Practice Note Visa for interns and work placements

Posted on January 13, 2023

By Dominic Magne

We often receive generic enquiries from those at the late stages of their education, early stages of their career who would like to come to the United Kingdom to develop their potential and to hope for opportunities to come in future years

The Government Authorised Exchange Scheme may be an appropriate avenue for you to consider. This part of the Immigration Rules refers to those academics who have a research post in mind, or those who have identified a metier to which they wish to be apprenticed.

An overview of the visa requirements for the Government Authorised Exchange scheme can be found here: Government Authorised Exchange Scheme.

If you are attending a University, it is possible that their careers section would be able to guide you with existing schemes with partner Universities. This is particularly suitable for whose who are looking for Academic research posts.

The Government Authorised Exchange Scheme also encompasses those who are looking for internships and early stage career apprenticeship. This blog considers this latter category.

MAGNE & CO Solicitors undertook a short survey to assess what these schemes were. The results of the survey are so poor, that we have redefined the survey. The fruits of our researches have answered instead these two unsolicited questions:

The questions we should have asked where:

Do these schemes exist?
And can we know that these schemes exist?

In answer to the first question we can answer “No” to certain programmes relinquished through Brexit. For example the United Kingdom has pulled out of the Erasmus Scheme, yet it remains within the Immigration Rules, whilst it's replacement, the Turing Scheme is not mentioned.

For the second question, some schemes are accessible, whilst others if they exist are quite opaque. It is for you to find out. Ten of the Twenty Eight Schemes reviewed had informative websites.

You will need persistence vis a vis the moribund and the vacuum and the obfuscation. Expect misinformation. Websites will provide telephone numbers that are unanswered, or simply cut off. Mostly they will provide nothing at all. You may receive a standard acknowledgement or nothing more.

Below is a summary of searches and enquiries made between 5th and the 14th December 2022.

Do review the webpage: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-government-authorised-exchange-schemes.

Do note that some schemes are nationality specific.

Use your best crayons and good luck!

	Website	Comment	Next Step	Reply
AIESEC internships	https://aiesec.org/search?earliest_start_date=2022-12-5&programmes=8&home_mcs=1563	Informative Website Opportunities available clearly on line. Use filter
Bar Council	https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/becoming-a-barrister/students-and-graduates/immigration-support-for-mini-pupils.html	Informative Website e.g. Pegasus via Inner Temple only up to date website.
BAE Systems	https://www.baesystems.com/en/careers	No info on website	Wrote to on the 13^th December 2022	Your request has been resolved. Request Details: HRC0799239 - Graduates Enquiry Closure details: No further action
BNSC Satellite KHTT Programme	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-space-technology-programme-previously-funded-projects	No info Apparently withdrawn on the 10^th October 2022
British Council Tech Trainees	https://www.britishcouncil.org/study-work-abroad/in-uk	No info	Email enquiry of the 13^th December 2022	No substantive reply
BUNAC blue Card internships	https://bunac.org/internships-abroad/intern-in-britain/visas
	https://bunac.org/internships-abroad/intern-in-britain/finding-an-internship	Informative Website
Chatham House Fellowship	https://www.chathamhouse.org/leadership-academy	Informative Website	But email to confirm sent on the 13^th December 2022
Chevening and Marshall Fellowship programmes	https://www.chevening.org/scholarship/marshall-islands/	Informative Website
Defence Academy	https://www.da.mod.uk/study-with-us/colleges-and-schools	Nothing on website	Wrote to on 13^th December	“Thank you for reaching out to us. Unfortunately, we are unable to engage at this moment in time.”
Diplomatic Missions Scheme	fcdo.correspondence@fcdo.gov.uk	Nothing on website	Wrote on the 13th December	“ It is for the relevant sponsor of each scheme to identify suitable candidates that they wish to sponsor on the scheme. In the case of the Diplomatic Missions Interns Scheme, this will be the relevant diplomatic mission.”
Engineering work placement scheme	https://www.twinsummercentres.com/contact/thank-you	Nothing on website	Wrote on the 13^th December
Erasmus	https://erasmusplus.org.uk/key-changes-to-erasmus-from-2021.html?_ga=2.63918124.2092003948.1670938954-497378878.1670938954	Nothing on website
European voluntary service	British Council	Nothing on website.	Wrote on the 13^th December	The British council is also not involved in the European Volunteer Scheme. EVS is a program for young people between 18 and 30 years old. The program covers all the costs and provide you an unbelievable experience which allows you to improve your soft skills. Please use this link to find further information on the European volunteer scheme: https://europeanvoluntaryservice.org/
Finance Ministries and Central Banks schemes	https://www.hmtreasurycareers.co.uk/	Nothing on website.	Wrote on 13^th December	One of the enquiries team should be in touch to assist you in due course
Fragomen	https://www.fragomen.com/trending/fragomen-international-internship-scheme-temporary-worker-government-authorised-exchange-formerly-tier-5.html	Informative website
Foreign Language Assistants Programme	https://www.britishcouncil.org/study-work-abroad/in-uk/teach-language-uk	Informative Website
Glasgow Caledonian University International exchange programme	https://www.gcu.ac.uk/currentstudents/essentials/exchange-study-abroad/exchangepartners/europeanpartners	Website refers to various exchange schemes although unclear if apply to GAE	Wrote on 14^th December 2022
International Defence and Security Scheme (IDSS)	ADS website	No information	Wrote to on 13^th December 2022.
International Fire and Rescue Training Scheme	https://www.fireservicecollege.ac.uk/contact-us/	Nothing on website	Wrote to on 14^th December 2022
	https://www.capita.com/careers/contact-our-careers-team	Nothing on website	Wrote to on 14^th December 2022
International Horticulture Scheme	https://www.lantra.co.uk/what-people-say	Nothing on website	Wrote to on 14^th December 2022
International Internship Scheme	https://www.fragomen.com/careers/lawyers.html?s=27	No Immediate information on website	Wrote on 14^th December 2022
International Optometrists Scheme	https://www.college-optometrists.org/qualifying/international-pre-registration-trainees#nextsteps-d203a5c7	Anachronistic but useful information on website.
Law Society GAE scheme for migrant lawyers	https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/firm-accreditations/tier-5-gae-scheme	No information on how to apply under such a scheme on website.	Dm writes on the 6^th December
Medical Training Initiative	https://www.aomrc.org.uk/medical-training-initiative/mti-frequently-asked-questions-for-doctors/	Anachronistic but useful information on website.
Medical Training Initiative for Dentistry	https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/dental-faculties/fds/nacpde/overseas-qualified-dentists/tier-programmes/	Anachronistic but useful information on website.
Mountbatten Institute	https://www.mountbatten.org/london-programs/	Informative Website - internships demarcated
NPL Guest Worker and Secondment Scheme	https://www.npl.co.uk/careers/benefits	No information on website.	Dm writes on the 6^th December
Scottish Government Interchange Scheme	Could not find link
UK Research and Innovation – Science, Research and Academia	https://www.ukri.org/apply-for-funding/before-you-apply/check-if-you-are-eligible-for-research-and-innovation-funding/#contents-list	No information on website but reference is made to Global Talent visa	Dm writes on 6^th December	I have noted your comment about the fact that, at present, it is difficult for people to see which organisations are licenced under the UKRI Temporary Worker GAE scheme. To reassure you, we are looking into whether we are able to make this list publicly available.

Tags