Advertising and PR Internships in the UK

The UK is the fourth largest advertising market in the world and it is also one of the most sophisticated and dynamic markets.

United Kingdom

internship

Advertising & Public Relations

Scholarships up to £1000 are available

The UK is leading the industry's transformation to digital, as digital ad spend overtook television in the UK back in 2010.

London is one of the great global centres of ‘Ad Land’. It is where many iconic ad agencies were created, including Bartle Bogle Hegarty or BBH (famous for Levi’s ads), Ogilvy & Mather which was founded in 1850, and both the eponymous firms of advertising magnets Maurice and Charles Saatchi.

Interning is the trend in the marketing, PR and advertising world. As this work is usually for public consumption, employers are wary of giving their brand’s channels over to untested graduates.

Having real-world experience on your résumé is the only solution. You’ll develop your marketing instincts and learn from the industry professionals around you.

At A Glance

Advertising and PR in London, United Kingdom

Start Date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Duration

8, 10 or 12 Weeks

Apply By

12 weeks prior to start date

Fees

8-week programme fee: £10,050

10-week programme fee: £11,400

12-week programme fee: £12,750

What's included?

Airfare, materials for placement, visas and associated costs, mandatory health insurance, meals and spending money aren’t included.

*Student residences are an extra fee and subject to availability. If residences aren’t available, homestays are the alternative option.

Application fee

£95 Non refundable

Commitment fee

£500 Non refundable

Scholarship

up to £1000

Advertising and Public Relations Internships

You’ll be exposed to all aspects of client campaigns and develop a fundamental understanding of how the industry works.

You’ll learn the methods of designing, pricing and reporting on campaigns. You’ll develop skills across digital platforms and branding solutions. Depending on your placement, you may even be involved in sales and new client pitches.

An international internship gives an edge to any marketing and advertising résumé. You’ll get invaluable exposure to new target audiences, and new consumer behaviour and tastes. Working within a new set of cultural, political, and socioeconomic factors will bring your academic lessons to life. Global internships are a powerful indicator of your ambition and enthusiasm.

These experiences will make you more innovative and insightful in your graduate job, and give you projects and results for your portfolio.

We’ll match you with a firm that best suits your Major and career goals. You may be working on above-the-line or below-the-line campaigns, in digital, or across them all in public relations. Tasks could include audience research, focus groups, social media management, copywriting, editing, graphic design, and presentation.

As IPA put it: “There’s never been a more exciting time to work in advertising.”

Why London?

London is a global, vibrant and diverse city. Its 10 million residents come from all over the world, creating a cosmopolitan cocktail of cuisine, fashion and culture that is uniquely London.

Its architecture is as diverse as the population: you’ll find Georgian town houses, Victorian palaces and glittering skyscrapers yards away from each other. In fact, one London intern said the best advice she ever got was to walk a different route home from work every day. Each commute was a discovery.

The city is a global hub of business and finance, but it is equally a creative and cultural heavyweight. London is renowned for its theatre, and over 1,000 museums and galleries line the streets. The nightlife and restaurant scene is legendary. We include excursions and social activities in the internship program so you’ll get to explore along with other interns.

London is a young city: a higher proportion of its population is aged 20–34 years-old than the rest of England. It’s also the most popular destination for international study. Over 100,000 students come to the capital every year, more than any other European city. Student discounts are plentiful on the high street, and you’ll find special student rates on everything from transport to theatre shows.

There are endless ways to spend your time here. It would take many lifetimes to see the whole city. As writer Samuel Johnson put it: “If you are tired of London, you are tired of life.”

"This is my first time traveling abroad alone and for that reason I was apprehensive about leaving. Luckily, I have the support of my family to intern abroad and although they are not here with me I know they want me to thrive while I am here. Thankfully, Learn International my internship placement company has provided me with helpful information and tips on how to settle into my new student housing."

JoeNorthern Arizona University, USA - Public Relations Intern

What's Included:

Unpaid internship placement
Accommodation (student residence or homestay)*
Application, résumé, cover letter and interview guidance
Excursions and social activities
Robust virtual orientation prior to starting the placement
Online learning portal
Cultural highlights and virtual events throughout the programme
24/7 in-country support
Oyster card for zones 1 and 2 for the first week of placement
£100 stipend towards a professional development course of your choosing
Certificate of completion
Alumni network
Optional airport transfer (extra fee)
Optional academic credit through our School of Record or your home university (extra fee)

Airfare, materials for placement, Tier 5 visa and associated costs, mandatory health insurance, meals and spending money aren’t included.

Where Will I Live?

You’ll stay in purpose-built student accommodation in London. These are dotted around the city so we’ll put you in the one closest to your placement company. Our student residences tend to be in Zone 1 or 2, so you’ll always be close to shops, restaurants, nightlife and transport links.

All bedrooms are en-suite with free super-fast WiFi. There’s a wardrobe, fitted study desk with chair, and TV for each student. You’ll share a common room and kitchen with other students, which is a great way to meet others. Past interns have loved the community vibe.

You’ll always feel safe and taken care of here, with dedicated hospitality, maintenance and security teams on-site.

As every Londoner knows, getting across this busy city at rush hour takes time. Similarly, your commute may be up to an hour.

Costs

We’re small, which helps us keep our fees competitive despite the fully customised programme we offer each student.

8-week programme fee: £10,050
10-week programme fee: £11,400
12-week programme fee: £12,750

There’s an application fee of £95 and a participant commitment fee of £500 that are both non-refundable. Airfare, materials for placement, mandatory health insurance, lunches and spending money aren’t included.

Visa

To take part in an internship in the UK, you must have a Tier 5 visa. As of January 2021, this also includes EU/EEA nationals.

This visa is issued by the British government and allows you to stay in the UK for up to six months. The application process is complex, so we have partnered with a specialist company that will guide you through it all. They provide detailed instructions and are available for any questions during the process. The visa requires you to pay two additional fees:

£679 GBP – This will be paid by you directly to our partners, as they need to issue the visa documents you need to apply.
£259 GBP – This fee will be paid by you directly to the UK government when you submit your online visa application.

Professional Development Course

Learn International is dedicated to the commitment of lifelong learning. As such, your internship programme will include up to a £100 stipend towards enrolment onto a professional development course of your choosing to enroll in and complete while you’re on your internship.

For interns who decide not to avail of this opportunity, there will be no additional discount or cash back. Additional terms and conditions apply. Ask your Learn International Internship Coordinator for more information.

Scholarships

We offer scholarships up to £1000 off the programme price. They are competitive, so act quickly and apply here now!

The scholarship application has two parts: a one-page essay about how the placement will contribute to your academic and career goals, and a choice of how you might record your internship experience. You can choose to either:

Write a weekly blog.
Submit a weekly video blog.

All scholarship recipients will also be required to:

Submit weekly photos we can use for social media and marketing
Write a testimonial at the end of the programme.

Application Deadlines

The application deadline is based on when you’re available to intern.

Applications must be received at least 14 weeks before your intended start date.

Arrival Dates

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with arrival dates available on most Saturdays throughout the year. Please speak with a Learn International Coordinator to confirm whether your intended arrival date is possible.