
In the 2021 – 2027 Erasmus+ programme, *20% of the allocated funding can be spent in international countries.
Guess who is on that list of international countries? Yes, the United Kingdom is!
Let’s imagine a University receives a pot of money, for a year, for £2,000,000 to allocate to students to do an internship.
This University currently has 1,800 students, of which 500 students want to go abroad for an internship.
With the *20% rule, this means that 100 students from this University will be able to get an Erasmus grant and come to the UK for an internship.
Visa requirements to come to the UK for an internship
You’ve got an internship sorted? Great! Next, let’s talk about what you need to do to get your visa!
The visa for students to do an internship in the UK is called: Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa.
For more information, you can read about the visa on the official UK Government website here.
Since the UK is not part of the European Union, coming to the UK is not as easy as before.
But is it still possible? Absolutely — 100%!
With the right information, it is not complicated to get your VISA approved! And as always, we at ESPA, will do everything to help you!
Certificate of Sponsorship
To apply for a visa, you will need to get a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
What is a sponsor and what is it for?
There are only a few official sponsors in the UK that can grant a Certificate of Sponsorship for a student to come to the UK for an internship. Fortunately, at ESPA, we work closely with one of the sponsors and manage all the sponsorship paperwork for you.
What documents do I need to get my Certificate of Sponsorship?
You will need:
a) Your University/Higher Education enrolment certificate or proof of graduation within the last two years
b) A valid passport for the entire length of your internship
c) An up to date CV
d) Proof of grant funding and the amount or proof of available funds, equivalent to £1,250
To help you, ESPA will complete the application, so you don’t have to worry about your certificate of sponsorship.
How much does a certificate of sponsorship cost?
We are trying to minimise the cost for students as much as we can. A fixed fee is payable to the sponsor. Therefore, we ask you to contribute €500 toward the certificate, which is less than half of the total cost. Meanwhile, the remaining amount will be covered by your host company.
UK VISA Application Process
Your Certificate of Sponsorship has arrived, hooray! Almost done!
Next, you need to apply for your VISA.
You have a biometric passport? Great! This will speed the process up as you can apply for your visa online. After that, it will take up to 3 weeks for your visa to be delivered.
You don’t have a biometric passport? You will need use the TLS system and get an appointment at your closest TLS office. The process will take longer than with a biometric passport.
How much does the Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa cost?
The visa cost is €374. You will need to apply for this yourself on the UK government website and pay them directly. Of course, ESPA will help you if you have any difficulties, or questions.
In addition, you do not need to pay the healthcare surcharge if your internship is for 6 months or less.
However, if your internship is for more than 6 months, you will need to pay the healthcare surcharge, which is €1,213.
Read more about the visa on the official UK Government website here.
How long does the visa process takes?
After securing your internship, we recommend allowing 2 months to complete the sponsorship and visa process if you have a biometric passport, before you can start.
Interested to come to the UK for an internship?
Check our current internship opportunities and register today!
