Can I take an unpaid Internship on this program?

Yes, under certain circumstances (see What is NMW? below). An internship may be unpaid on this program as long as it is a voluntary arrangement between the employer and intern. Your status would then be that of a "volunteer". However being a volunteer does not simply mean that you are willing to work for no pay. Specifically, you and your employer must agree that you have no contract or formal arrangements and that you are under no obligation to perform any specific work or carry out instructions. You are able to come and go to work as you please and will have no expectation of, and will not receive, any payment or tangible benefit (including accommodation) for the work you do. BUNAC will verify this with your employer before issuing the Certificate of Sponsorship.

What is National Minimum Wage?

National Minimum Wage (NMW) legislation is the equivalent of Federal Minimum Wage laws in the USA. It establishes the rules under which employees in the UK must be paid, and also covers situations where unpaid employment is permitted. It is legally possible, therefore, for an unpaid internship to comply with NMW rules.

The current National Minimum Wage is £4.83p/h for those aged 18–21 and £5.80p/h for those aged 22 and over.

The internship must be a supernumerary, career-enhancing, limited duration opportunity. The level of remuneraton, if any, must be agreed in advance between the intern and the employer. However, a UK employer is neither required to pay prevailing wage nor obligated to pay more than minimum wage for the particular position offered.

What happens if I change my address or contact details?

It is your responsibility to keep BUNAC informed at all times of your residential and work address, e-mail and contact phone number.

What happens if I want to leave the UK for a while during my internship?

The visa you will be issued will normally be ‘multiple entry’ which means you can leave the UK during your internship and the visa will still be valid on your return, provided your employment is still authorized.

Can I extend my visa?

No. The maximum length of the Intern in Britain program is 6 months. However, the dates on your Entry Clearance visa will determine the start and end of your stay in the UK. The dates cannot be changed. It is not possible to extend the visa.

Can I stay on in the UK to travel at the end of the internship?

Interns are typically allowed to remain in the UK for 4-5 days after the end of the internship. The date by which you must leave the UK will be stated on your visa. If you wish, you may then leave the UK and re-apply to enter under a different status (e.g. as a tourist). Permission to enter and stay is granted at the discretion of the immigration official at port of entry.

What happens if I need to cancel?

The following cancellation policy applies.

If you withdraw from the program for any reason before your Certificate of Sponsorship number has been issued, the program fee less a $100 administration charge will be refunded.

If you withdraw from the program for any reason after the issue of your Certificate of Sponsorship number but more than 30 days before the start date of the internship, the program fee less a $300 administration charge will be refunded.

If you withdraw from the program for any reason after the issue of your Certificate of Sponsorship number but less than 30 days before the start date of the internship the entire program fee is forfeit.

If your visa application is denied by the British Embassy/Consulate, an administration fee of $200 will be levied. However, if your visa application is denied for reasons you did not disclose to BUNAC, there will be no refund of the program fee.

If your application is rejected by BUNAC, the program fee will be refunded in full less a $50 administration charge.

Is there an application deadline?

Applications are accepted by BUNAC year-round. However you must allow sufficient time for your application to be processed and to apply for a UK visa before you leave the US to start your internship. We recommend you apply as early as possible. However, you cannot apply for your visa more than three months before the start date of your internship.

What does "supernumerary" mean?

The presence of an intern must not harm the resident labour market. Interns must not fill vacancies in the UK workforce and must do work that is additional to the employer's normal staffing requirements.

Do I apply through BUNAC USA or BUNAC UK?

BUNAC USA will process applications from students of any nationality studying within the US and from US nationals studying elsewhere and will also provide pre-departure support. BUNAC UK will process all other applications. You can contact BUNAC UK by calling +44 207 251 3472 or by email at iib@bunac.org.uk.