Unable to do summer internships due to UK visa restrictions
Hello,
I'll be doing a 12-month full-time master's program at the LSE. UK student visa rules stipulate that full-time work under a student visa (including internships) can only be undertaken in vacation periods (i.e. not during a university term). Is there a way around this?
I'm not necessarily aiming for IB (though I posted this on the IB forum because I thought it would be relevant for others as well), but this policy restricts me from seeking a summer full-time position in any role. There has to be a way around this, right?
I know other LSE masters students manage to do summer internships, though it should be kept in mind that their masters programs are usually shorter.
I'd appreciate any help, Thanks!
Are you sure that you will be attending classes for the full 12 months with no vacation period? Then yes, you won't be able to undertake any internships.
Same reason why I can't apply for off-cycles here as an intl undergrad
Unfortunately, I am sure of this. I have to complete a summer term that lasts until late September. I honestly did not know that these were the rules prior to selecting the program. My fault honestly.
One way to make up for the lack of a summer internship is to seek out solid and relevant part-time positions throughout my masters, but I doubt that would add the same kind of value. Otherwise, I have to seek internships starting after September, or directly apply for full-time positions.
Might be wrong, but I expect you’ll have official term dates that still track the rest of LSE. Your classes will be done around Easter and then it will be exams in May and thesis work onwards.
Would check with the careers/international student office, but I would genuinely expect this to be a non issue from a visa perspective providing you stay inside the LSE summer vacation dates.
Unfortunately this does not seem to be the case.
https://info.lse.ac.uk/current-students/immigration-advice/Working-on-a…
I think some people do evade the rules but I personally wouldn't risk it.
Unfortunately OP, it seems you are 100% right. That actually sucks for internationals, I'd never realised this was a problem.
If you don't have previous IBD experience then tbh, it might not be worth doing the masters at all since recruiting for FT IB may be difficult.
Edit: just seen you're not aiming for IB necessarily. But that sentiment would apply to most FO positions.
I'm personally more interested in consulting so this is less of an issue (I think?), but I still wanted to shoot my shot and send a few IB apps so this is a bit disappointing I guess. I'll probably shoot for off-cycle internships for IB, but I understand that these are more difficult to get and less likely to convert to FT offers. Any insight? Thanks.
You're correct. Consulting recruits far less from internships than it does from direct FT applications. So your situation isn't too bad on that front.
I'm not sure exactly how difficult off cycles are to get. I believe they tend to have slightly more intense assessments. But they would absolutely fit your profile from a logistical perspective.
Do you only have one summer during the masters program?
Also, are you just writing the dissertation or taking classes during the summer? Do you have to be on campus? Even if they say you’re not allowed, what if you just say fuck it and work anyway, without telling them
Program is 12 months long extending until late September 2022, with the summer period used for dissertation. Unfortunately these are UK visa regulations (not just from the university). If the university finds out, they have the obligation of reporting me to visa authorities and I could lose my visa. That's not a risk I'd be willing to take.
Yeah you can’t do an internship during your masters in the UK. That’s one of the many issues with a 1 year masters degree in the UK.
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