As a high school student, you may be interested in seeing what working in a professional environment looks like. Or experiencing how your favourite subjects translate into actual work. You may be curious about future career paths or eager to apply what you’ve learned in school. One of the best ways to explore these interests early is through internships for high school students in London.

Imagine starting your mornings commuting through a city where centuries-old architecture stands beside gleaming skyscrapers. Or spending your days working alongside industry professionals in various fields. These experiences allow you to meet people from across the globe, discover new perspectives, and learn in an environment that encourages growth, independence, and global awareness.

If you already live in London, these programmes can help you see your city through a new lens, shaped by responsibility, collaboration, and the energy of being part of a real workplace.

Why pursue internships for high school students in London?

Finding the right internship can be challenging. Some opportunities may seem too simple, limited, or disconnected from what you want to explore. That’s why the right information is important, to help you decide what internships are best for you.

Across London, organizations in business, technology, law, healthcare, and engineering offer structured opportunities for high school students. They give you firsthand experience in potential career fields, help you develop practical skills, and boost confidence. You’ll work with industry experts, understand what real-life work involves, and make valuable connections.

To help you pick, we’ve created a list of 15 Internships for High School Students in London. They’ve been selected for their experiential learning opportunities, professional development, and the availability of mentorship.

15 Internships for High School Students in London

1. King’s College Pre-University Summer School

Location: Central London campus of King’s College London
Cost/Stipend: Fee is £3,195 for one week; £6,180 for two weeks
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: Four sessions in July
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: High-school students aged 16 or 17

At King’s College Summer School, you’ll be spending a summer week in the heart of London, studying alongside peers from around the world. You can study high-level courses in Medical Science, International Relations, Neuroscience, or Science, Technology & Engineering.

You’ll attend lectures and seminars designed by university faculty, engage in simulation games, discussion groups, and role-plays. You’ll stay on campus while exploring London’s iconic landmarks. You’ll build your global network and gain insight into future academic paths. With each session running during the school summer break, you can participate without disrupting your regular studies. Here is the link to apply.

Why it stands out: Given its location and prestige, you could be a part of guest lectures by people from the NHS, the Parliament, and the courts.

2. Immerse’s Career Insights London Summer School

Location: University College London (UCL), London, UK
Cost/Stipend: Varies according to program. Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: November 30 is the last date to avail discounts
Eligibility: High school students around the world aged 15-18

The Career Insights London Programme offers a focused introduction to professional life in one of the world’s leading industry hubs, making it one of the more structured internships for high school students in London interested in career exploration. Delivered in person in central London, the programme is built around hands-on projects, expert-led workshops, and industry visits that reflect how careers operate in real workplaces.

Students in London can choose from pathways including Creative Industries, Architecture and Design, Business Management, Film Studies, Engineering, Fine and Digital Art, Software Development and Gaming, Law, Medicine, Banking and Finance, and Media and Journalism. Learning is grounded in professional practice, with activities such as examining London’s built environment in Architecture and Design or exploring financial systems within the UK’s banking centre.

Across the two weeks, participants receive weekly one-to-one career coaching, practical feedback from industry professionals, and guidance on CV development and academic planning. The programme concludes with a final project presentation to professionals, mirroring how ideas are pitched and evaluated in real careers.

Why it stands out: It has an industry-focused learning model that blends expert mentorship with hands-on, practical projects, and you can experience real career pathways.

3. Big City Bright Future (BCBF) Internship

Location: London and Edinburgh
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship; participants receive £1,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: May vary each year
Dates: June 29 – July 17
Application Deadline: January 10
Eligibility: Upper-secondary students in their final year

The Big City Bright Future internship lets you spend three weeks working at a global firm in sectors like investment banking, consulting, or technology. You’ll start with a boot camp focused on teamwork, communication, and commercial awareness, followed by a firm placement where you’re embedded in a project, meet senior staff, and build authentic workplace experience.

The stipend and intensive schedule indicate this is more than a typical shadowing week, as you’ll be treated as a contributor. Being part of a selective cohort gives you both prestige and peer support, while the London location means you’re immersed in a leading global business hub. If interested, you may sign up for their prep session.

Why it stands out: You’ll gain industry insights, creative mentorship, and the chance to network with global publishers and illustrators.

4. University of Notre Dame London Pre-College Programme

Location: Conway Hall, London
Cost/Stipend: $8,750
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 5 – July 19
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: High school students

The Notre Dame London Pre-College Programme for high school students offers an immersive six-week experience in London. You’ll take university-level seminars led by Notre Dame faculty. Alongside classroom work, you’ll explore the city’s cultural and historical sites as part of your coursework and weekly activities.

You’ll collaborate with peers from around the world, enhance your analytical and critical-thinking skills, and strengthen your readiness for university-style learning. You will explore London with guidance from guest lecturers, participate in academic and extracurricular activities, and attend theatre tours. You may contact the office of pre-college programs for any query.

Why it stands out: It has partnerships with museums, theatres, and archives, so you’ll have increased access to the behind-the-scenes of these institutions.

5. DSC Summer School

Location: Across multiple universities in England
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Over 500 places available across England
Dates: Specific dates vary depending on the partner university
Application Deadline: Varies for medical summer schools and dental summer schools
Eligibility: Students in Years 11 and 12 from under-represented backgrounds in England

The DSC Summer School will give you a taste of life as a dentistry (or medicine) student. You will be attending a mix of simulated teaching sessions, workshops, and social activities. You’ll meet current university students and academics, build confidence and social capital, and get advice on applying to university programs, including entrance tests and interviews.

The program doesn’t just focus on dentistry; it also opens up awareness concerning a wide range of healthcare and non-patient-focused careers as well. It helps you understand the values, expectations, and challenges of a healthcare education while supporting those from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine or dentistry.

Why it stands out: You can interact with top dentistry departments, admissions teams, and dental professionals to guide college applications.

6. FDM Apprenticeship Programme

Location: London (and other UK centres)
Cost/Stipend: Paid monthly salary + full university fee coverage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Exact cohort size not disclosed
Dates: The apprenticeship runs for three years
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Must be over age 16; based in the UK

At the FDM Apprenticeship Programme, you’ll spend most of your week working either internally at FDM or on client sites. Meanwhile, you’ll also be studying for a full BSc degree in Digital and Technology Solutions. Over three years, you’ll build practical skills in areas like IT Support, Software Development, Robotics Process Automation, or Information Security.

Because FDM covers your university tuition and pays you a salary, you can earn and learn without accruing student debt. By the end of the apprenticeship, you’ll have both real‑world experience and a degree, positioning you strongly for a permanent tech career, whether at FDM or elsewhere. Here’s the link to register.

Why it stands out: You’ll gain workplace-ready skills and practical training aligned with industry needs.

7. Year 10 Insights Summer School

Location: South Kensington campus of Imperial College
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded for accepted students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Exact cohort size not disclosed
Dates: July 30 – August 2
Application Deadline: March 5
Eligibility: Students in Year 10 (UK system) at the time of application

If you’re a STEM enthusiast looking to elevate your STEM skills this summer, Imperial College London’s Y10 Insights Summer School gives you that opportunity. You’ll engage in hands-on laboratory sessions, attend lectures, group work, and workshops led by Imperial academics and undergraduate mentors.

Alongside your academic track, you’ll live on campus and collaborate with peers from across the UK. You’ll present what you’ve learned in a group poster session at the end of the week. The focus becomes entirely on your learning, exploration, and developing your STEM mindset.

Why it stands out: You’ll get to experience college-level science, work with undergraduate mentors, and learn how to present at a poster conference.

8. Royal Veterinary College (RVC) – Pre-Vet Summer School

Location: RVC’s Camden (London) and Hawkshead (Hatfield) campuses
Cost/Stipend: Based on previous years, the cost is about £3,130
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Capacity of 50
Dates: August 2 – August 14
Application Deadline: Applications remain open from January to April
Eligibility: Students aged 16+

If you’re looking to explore veterinary medicine this summer, RVC’s Pre-Vet Summer School places you at the heart of an elite veterinary institution across its London and Hertfordshire campuses. You’ll engage in real-world work experience in animal hospitals, labs, and farms, attend university-level lectures in veterinary science, and develop key professional skills through guided placements and mentorship.

You’ll also benefit from dedicated sessions on applications, work in small teams on case challenges and connect with peers who share your veterinary ambition. With its immersive format and limited cohort, this experience signals serious intent and offers a strong foundation for future study in animal health or veterinary science. If you’re Interested in getting hands-on experience with vet med themes, you may register here.

Why it stands out: You’ll experience life at a top-ranked vet school and learn what a real veterinary career involves.

9. UCL Pre‑University Online Course

Location: Online; delivered by University College London (UCL), UK
Cost/Stipend: £990
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Classes capped at a maximum of 14 students per class
Dates: July 20 – July 31
Application Deadline: June 15
Eligibility: High‑school students aged 16–18

If you enrol in UCL’s Pre‑University Online Course, you’ll get a two‑week virtual experience in what studying at a top UK university feels like. The course helps you build important academic skills, such as critical thinking, independent research, academic writing, and presentation. You’ll also build on language skills for reading, writing, listening, and speaking in an academic context. You’ll attend lectures and seminars drawn from a broad mix of disciplines (sciences, humanities, arts, social sciences).

You’ll also get a window into UK academic culture and what life at UCL might be like, including virtual tours and optional guided online visits to culturally and historically significant places around London. Finally, you’ll complete a small research report and deliver a presentation. Upon successful completion (with minimum attendance), you get a UCL CLIE certificate with feedback. Here’s the application link.

Why it stands out: It has small-group seminars and academic skill-building to prepare you for competitive university study.

10. Year 12 Work Experience Programme

Location: South Kensington campus of Imperial College London.
Cost/Stipend: Free of tuition
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No disclosed
Dates: To be announced
Application Deadline: Applications for the upcoming year will open in January
Eligibility: UK students in Year 12 (or equivalent)

This program places you directly into a professional research environment on the Imperial College London campus, making it one of the more academically focused internships for high school students in London. You’ll work in a chosen department like Mathematics, Physics, or Bioengineering, spend the week commuting like a student, attend lab sessions, work in specialist technical suites, and present your findings in a poster session.

Alongside academic exploration, you’ll attend talks on personal statements, interview skills, and time management. The program is tailored for students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM, so you’ll be part of a small cohort driven by opportunity and ambition.

Why it stands out: It places you in functioning labs, divides you into research groups, and prepares you for presenting at a formal academic conference, mirroring how academia works.

11. Year 9 Girls Engineering Summer School

Location: South Kensington campus, Imperial College London
Cost/Stipend: Free of tuition
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; exact numbers not available
Dates: August 5 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 17
Eligibility: Girls in Year 9 at non-fee-paying UK schools

If you’re eager to explore engineering in the summer, this program at Imperial College London introduces you to a diverse range of engineering fields. You can choose fields such as bioengineering and mechanical engineering and learn through interactive workshops and team challenges.

Over four days, you’ll work in small groups led by undergraduate mentors, tackle design tasks and create a poster to present your ideas at the end of the course. With a cohort drawn from underrepresented backgrounds, you’ll join a motivated peer group in a transformative UK university setting.

Why it stands out: You’ll have access to engineering tools and prototypes from Imperial’s MakerSpace that are typically not available to pre-GCSE students, so you’ll be better prepared for future STEM education.

12. Imperial College Medicine and Life Sciences Summer School

Location: South Kensington campus of Imperial College London
Cost/Stipend: $10,091
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – July 10 or August 3 – August 14
Application Deadline: Applications open in January; early registrations encouraged
Eligibility: Students aged 16 and 17

If you’re a high-school student looking for a course in life sciences and medicine this summer, Imperial College London’s Global Summer School offers a two-week residential experience in London. You’ll engage in lectures, laboratory sessions and hands-on clinical skill workshops, such as measuring vital signs and exploring genetics.

You’ll be mentored by Imperial academic staff and health professionals. In the second week, you’ll collaborate in interdisciplinary teams, apply your learning to a real-world challenge via an Innovation Challenge, and deliver a presentation to peers. If that intrigues you, you may register your interest in the program.

Why it stands out: You’ll explore medical innovation, genetics, and lab techniques while building university-level research skills.

13. JPMorgan Chase & Co. — School-Level Programs

Location: London (as well as other UK offices, e.g., Bournemouth, Glasgow, Edinburgh)
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid/ depends on program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; exact size not available
Dates: Varies
Application Deadline: Varies by location and intake
Eligibility: Students aged 14-16

If you apply to JPMorgan Chase’s school-level work-experience programs, you’ll get a short, structured exposure to one of the world’s leading financial firms. You’ll attend virtual workshops followed by a two-day in-person placement at their London office. You’ll join seminars, group exercises, and interactive sessions.

You’ll be introduced to various aspects of banking and financial services, from operations and technology to client services and corporate functions. Throughout the short stint, you’ll receive support from mentors and have a chance to network with professionals and other students. The program offers a taste of the consulting and finance world, and helps build your CV and interview skills.

Why it stands out: You’ll gain professional skills, mentorship, and insight into highly competitive career pathways like finance, technology, and business.

14. Premed Projects — London Hospital Work Experience

Location: London, UK
Cost/Stipend: £3,535
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 40 spaces per project
Dates: 2-week programs during the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 14 or older with an interest in medicine

If you join this two-week Premed Projects experience in London, you’ll take part in one of the most hands-on internships for high school students in London, with direct exposure to hospital environments and clinical settings. You’ll shadow doctors, observe ward rounds, participate in simulated ward rounds, radiology sessions, anatomy labs (including dissection room exposure), and on-call simulations.

Beyond the clinical exposure, you’ll also meet current medical students and doctors, gaining insight into multiple specialities and understanding what medical training and hospital life entail. Outside hospital hours, you’ll experience London with other students, building a support network. Upon completion, you receive a certificate and a personal reference, which can strengthen your applications to medical school.

Why it stands out: You will have access to top London hospitals and admissions tutors, helping you build a useful network and improve college applications simultaneously.

15. Imperial College Engineering Summer School

Imperial College London’s Engineering stream offers a two-week residential experience in central London. You’ll dive into workshops across disciplines such as aeronautical, civil, mechanical and materials engineering. You will conduct hands-on experiments, build prototypes and analyse data in teams under expert guidance.

You’ll join an Innovation Challenge, applying your learning to a real-world problem and presenting a solution. Living in student accommodation on campus lets you glimpse university life while engaging in social activities and exploring London.

Why it stands out: You’ll experience engineering design, coding, and problem-solving at a top-tier STEM university.

Life, Learning, and London

Experiencing work at this stage is about more than adding a line to your CV. It’s about understanding how learning connects to the world beyond school.

The internships for high school students in London featured in this article show how early exposure can build confidence, practical skills, and a clearer sense of direction. From labs to offices, these experiences help you see how ideas turn into real work.

Just as importantly, being immersed in London shapes personal growth. Navigating the city, meeting new people, and adapting to professional environments all contribute to independence and perspective.

If you’re curious about how daily life, culture, and surroundings shape these experiences, our Student Life and Cultural Immersion blogs explore what learning in global cities really feels like.