Gap Year Summer Finance Internship

Hello everyone! This is my first post in this forum, and I hope I can get some advice about my future career plan. I apologise if this is the wrong place to post. 

Anyway, I wanted to come on here to ask about getting possible finance internships in the summer period in London (or other major cities, e.g. Paris - I enjoy travelling, only issue is the visa) to gain experience. I have contacted a number of investment banks and private equity firms, but as I have not started my university degree, no one will take me. I am on my gap year right now, having finished sixth form last year, and I currently work as a research chemist at a start-up and will be off to read Biochemistry at the University of Oxford this October. 

I have tried sorting something out for months and had no luck, so I wanted to just come on here to see if it is even a possible thing, given the fact that I am a school leaver. I have so far started to network and have met a few students at Oxford who are studying similar degrees to me and have delved into IB or PE during their holidays. Would love any advice, thank you!

4 Comments
 

definitely possible to land finance internships, not very likely to land IB/PE internships without some form family connection before university

I Interned at a PWM firm on my gap year in London, which is what i'd recommend. Puts you in a better place than most for spring recruiting, which is all that matters.

 

I'm at a similar stage as you and also going to Oxbridge in October if you want to keep in touch. Whilst it's good to look abroad, I think, unless you're a foreign citizen of whichever country you're looking to intern in, it will definitely be difficult. It seems firms are not wanting to take on the ballache of sponsoring, visas, etc. for someone who's only an intern.

 

Excepturi animi quas ea possimus voluptas. Quo reiciendis voluptates eos quo. Placeat quae qui maxime animi dignissimos quod blanditiis.

Tempore reprehenderit laboriosam nostrum voluptatem minima omnis sunt. Atque voluptas cupiditate vitae cumque quos. Accusantium ducimus dolor ut.

Et distinctio non id eius eos quos. Amet fuga et iusto. Ut dolorem facilis qui.

Praesentium laborum dolores pariatur quas exercitationem mollitia repellendus. Itaque esse natus sit natus qui. Et non et animi qui reprehenderit. Enim voluptate vero sapiente sed sint.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”