Internships can help you explore a career, develop workplace skills and gain experience while you are still at university. However, not every internship comes with the same financial arrangement. Some internships are paid roles with agreed hours and responsibilities. Others may involve work shadowing, volunteering or experience completed as part of a university course.
An employer cannot avoid minimum wage rules simply by calling a role an ‘internship’ or saying it is unpaid. In UK minimum wage law, “intern” is not a separate employment status. What matters is what you actually do and whether you count as a worker. Understanding that distinction can help you judge opportunities more carefully.
Pay and conditions are important when comparing internship opportunities. Explore our Placement Years and Internships guide.
Pay and conditions are important when comparing internship opportunities. Explore our Placement Years and Internships guide.
What is the difference between a paid and unpaid internship?
A paid internship means you receive pay for the work you carry out during the programme. Unpaid internships can take different forms. You might be observing professionals through work shadowing, volunteering for an organisation or completing work experience that forms a required part of your university course. Alternatively, an employer may advertise a role as an unpaid internship even though you are expected to carry out regular work.
These situations are treated differently. In the UK, whether an intern must be paid depends on their employment status and what the role involves. If an intern counts as a worker, they will normally be entitled to the relevant minimum wage. Simply calling someone an intern, volunteer or unpaid worker does not determine their rights. There are exceptions, including some required university placements, genuine work shadowing and certain voluntary arrangements. For the latest official information, check GOV.UK's guidance on employment rights and pay for interns.
Should internships be paid?
Where you are genuinely working for an organisation as a worker, you will normally be entitled to at least the relevant National Minimum Wage. That might apply where you have agreed to work certain hours, carry out tasks for the organisation and personally perform work under an agreement.
The employer cannot avoid minimum wage responsibilities simply by using labels such as “intern”, “work experience” or “volunteer”. The nature of the relationship matters rather than the job title. This is why you should look beyond how an internship is advertised. An opportunity described as “unpaid work experience” may still involve an arrangement that gives you minimum wage rights. Equally, some genuine forms of work experience can legally be unpaid.
When might an internship legally be unpaid?
Some work experience can legally be unpaid. For example, this may apply when the experience is a required part of a UK further or higher education course and meets the relevant conditions. Genuine work shadowing can also be unpaid where you are observing someone at work rather than carrying out tasks yourself, and different rules may apply to some voluntary roles.
These are exceptions, not a general rule for internships. If you are expected to work set hours and carry out regular tasks, look closely at the arrangement. You may be doing work that should be paid.
Why internship pay matters
Even a short internship can become expensive. Your own circumstances matter too. You may need to pay for travel, lunches, work clothes or temporary accommodation. If the internship takes up time that you would normally spend in another paid job, there may also be income you are giving up. A student who can live at home and travel cheaply may be able to consider opportunities that would be unrealistic for someone who needs to relocate.
This is one reason why unpaid opportunities creates barriers. Not every student can afford to work without an income, regardless of how useful the experience might be. You should not feel that being unable to afford an unpaid opportunity shows a lack of commitment to your career.
Should you consider an unpaid internship?
First establish what the opportunity actually involves and why it is unpaid. If it is a legitimate unpaid arrangement, consider what you would gain in return for your time. For example, a few days of genuine work shadowing may give you a useful introduction to a profession without requiring a major financial or time commitment. A voluntary position with an organisation you care about may also provide worthwhile experience.
Think carefully before accepting a longer unpaid role. If the role takes up a lot of time, ask whether the experience is worth the cost. Ask yourself whether you could gain similar experience through a paid internship, part-time job, university project, volunteering opportunity or another route. Unpaid does not automatically mean prestigious, competitive or valuable. Judge the opportunity on what it actually offers.
Look beyond the headline pay
Salary matters, but do not look at it on its own. Think about what you would have left after the costs associated with taking the internship. For example, an internship in another city may pay more but require temporary accommodation and expensive travel. A lower-paid role closer to home could leave you with more money overall.
You should also consider the experience itself. A useful internship should help you develop skills, learn about a career and contribute to real work. A higher salary does not necessarily compensate for an internship with poor supervision or little opportunity to learn. Similarly, a lower salary does not automatically make an internship better because the work sounds interesting. Compare the complete opportunity.
How to judge whether an internship is worthwhile
Start by reading the responsibilities carefully. You should know what you will actually be doing. Be cautious of descriptions that rely heavily on phrases such as “gain valuable experience” without explaining what that experience involves.
Consider whether the internship will allow you to explore work that genuinely interests you and whether you will have someone to learn from. Think about the amount of responsibility involved too. You do not need major projects straight away. But you should have a chance to contribute, not just watch from the sidelines. Finally, consider the time commitment and practical costs. The most recognisable employer name or highest salary does not necessarily provide the best experience.
What should you check before accepting an internship?
Make sure you understand the arrangement before committing. You should know what work you will be doing, how long the internship lasts and what hours you are expected to work. If it is paid, check the salary or hourly rate and when you will be paid. If expenses are offered, find out what can be claimed and whether there are any limits.
For an unpaid opportunity, ask why the position is unpaid and what type of experience is being offered. You should also understand who will supervise you, whether you will receive any training and what support will be available during the internship. If something important is unclear, ask before accepting. Do not assume the details will sort themselves out once you arrive.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious if an organisation is unable or unwilling to explain what you will actually be doing. You should also question an unpaid opportunity if it involves substantial regular work but the employer cannot clearly explain the basis on which it is unpaid.
Statements such as “everyone has to work for free to get into this industry” should not automatically be accepted as justification. Be wary of vague promises too. An employer suggesting that an unpaid internship will definitely lead to a graduate job does not guarantee that this will happen. You might also reconsider an opportunity if the cost of taking part would put you under serious financial pressure. Experience can be useful, but it should not be pursued at any cost.
What if you think you should be getting paid?
Start by looking at what was agreed when you accepted the internship and compare this with what you are actually being asked to do. Keep copies of useful information such as the original advert, written agreement, emails about your responsibilities and a record of your working hours. The fact that an employer calls you an intern does not settle the question of whether you should be paid.
If your responsibilities or working arrangement are different from what you originally expected, raise the issue rather than assuming you have to continue without question. For more on how employment status affects your rights as an intern, check out our Internship Employment Law article.
Common mistakes when comparing internships
Accepting an unpaid opportunity without considering the cost
Travel, food, accommodation and lost income from other work can make an unpaid internship expensive. Work out whether it is genuinely affordable before accepting.
Choosing an internship only because it pays more
Salary matters, but so do the work, supervision, learning opportunities and practical costs. Compare the whole experience.
Assuming unpaid experience must be valuable
An unpaid role is not automatically more prestigious or useful. Judge it by what you will actually learn and do.
Not asking questions before accepting
Clarify the work, hours, pay, expenses and supervision before committing. It is much easier to make a good decision when you understand the arrangement from the start.
Key takeaways
Paid and unpaid internships can involve very different arrangements, so do not judge an opportunity from its title alone.
If you are carrying out work and your arrangement means you count as a worker, you will normally be entitled to the relevant minimum wage. However, some forms of work experience can legitimately be unpaid, including certain required university placements, genuine work shadowing and qualifying voluntary arrangements.
Before accepting an internship, understand what you will be doing, how much time it requires and what it will cost you. For paid internships, compare the salary with travel, accommodation and other practical expenses. For unpaid opportunities, understand why the role is unpaid and consider whether the experience justifies the commitment involved.
Most importantly, judge an internship by whether it provides useful experience, realistic learning opportunities and an arrangement that works for your circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
How should I compare a paid internship with an unpaid opportunity?
Compare the complete arrangement rather than looking only at whether you receive a salary. Consider the work you would do, the supervision available, what you could learn and how relevant the experience is to your career. Then look at the practical cost, including travel, accommodation, food and any income you would give up from another job. A paid internship may be financially easier, but an unpaid opportunity can still be useful in some circumstances. The important question is whether the experience and commitment make sense for you.
What expenses should I check before accepting an internship?
Find out whether you will need to pay for travel, meals, accommodation, work clothing or other regular costs. Ask whether the employer reimburses any expenses, what can be claimed and whether limits apply. This is particularly important for an unpaid internship because relatively small daily costs can become significant over several weeks. Do not assume expenses will automatically be covered. Work out what taking part would realistically cost you and compare that with your available income or savings before deciding whether the opportunity is financially manageable.
How can I tell whether an unpaid internship is a red flag?
Be cautious if the employer cannot clearly explain what you will do, why the opportunity is unpaid or who will supervise you. Vague promises of “valuable experience” are less useful than specific information about tasks, learning and support. An unpaid arrangement involving substantial regular work deserves closer examination, especially if the organisation suggests that everyone must work for free to enter the industry. You should also question promises that the internship will ‘certainly’ lead to a graduate job. Judge the arrangement by what is being offered rather than its prestige or claims.
What should I do if my internship duties change after I start?
Compare the work you are now doing with what was originally agreed. Keep useful records such as the advert, written agreement, emails about your responsibilities and details of your working hours. If the role changes significantly, raise the issue with the employer rather than assuming you must accept the new arrangement. This can be particularly important if an unpaid opportunity begins to involve more regular or substantial work than expected. The title “intern” does not by itself determine your employment status or whether minimum wage rules may apply.
Is a higher-paid internship always the better option?
No. A higher salary can make an internship more affordable, but it does not guarantee better experience. Compare what you will actually do, who will supervise you, what you can learn and whether the work is relevant to your interests. Consider practical costs as well. A higher-paying internship in another city may require expensive accommodation and travel, while a lower-paid role closer to home could leave you financially better off. The strongest option is usually one that combines worthwhile experience with costs and working arrangements you can realistically manage.
What should I ask if an internship advert does not clearly explain the pay?
Ask about the pay and working arrangement before becoming too committed to the opportunity. Find out whether the role is paid, what hours you would work and whether any expenses are reimbursed. If it is unpaid, ask what type of experience is being offered and why no pay is provided. You should also understand your responsibilities and whether you will mainly observe or carry out regular work. Clear answers will help you judge both the financial practicality of the internship and whether the arrangement matches what was advertised.
