Build your skills and experience working across the globe, all from the comfort of your own home.
What’s on offer
This is your exclusive opportunity to apply for a funded place in a four- or six-week online global summer internship programme. You will work remotely with one of over 20,000 approved host companies in one of 195 countries on key projects within their business. The programme includes extensive skills development training and practical international work experience to help you become a career ready graduate.
There are opportunities available virtually across the globe. In 2025, internships were based ‘in’ China, the United States, India, Finland, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Uganda and more.
You can select your career field of choice, including:
- environment and sustainability
- media and communications
- international development
- legal
- healthcare and pharmaceutical
- engineering
- computer science
- business.
“[Employers] emphasise the importance of experiential learning – such as internships, projects, and work experience – and expect graduates to clearly connect their academic and extracurricular experiences to the professional skills they bring to the workplace.” (NACE Job Outlook, 2026).
According to the Virtual Internships participant survey, 2025:
- 82% of interns developed their professional skills
- 80% of interns agreed that completing their internship prepared them for the professional challenges they will face after graduation
- 90% of interns were satisfied with their internship at their host company
- 33% of interns rated their programme 10 out of 10
- 93% of host company supervisors would offer their Sussex intern a positive employment reference
- 36% of interns were offered an opportunity to continue working with their host company
- 60% shared they have a disability, suggesting their internship was accessible and inclusive.
“I am thankful for this opportunity because it allowed me to do meaningful work and connect with people from all around the world, while working remotely and flexibly” – Online Global Internship Participant
“The opportunity to work with people who had a different social and cultural background was extremely valuable. The people I worked with were very kind, which helped me have the confidence to establish a great relationship with them.” – Online Global Internship Participant
Key information
Our programme is run by Virtual Internships. Please note that:
- if you are successful in securing a funded place, all programme fees are funded by the University and you will receive a generous bursary equivalent to the UK real Living Wage to contribute towards your living costs. The bursary for summer 2026 is valued at £1,614, matching the UK real Living Wage at £13.45 per hour
- the online global summer internships are part-time opportunities and you can choose either four weeks x 30 hours per week or six weeks x 20 hours per week (a total of 120 hours)
- you can choose from two start dates, 20 July or 3 August 2026
- all successful applicants are guaranteed an online internship with an international organisation, in a career field of your choice
- you do not need to find your own internship; the Virtual Internships team will work to match you with an appropriate organisation for you.
You will get access to support from the Virtual Internships team, including:
- pre-internship orientation sessions to prepare you for the linear placement process and successful internship experience
- weekly check-ins with the Intern Success Team and two coaching calls with an Intern Coach
- CareerBridge – a self-paced employability curriculum designed to help you prepare for, succeed in, and maximise the value of your internship by building practical professional skills and confidence through structured courses and real-world examples
- fortnightly Global Employability Expert webinars, covering career readiness and expert insights (from industry leaders)
- a weekly Slack channel hosted by the Intern Success Team, an opportunity for VI interns from around the world to ask any questions and to network with each other
- a full end of programme report, including supervisor evaluation, student assessment and Global Career Management Plan
- a strong alumni network at the programme conclusion.
Watch Sussex students talk about their experience of an online internship.
To gain work experience with a UK employer, you can apply for the UK Summer Internships.
“I originally applied for the virtual internship to gain real-world experience and insights into my neuropsychology career path. After completing the programme, I’ve become more confident, productive, and equipped with a wide range of both hard and soft skills.” – Online Global Internship Participant
Eligibility
The programme is open to second, third or final year undergraduates.
If you are in your:
- second year, you can only accept either one Career Lab UK Summer Internship or an Online Global Summer Internship or the Junior Research Associate Scheme
- third or final year, you can only accept either one Career Lab UK Summer Internship or an Online Global Summer Internship.
How to apply
Applications for a funded place on the 2025/26 programme will open on 2 March 2026.
Eligible students will be emailed when applications open, and we also encourage you to follow us on Instagram.
Read about Marlena’s online internship with OwlCrate in Canada.
Equality in employment
You are protected from discrimination in the workplace and through the recruitment process, and we can advise on disclosure issues and your rights in work. We have tailored resources available for our diverse student body. Find out more about your rights at work.
We offer extended appointments for students with a disability and/or long-term health condition, and care leavers.
Contact internships@sussex.ac.uk with any questions on equality in the workplace.