Film & Animation Internships in the UK

The UK is a world-leading film producer. The two most successful movie franchises ever – Harry Potter and James Bond – are both British, as are two of the highest-grossing films of the last decade: Mamma Mia! and The Dark Night Rises.

united kingdom

internship

FIlM & Animation

Scholarships up to £1000 are available

The UK film industry's wide-ranging and award-winning repertoire also includes compelling historical dramas such as The King's Speech, animations like Wallace and Gromit, and documentaries including Banksy's Exit Through the Gift Shop.

The independent television sector is another success story, producing groundbreaking shows that are syndicated and replicated around the world. Iconic series The X-Factor and Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and scripted dramas Sherlock and Downton Abbey have been watched in hundreds of territories. And the world would simply be a darker place without classic British comedies The Office, The Thick of It and Fawlty Towers.

London dominates these sectors. Over half (55%) of UK film companies are based in the capital, including the UK’s pre-eminent production house, Working Title, who you can thank for Bridget Jones, Notting Hill and Love Actually. Two thirds of all the UK’s film jobs are based in London and the South East.

It’s no surprise that so many media companies have headquarters in London. There you’ll find the BBC (the world’s largest broadcaster), Channel 4, ITV, BSkyB and CNN International’s European base. Around two-thirds of TV commissions are produced in the capital.

At A Glance

Film & Animation Internships 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

TV, Film & Animation Internships

You’re probably aware that work experience is everything in this industry. Professionals get work through two things: their showreel and their network.

At entry level, you’re unlikely to have a reel (besides college work) or a network of professionals to recommend you. When you’re vying for graduate positions, an internships proves to a potential employer/producer that you’re serious about pursuing this career, and that you’re flexible, hard-working and a fast-learner – all essential in a real-world environment.

These internships tend to be hands-on. In pre-production you might assist in drawing up storyboards, location scouting and going to casting meetings. Going behind-the-scenes in production could see you moving across several departments such as camera, facilities, costume, set design and lighting. Or you may join editors and finishers in post-production: assisting in the editing suite, using Photoshop, and recording voiceovers.

Some interns are keen to understand the business side of how shows are made. They learn about the investments, budgets and legal frameworks that are put in place well before a director yells ‘action’.

These placements often include administrative support like being a runner on set. Running errands for crew or assisting a producer with paperwork is inevitable in a graduate position, so use this experience to sharpen your organisational and people skills.

There is no typical day in this exciting and fast-paced sector. The weeks will fly by.

Possible Placements

Animation house
Regional broadcaster
Independent TV production company
VFX post-production firm
Documentary film maker
Live TV studio
Children’s television
Film distributor

Why London?

London 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 programme 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.”

"I coordinated an major event within the organization and developed my leadership skills. I also designed a logo with various software programs, and got to practice my public speaking by going on the radio to talk.

A Advice to future interns; "Patience and remembering that it is important to produce work that I am proud of, but at the end of the day I have to produce work that my supervisor/and or clients are happy with." It was an amazing experience to be able to gain internship experience and be able to travel around Ireland over the weekends, I really would recommend this program. I think that it is a great way to gain/improve personal and professional skills through the duration of your time here that you thought you would be able to do or have.

LaurenUniversity of New Mexico, USA - International Studies and Environmental Science Intern

"Coming to the program, you can definitely learn something new in your career field. With the great opportunity to meet a group of new friendly people."

SophieUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA - Computer Science Intern - 2016

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.

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.

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.