BUIP: internships devoted to Birmingham undergraduates

Sarah, BUIP intern in Careers Network, summer 2017

This title states the obvious – after all, BUIP stands for Birmingham Undergraduate Internship Programme – but the name highlights why this internship scheme offers more than those in other organisations. As you are probably aware, it can be difficult to get meaningful work experience as an undergraduate: from my perspective as a College of Arts and Law student, we hear of the large, prestigious companies that are highly competitive and sometimes inaccessible due to their location (like London) or their unpaid placements. The BUIP programme on the other hand is open to non-final year undergraduates only, including first years like me, and you work on campus over the summer. The main attraction though is having responsibility over your own project. Far from the status of student being held against you, instead you are valued for your work and insight. It is a paid internship where you are treated as a colleague rather than an extra. I have really appreciated the supportive environment and the many benefits of doing an internship at the university rather than externally.

BUIP Internship – Student Policy Communications Project Co-ordinator.

By Bukky Oluyole, BUIP Intern

By donald judge [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons

I had heard about the Birmingham University Internship Programme since my first year. I applied for some roles in my first year, but I didn’t get through. I knew my applications weren’t as strong now that I look back. Having spent an exchange year in Chicago, I knew I had to come back and spend my summer doing some sort of work experience/internship. I awaited the opening of BUIP and applied to five roles, I got invited to three interviews and I finally landed the role of Student Policy Communications Project Co-ordinator. To be quite honest, I didn’t think much into my expectations of the role, I was just excited to have finally landed an internship and I was certain that no matter what I did, it would improve my employability skills in some shape or manner.

Case Study: Gaining Work Experience During Term Time

By Wei Wei Ruan, student worker at Worklink

How important is work to you when you are studying and why?

Working during my degree is quite important for me because of several reasons. In the first place, it should be mentioned that it has helped me to organize my time, so since I started working while I am studying, I have had to coordinate my time between my studies and my work. As a consequence, I have learnt how to take advantage of the time and not wasting it. Secondly, I have become more mature and independent, as it has let me know what working means and how hard is making a living. Therefore, now I know how to control my money and be more comprehensive with my parents. Finally, during my work I have met new friends with whom I have learnt how to work in groups and the importance of communication, which is essential for any jobs. I have to mention as well, that I have improved my language skill thanks to the work, as I come from Spain and one of my purposes to come here is to improve my English.