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RIS Information for UoR Staff

Looking to help students find meaningful work experience and get paid?

The Reading Internship Scheme is an extracurricular work experience programme, exclusively for our undergraduates here at the University of Reading. 

The scheme is a great way for students to put their degree knowledge into practice, and to gain experience before undertaking a yearlong placement or going into a graduate job. 

What?
The scheme exists to support students with valuable work experience, and ensure they are paid for their time and efforts. 
There are two options available for students to choose from when it comes to the Reading Internship Scheme. 

  • Students can apply for vacancies we source and upload to My Jobs Online (option 1)
                                                                        OR
  • They can source their own unpaid 4 – 6 week internship, which isn’t part of their degree programme, and potentially receive a living cost bursary of up to £1,000 (option 2). There is an eligibility criteria for the scheme which can be found here on the bursary information page, please be sure to highlight this to interested students. 

Option 1 – Salary Model 
This is where the Careers Centre source opportunities for students (based on career registration data), and these are then advertised on My Jobs Online. Students apply for these with a CV and cover letter. 

• Internships are 4 – 8 weeks in length
• Take place throughout the year during term-time (at part-time hours) and vacation periods (at full-time hours) 
• Available for undergraduates only 
• Each internship has a salary of £315 per week 
• Opportunities available with charities and profit earning businesses
• Opportunities available across a wide range of disciplines 
• Internships on the scheme can only be used for extracurricular activity (not eligible to be used for any credit baring placement modules)
• Departments within the University can take on an intern through the Reading Internship Scheme, please see below for details.

This programme is funded by the University of Reading, Santander Universities, and the Earley Charity. If a charity takes on an intern through the scheme, we pay 100% of their intern’s salary, any other organisations who take on an intern through the scheme pay 50% of their intern’s salary with the University supporting the other 50%. 

The University of Reading can take on an intern through our scheme, but this would be operated at the 50% model above.

How can students get involved?
Students can receive regular updates via email from the scheme’s coordinator by registering their interest.

The Careers Centre run regular information sessions for students, which go through the scheme in more detail and how students can get involved. Students can book onto these sessions through MyJobsOnline and also search and apply for the latest Internships by using the 'Reading Internship Scheme' tab once logged in.

Option 2 – Living Cost Bursary Model 
The Living Cost Bursary supports undergraduates who have already secured an internship, which is unpaid and up to 6 weeks in length. Students who are either registered with our disability service, or in receipt of the Reading Bursary are eligible to apply.

• Internships can be with any sized employer 
• Available for undergraduates only 
• Internships cannot be contributing to a student’s degree course 
• Internships must be unpaid (aside from any travel contributions the employer may wish to make)
• A 6 week unpaid internship would merit a £1,000 living cost bursary (4 and 5 week internships are calculated pro rata)
• Internships being supported by the bursary model cannot be at the University of Reading (please refer to the salary model above)

How can students get involved?
Students who fit the eligibility criteria can apply for the bursary.
Once an application is submitted, the scheme’s coordinator will review this and come back to the student within 3 weeks.

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    Q: Why can students no longer use the Reading Internship Scheme as a way of completing a credit baring module?
    A: The Reading Internship Scheme is in place to offer, and support, students with extracurricular work experience so cannot be used in conjunction with a credit baring placement. 

    Q: Can the University take on an intern through the Reading Internship Scheme?
    A: Yes, this would be possible through our 50% salary contribution option. If this isn’t possible, please speak to our UROP officer Tom McCann on t.mccann@reading.ac.uk about working with a student on a research project. 

    Q: When can internships take place?
    A: The scheme is now open across the calendar year, and each internship on My Jobs Online will state when the employer is looking at this taking place. Internships can take place during term time at up to 20 hours per week, or during vacation periods at full-time hours (up to 35 hours per week). 

    Q: Is the Reading Internship Scheme available to all students?
    A: The scheme is available for all undergraduate students only.

    Q: Do students need to complete an internship related to their degree course?
    A: The Reading Internship Scheme focuses on developing student’s transferable skills, and allowing them to gain extra work experience. The scheme provides students with the opportunity to work in areas outside of their degree if they choose. 

    Q: Why have part-time internships during term time been introduced?
    A: Some students have jobs they need to keep during vacation periods, which previously meant these students couldn’t take part in the scheme as our opportunities were only available in these times. Now we have introduced term time internships in an effort to allow as many students as possible to have the chance of gaining work experience. Students are only permitted to work up to 20 hours per week during term time, so that work experience does not interfere with studies. 

    Q: Can students get support with their applications?
    A: Yes, our Career Consultants within the Careers Centre offer bookable appointments through My Jobs Online where students can get their CV and applications checked, as well as practice mock interviews. 

    Q: Who can students talk to if they have any questions?
    A: Please refer any students to the scheme’s coordinator Holly Forsyth on h.forsyth@reading.ac.uk  

     

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