Sponsor a 2012 OUIIP internship: information for alumni and sponsors

Why hire an Oxford University student?

This is an extremely useful programme. I was very impressed not just with the quality of the candidates but also with the smooth administration of the scheme – it is very well organised indeed.
- Carol Pearson, CDC Group plc

Hiring a full-time summer intern can add value for any type of organisation.  You gain an additional member of staff at a relatively low cost  who can be assigned to a specific project.  In return the intern is exposed to new skills and work in a specific industry sector. In particular, our students are bright, inquisitive, analytical, talented, hard working, energetic and ambitious and can provide you and your organisation with creative and quality results. 

Alumni and sponsors' involvement

Each year we offer alumni and sponsors the opportunity to get involved in the programme. Whatever your organisation's area of work, if you can define a distinct project that will allow an intern to get an insight into your company, doing real work that is of benefit to the organisation, then we would love to hear from you. 

We are looking for internship placement in small, medium and large companies and from as many diverse areas, and regions, as possible.  In 2011 we have been able to offer our students internships in Canada, Mainland China, Ecuador, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Jordan, Malawi, Peru, Singapore, USA, Zambia as well as mainland Europe and the UK.  Opportunities came from many different sectors including Education, Not-for-Profit, International Development, Government and Agencies, Law, Finance, Luxury Travel, Museums & Galleries, Archives, Publishing, Natural Resources and the Environment, Social Care, Film and Digital Media, Marketing and Administration.

Although every intern will have a unique experience, the internships offered comprise the following common elements:

  • Full-time work for 8-10 weeks, between 18 June and 28 September 2012
  • A defined project, which creates real value for the sponsoring organisation and a valuable learning experience for the student
  • Interaction with an assigned supervisor or mentor within the sponsoring organisation
  • A stipend, or some assistance with travel or accommodation
  • An international experience, ideally outside the student’s country of citizenship


UK OUIIP internship sponsors and minimum wage

Oxford University Careers Service endeavours to ensure compliance with the requirements under the UK National Minimum Wage Act and therefore does not advertise unpaid work experience or internships other than for:

•       Short term work experience placements (maximum of 4 weeks) which involve no more than 40 hours work per week; and
•       Voluntary work with a charity, voluntary organisation, an associated fund-raising organisation, or a statutory body. 

We are pleased to advertise unpaid volunteering and work-shadowing opportunities that comply with the criteria set out above. 

The role of the sponsoring organisation

We would ask sponsoring organisations to:

  • Fill in a sponsor internship form providing details of the project(s) offered, and including an overview of the skills required by the ideal candidate
  • Provide intern(s) with suitable work space and equipment to carry out the project work
  • Designate a mentor to supervise the intern(s)
  • Select intern(s) from a pool of applicants
  • Provide the intern(s) with a stipend or other assistance (for example, accommodation)
  • Where necessary, sponsor the student for a visa covering the duration of the placement
  • Provide feedback to the University of Oxford by evaluating the intern at the end of the placement

OUIIP timeline

Oxford University sends out requests to internship sponsors for internship opportunities Michaelmas Term 2011
Deadline for internship proposals* 31 Dec 2011
Placements are advertised to students January 2012
Student applications are due 14 February 2012
Applications sent to internship sponsors
 from 22 February 2012
Sponsors interview students via telephone and select a candidate By 19 March 2012
Internships start 18 June onwards

*Late-advertised internships will be posted with separate time-lines.

How to sponsor an internship placement

If you would like to participate in this programme by offering our students an internship placement please fill in and submit the sponsorship internship form.

For additional information or queries, please email Fiona Whitehouse.

The roles and responsibilities of the sponsor

The sponsoring organisation has the following responsibilities:

  • Provide an accurate and reasonably detailed description of the internship project(s) offered and the duties associated with it (them), including an overview of the skills required by the ideal candidate(s)
  • Select intern(s) from the pool of applicants forwarded by the University.  Telephone (or face-to-face) interviews should be conducted, and direct contact established with potential interns
  • Provide the internship project as described (or an appropriate alternative project subject to prior discussion with the University and the student(s))
  • Provide intern(s) with an appropriate work-space and equipment necessary to carry out the internship project work
  • Designate a point of contact within the organisation, who will discuss practical arrangements with the intern before their arrival, supervise the intern(s), and act as the primary contact for communications with the University of Oxford
  • Provide the intern(s) with a stipend and/or other assistance (for example, accommodation)
  • Where necessary, sponsor the student(s) for a visa covering the duration of the internship
  • Comply with local health and safety obligations in relation to the internship(s)
  • Provide assurance that your organisation’s insurance will cover potential liability that may arise from the internship(s)
  • Provide feedback to the University of Oxford by evaluating the intern(s) at the end of the placement.

For information on the roles and responsibilities of the University and the sponsor organisation please read the OUIIP Regulations document (PDF).

Victor Rowse of Vermilion Partners, Shanghai, said of the students who applied: '...these applications are truly outstanding. Whilst there are a few that stand out more than the rest, there is scarcely a candidate amongst them that I wouldn't want to work with. I really don't know how we are going to choose, but it will be a very difficult decision.'

Ben Mak, Deputy Regional Director, OUP Hong Kong said: 'We had a wonderful experience hiring an intern from Oxford University last summer. She undertook various assignments in marketing, internal communication and editorial and did really well. I wish she could come back and work for us after graduation!'

Morgan Murphy of Motorpool, Alabama, USA said:' ... we did get 13 applicants, which is wonderful. I am absolutely amazed by their qualifications and experience. Very impressed. I wish I had more office space - I'd hire the lot of them to come over!'

Page last edited: 01 February 2012

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