You do not have to wait for graduation to get agency experience. You can get an internship while you are still studying, fitted around your classes, or start with a practical course that leads to one.
This guide is for students in the early or middle years of a degree or college course. It covers whether an internship is worth doing now, how to fit one around your studies, when a course is the better first step, and what to send, using our own careers page as the worked example.
Key Takeaways
- Starting early pays off. NACE found that among 2026 graduates who did a paid internship, 55% of those who applied for a job received at least one offer.
- An internship does not have to compete with your degree. Ours are paid, and student placements are built around your study schedule.
- If you have no work to show yet, a practical course is a sensible first step, and strong course performers can skip the interviews later.
- Send what you have. A small portfolio, a class project or a personal site is enough to start a conversation.
Is It Worth Doing an Internship While You Are Still Studying?
Yes, if it fits alongside your studies and gives you real work to do. Early experience gives you something to show employers long before you graduate.
The numbers point the same way. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reports that among 2026 graduates, “students who took part in a paid internship fared better: 55% of those who applied for a job received at least one job offer.”
NACE also gives a reason: “paid interns can be given real work”. That is the part to look for in any internship, whatever year you are in.
Can an Internship Fit Around Your Classes?
It can, if the employer plans for it. At our agency, student placements are built around your study schedule, so your degree comes first.
- Know your timetable before you apply. Our form asks when you are available from, so pick a start date that clears exams.
- Choose a length you can keep. You can ask for one, three or six months; a shorter first placement is fine.
- Say what you can commit to. An honest answer about your schedule helps us plan a placement that works for both sides.
Our roles are on-site, so you would work alongside the team in person. That is where much of the learning happens.
Internship or Course: Which Should You Start With?
It depends on whether you already have work to show. Our careers page offers both routes to current students.
| Route | Best if you | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Internship | already have a project, a portfolio or a site | paid, real agency work, a placement built around your studies |
| Course | are starting from scratch | flexible practical sessions around your schedule, no experience required |
The two routes connect. Top performers from our courses go to the front of the line: when the right position opens up, we reach out, with no interviews or tests required.
Which Internship Areas Can Students Apply For?
Students can apply for the same areas as everyone else. The internship part of our application lists seven:
- UI/UX Design
- Graphic Design
- WordPress Development
- AI‑assisted Development
- SEO & Content
- Business Development
- Sales
Pick the one closest to what you already enjoy doing. If you are not sure yet, a course lets you try an area before you commit to it.
What Should You Send If You Are Still Studying?
Send the work you have, even if it is small. Our internship application asks for a portfolio or website link, your most recent grade, when you can start, how long you want to stay, and a short “Why You?” answer.
- Class projects count. If you built it, designed it or wrote it, it belongs in your portfolio; say what your part was.
- A personal project counts too. A small site, a redesign of an app you use, or a blog you run shows initiative.
- Give your grade as your school gives it. The form accepts a percentage, CGPA, GPA, division or letter grade.
- Make “Why You?” specific. Name the area you chose and one thing you want to learn in it.
What If You Are Not Selected Yet?
Keep going and apply again. New positions and internship slots open regularly, and you are welcome to reapply, especially once you have updated your CV or learned new skills.
A term of study is a good gap. Finish a project, take a course, and your next application will have more to show.
Ready to Apply?
Start on our careers page and choose Internship or Course, then select “Still studying” as your stage. For how the rest of our hiring process works, read how to get hired at a digital agency.
FAQs
Can You Do an Internship in Your First Year?
Often, yes, if the placement fits around your studies. What matters more than your year is having some work to show and a schedule you can keep.
Are Internships for Students Paid?
It depends on the employer, so ask before you apply. Ours are paid positions with real agency work rather than observation.
Do You Need Experience to Start?
Not for a course: ours list no experience required. For an internship, a small portfolio or a class project is enough to show how you work.
