About the Crankstart Internship Programme

Crankstart exclusive internships

We offer over 200 internships each academic year in a variety of sectors exclusively to Crankstart Scholars, taking place in the winter, spring and summer vacations. Employers who have participated include The Institute of Cancer Research, The Institute for Public Policy Research, The World Resource Institute, Publishers Association and Justice.

Crankstart Exclusive Internships are advertised on a rolling basis via the Crankstart Internship Programme bulletins, which are sent to all Scholars approximately once a week during term-time.

Help finding your own internship

We can help Crankstart Scholars find work experience corresponding to your skills and interests. This can be in any sector and for any duration, from a week’s work-shadowing to a three-month internship over the summer. Your placement can take place in the UK or abroad. We will assist you in identifying a suitable host organisation.

Getting ideas

The first part of this process is to identify the type of placement you would like to undertake. To start your research you can:

• Book a one-to-one Crankstart CV & Internship Appointment via CareerConnect. These are 30 minute sessions dedicated to internship support (more information below)
• Book an appointment to see a Careers Adviser for sector-specific advice. Our careers advisers offer objective, confidential careers guidance based on your individual needs.  They can also check CVs and cover letters. Please let them know you are a Crankstart Scholar so that you can be fast-tracked if needed.
• Look at different sectors to see what you might be interested in.
• Keep an eye on the Crankstart Internship Bulletin for offers of exclusive internships for scholars, as well as other careers opportunities and ideas.
• Browse  the Summer Internship Programme  listings on CareerConnect for ideas (open from Hilary term).
• Explore the Micro-Internship Programme, which offers short work placements in 9th Week of every term.
• Search for an internship on our vacancy database CareerConnect, where you will find vacancies and internship programmes from national and international recruiters.

Following an internship

On completion of an internship found through the Crankstart Internship Programme, you are committed to providing feedback on your experiences. This will comprise of a feedback form which is emailed out after the finish date. Considerable value is placed on the feedback as it helps to develop and improve the programme. If you have any queries please contact us: crankstart-internships@careers.ox.ac.uk.

The Internship Office

As part of the Crankstart Internship Programme, we have a dedicated Crankstart Team in the Internship Office who can answer any queries you have about the programme or the Internship Office. We are happy to offer guidance and answer questions from making an application to reflecting on what you have gained from the experience. We can also answer questions on funding for internships, or booking a one to one session. The best way to do this is to email us at crankstart-internships@careers.ox.ac.uk

Crankstart Scholars have unlimited access to internship and CV advice support from Dr Fiona Whitehouse, Head of the Internship Office or with a dedicated Careers Adviser. 30-minute sessions are run throughout the week for Crankstart Scholars at the Careers Service. In these sessions you can receive advice on anything internships related; whether you have an idea of the area you are interested in and would like to know your options with internships, or you have a clear idea of an internship and would like support with your application and CV. Appointments can be arranged by booking on CareerConnect.

Scholars seeking more general careers advice/sector-specific advice can also book to see a Careers Adviser, again via CareerConnect.

As a Crankstart Scholar you can apply for funding to support your work placement. The awards vary from £50 to £3,200 depending on the location of the internship, the remuneration and living arrangements. Although there is no limit to the number of internship bursaries you can apply for through the Crankstart Internship Programme, priority is given to Scholars who are making a first request for financial support. Please note that we will confirm your placement with the host organisation before a bursary is paid out.

Be aware that funding will not be allocated for fee-charging internship schemes, or third-party internship recruitment organisations. 

Retrospective claims for funding will only be considered in exceptional circumstances (for example, unanticipated costs). Funding request put forward due to exceptional circumstances must be made within six months of completion of the placement. Requests put forward after this time will not be considered.

To apply for a Crankstart Internship Bursary please read carefully and fully complete the Crankstart Internship Bursary form and send it to the Crankstart Internship and Careers Mentoring Team on crankstart-internships@careers.ox.ac.uk.

Download the Crankstart Internship Bursary form

The deadline to apply for a Crankstart Internship Bursary for the 2022-2023 academic year is Wednesday 5 July 2023. It is important that you check the application requirements carefully on the first section of the form.

Checklist

By applying to and participating in the Oxford University Crankstart Internship Programme you agree to the following roles and responsibilities. Please read through the list below carefully and use it as a checklist to help prepare for your internship. This list is a mandatory component of the online application form; you will be unable to submit an application unless you agree to the below.

By applying to and participating in the Crankstart Internship Programme I agree to:

• Satisfy myself that the internship is suitable for my needs in terms of content and environment.
• Take responsibility for checking the viability of the internship, including (for international internships) regularly checking the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website, as well as local guidance to ensure the internship can be undertaken.
• Cover directly any costs arising from health protection measures, such as quarantine, testing or any other requirements of travel, save where the costs are expressly covered by any scholarship or other funding which I may be awarded relating to the internship. The Internship Office cannot be held responsible for additional costs that arise.
• Under no circumstances accept an internship that I do not fully intend to complete. (Students who are in doubt as to whether to accept an internship offer should seek advice from the Internship Office or a Careers Adviser).
• Make travel arrangements and, where necessary, find suitable accommodation for the duration of the internship
• Contribute to the internship in a professional manner.
• Obtain adequate travel and medical insurance which includes cover for personal money and property risks; any emergency medical expenses; and repatriation in case of a medical emergency or death.
• Act as an ambassador for the University of Oxford, being aware at all times that my personal conduct both on placement and outside of work will reflect upon myself and the university.
• Communicate regularly with the assigned point of contact within the host organisation.
• Research the terms of any University or College travel grants that I wish to apply for  to complement any stipend that may be offered by the host organisation or through the programme and apply for such grant(s) in good time.
• (For International Internships) Ensure that my passport is up to date and understand how long my passport must be valid for to enter the required country.
• Obtain visa and work permits where necessary and take responsibility for making enquiries as to whether these are required.
• (For International Internships) Arrange to have any necessary vaccinations etc which may be appropriate for the host country.
• Advise the Internship Office (crankstart-internships@careers.ox.ac.uk) if any difficulties arise before or during an internship that may affect my ability to complete the placement.
• Provide feedback to Oxford University at the end of the internship.

I understand:

• What is offered by the package of support or funding available with this internship, and that it is my responsibility to satisfy myself that the internship is financially viable for me.
• That there is support available from the Careers Service, should I wish to declare a physical or mental disability or any health issues that I feel may impact my internship. Further, that while the Careers Service can communicate disability-related needs to the internship provider on my behalf, the University is not responsible for the steps, if any, taken by the host organisation in response to that information and cannot advise on the extent of the host organisation’s obligation, if any, to make reasonable adjustments.
• That I can contact the Internship Office on crankstart-internships@careers.ox.ac.uk before or during the internship should any difficulties arise relating to this internship.
• If I am successful in securing an international internship, I understand that it is my responsibility to take reasonable steps to familiarise myself with the laws and customs of the location I am travelling to, including checking the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website.
• (For International Internships) undertake appropriate research into the laws and customs of the country I am going to, to ensure that I understand any risks associated with such travel (visit the dedicated Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office webpage with useful advice for solo female travellers, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender travellers, as well as Mental health travel advice).
• That the University is not responsible in any way for the acts and/or omissions of the host organisation or any other aspect of my internship experience.
   

I confirm the information provided in this application is to the best of my knowledge, accurate and true, and I understand that inaccurate or untruthful information may compromise my application and/or terms of agreement of the internship and/or lead to the offer of the internship being withdrawn.

We are occasionally asked if an internship can be counted as volunteering. The short answer to this question is ‘no’. An unpaid internship, particularly if it is supported by a Crankstart Internship bursary, cannot be included in your volunteering hours. Please read the Crankstart - Volunteering FAQs for further information.

• Autumn Clarke (English Literature and Language, Somerville College) - Internship with the Bimble App
• Conrad (Economics and Management, Trinity College) - Internship with Nature Positive
• Dan (Biology, Queen’s College) - Internship with Nature Positive
• Peter Lernyei (Law, Jurisprudence, Worcester College) - Internshps in legal research and practice
• Jessie Goetzinger (English Language and Literature, Christ Church) - Editorial Assistant internship with The Moth Magazine
• JP Ay (Biochemistry, St Hilda’s College) - Business development internship
• Zaynab Ahmed (Law, St Hilda's College) - Internships with the Oxford Citizen Advice Bureau and Nation better
• Neetu Singh (English, Pembroke College) - Strategy Lead and Social Media Manager at The Three Hijabis