Paid and unpaid work placements and internships policy
This policy is relevant to employers who are advertising a placement or internship with us and students who are planning or accepted a placement or internship.
Employers: If you have any questions about this policy, please contact our Recruiter Services team
Students: If you have any questions about this policy or the status of your placement or internship, please contact our Internships team.
1. Introductory purpose and background
This policy has been written to outline the University’s position on the promotion and endorsement of paid/unpaid placements and internships within the UK.
2. Scope
The policy applies to University of Nottingham UK staff/students and organisations/employer partners who intend to promote placement and internship opportunities to University of Nottingham UK students.
The policy is determined by National Minimum Wage Legislation and UK Government Guidance titled ‘Employment rights and pay for interns’.
3. Definitions
In the context of this policy ‘placements and internships’ are defined as work-based learning and/or work experience opportunities that are either extra-curricular or an integrated component of a student’s academic studies.
4. Policy
4a.Strategy:
This policy supports key strategic aims of the University of Nottingham, notably;
- Solving Problems and Improving Lives: “Preparing our students to lead rich and fulfilling lives, thriving in the rapidly changing world of work.
- Supporting Potential: “We will put measures in place to ensure we eliminate attainment gaps between students from diverse backgrounds”
4b.Key principles:
This information is for University of Nottingham UK staff and students and for UK organisations who wish to recruit University of Nottingham students.
The university encourages students to participate in activities that will enhance their learning experience. This policy has been written to outline the university’s position on the promotion and endorsement of paid/unpaid placements and internships within the UK. The university will only seek to promote opportunities which it believes will provide students with valuable skills and/or experience in readiness for their future professional careers and personal development.
4c.Guidelines:
Unpaid internships and placements can offer valuable opportunities for students to gain work experience and put their learning at university into practice. However, the University of Nottingham will only advertise and promote unpaid opportunities to students which comply with National Minimum Wage (NMW) legislation and meet the guidelines set out here which are designed to ensure equality of opportunity for all University of Nottingham students in the UK and avoid exploitation.
The key exemptions from NMW which will apply to placements and internships are:
- Students working on a placement or internship with an associated assessment and/or which contributes to the final degree award are exempt from the NMW, as long as the total time of their placement does not exceed one year (note that this exemption does not apply to students performing work that is unrelated to their course i.e., work undertaken during a gap year)
- A placement does not have to pay the NMW if the placed student can be classed as voluntary workers or a “volunteer”. A volunteer is generally someone who:
- Is under no obligation to perform work and carry out instructions
- Has no contract or formal arrangement, and so can come and go as they please
- Cannot be dismissed and has no expectation to be paid, rewarded, or receive any benefit in kind (but reasonable expenses e.g., travel costs can be paid, and this should be encouraged)
- Work shadowing arrangements do not have to pay the NMW as the placement consists entirely of work shadowing with no work being performed
Opportunities for students to work in the UK which do not meet the above criteria are not exempt from NMW legislation. These opportunities should only be promoted and advertised by staff within the University if they are offering an appropriate salary taking into account factors which include but are not limited to location, expected commitment by the students, and industry standards. In all cases, the amount of salary offered should under no circumstances be lower than the applicable NMW.
We will only advertise an unpaid placement/internship if:
- The placement meets the conditions for exemption from NMW requirements, as set out in NMW legislation (and above) and either:
- The total requested time to be worked does not exceed 145 hours (four weeks full-time equivalent); and/or
- The position is with a registered charity, voluntary organisation, associated fundraising body or statutory body
Where a student is receiving a stipend or bursary for an out-of-term research project, hours of work should be calculated to reflect NMW legislation.
For further details please consult the government’s National Minimum Wage guidelines on work experience and internships:
GOV.UK - The National Minimum Wage and Living Wage
GOV.UK - Minimum Wage: work experience and internships
4d. Goals of the policy and consequences of non-compliance
The policy is designed to ensure equality of opportunity for all University of Nottingham students in the UK and to avoid exploitation.
Non-compliance to the policy will lead to the risk of exploitation of University of Nottingham students and a reputational risk to the University of Nottingham.
4e. Additional Guidance for UNUK staff and students:
- Whilst the University reserves the right not to advertise or actively promote unpaid internships or placements, we cannot, and would not wish to, prevent students who source their own unpaid opportunities from undertaking them, through their own choosing either as part of an integrated placement opportunity or as an extracurricular activity.
- Students should always approach unpaid internship and placement experiences with great caution taking in to account the guidance above. It is important, particularly for longer placements, that students consider the financial implications of undertaking an internship or placement on an unpaid basis as well as any impact on their studies.
- The university can only prevent a student from undertaking an unpaid placement that forms part of their academic studies if the learning objectives offered by the placement do not fulfil the expectations of the degree programme / module or if the Health and Safety expectations of the university are not met.
- The university recognises that there may be legitimate unpaid internship and placement opportunities offered to students that meet the requirements of the policy above. These opportunities tend to be, but are not exclusive to the charity sector, parts of the NHS and other statutory bodies such as Her Majesty’s Prison Service. In these examples, the opportunities provide students with experience in a role or industry sector they would otherwise not be able to obtain. If the relevant School or Professional Services Department within the university has considered the policy above in full and is confident that the unpaid status of the internship or placement is appropriate, the opportunity can be promoted to students who can make their own decision about applying.
4e. Contact and reporting of issues
If you have any questions about how this applies to work experience opportunities within your school or professional service, please contact the Recruiter Services team on 0115 82 32233 or email them.
Review
Review annually
Related policies, standards, procedures and guidance
The policy is determined by National Minimum Wage Legislation and UK Government Guidance titled ‘Employment rights and pay for interns’.
GOV.UK - The National Minimum Wage and Living Wage
GOV.UK - Minimum Wage: work experience and internships
Policy details
Policy Name: UNUK Policy on Paid and Unpaid Placements and Internships
Policy reference number: Allocated by Central Assurance Team
Policy category: Allocated by Central Assurance Team
Subject: UNUK Promotion and Advertising of Paid and Unpaid Placements and Internships
Approving authority: Student Education Committee and Teaching and Learning Committee
Accountable person: Registrar
Responsible Team: Careers and Employability Service
Last updated: September 2022
First approved: September 2015
Global application: UNUK