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Looking for a paid summer internship? Summer internships are a great way to develop your experience, earn money, and boost your confidence. What’s better – Career Lab have just launched their two summer internship programmes! 

UK Summer Internships are exclusive to Sussex students, with over 100 vacancies in sectors including charities, local government, PR, marketing, tech, arts, and more. Meanwhile, Online Global Summer Internships are an opportunity to work remotely with organisations in 195 countries, in your sector of interest. 

We recently caught up with Darya (Computer Science BSc) about their summer internship experience at travel tech company, Oliver’s Travels: 

Hi Darya! Why did you apply for a Career Lab summer internship? 

I wanted to gain hands-on experience in a real-world tech environment, contribute to meaningful projects, and apply my academic knowledge to practical challenges in a fast-paced company. Oliver’s Travels stood out as a dynamic and innovative organisation where I knew I could learn a lot and grow professionally. 

What was the experience of applying for an internship like? Can you share any tips for this year’s students? 

The application process was straightforward — I submitted a form through CareerHub via Career Lab and then completed an interview. My advice would be to show genuine curiosity, be consistent in your work and communication, and stay open to learning throughout the internship. If you put in the effort and show up consistently, it can even lead to a longer-term role, that’s exactly what happened in my case. 

What skills did you develop through your internship, and how will you take those skills forward? 

This experience has helped me build confidence in working on real-world projects, communicating within a professional team, and applying my technical skills beyond the classroom. I’ve developed better problem-solving, time management, and collaboration skills. 

We also spoke to Adithi, Project Manager at Oliver’s Travels. Here’s what Adithi had to say about the experience of hosting Career Lab summer interns: 

Hi Adithi! What have been your highlights of working with summer interns? 

Working with Sussex students has been a really rewarding experience. They brought fresh perspectives, enthusiasm, and a strong willingness to learn, which added real value to the projects they were involved in. I particularly appreciated their creativity in approaching challenges and their adaptability in working within a professional environment. 

Highlights: 

Overall, it was great to see their academic knowledge being applied in a real-world context, and their contributions genuinely helped move our work forward. 

From an employer’s perspective, what makes a good internship application? 

For us at Oliver’s Travels, a strong application is one that goes beyond simply listing skills – it shows how those skills have been applied in real situations. 

Clear motivation and curiosity – applications that stand out explain why the student is interested in working in travel tech, and how they see themselves contributing to projects like booking journeys, website localisation, or new feature builds. 

Communication and presentation – a concise, well-structured CV or cover note that links their skills to our kind of work makes a big difference. 

What would you say to a student considering applying for a summer internship? 

I’d tell students not to hold back — work experience is one of the best ways to figure out where you want to take your career. When I first started out, I realised quickly that you don’t need to know everything on day one; what makes the difference is curiosity and a willingness to get stuck in. 

At Oliver’s Travels, we’ve seen how much students can grow in just a few weeks — gaining confidence, building new skills, and contributing real value to projects. Even if you’re unsure, it’s worth taking that step because you’ll either discover something you love, or you’ll learn what direction isn’t right for you. 

My biggest piece of advice would be: don’t wait until you feel 100% ready. Most people never do. Apply for opportunities, ask questions, and be open to learning as you go – that’s how real growth happens. 

Apply for a Career Lab Summer Internship 

Applications are open now for the Career Lab UK Summer Internship and Online Global Summer Internship programmes. Click on the programme links to find out more and apply. 

These programmes are open to second, third or final year undergraduates. You can only take one internship (UK or Online Global) per summer. Early applications are advised. 

About Career Lab 

Career Lab is a programme open to all Sussex taught students. It is a series of opportunities designed to develop your skills, experience, connections and confidence throughout your time at Sussex. 
Career Lab programmes take place primarily in the Spring term. Find out more about when programmes will be advertised and take place.