Hi! I’m Aaliya, a placement student working at the University of Reading. I’m here to share with you one of the schemes at Reading that aims to make studying at university as inclusive as possible and help you gain skills that will help you through your future career. 

The Reading Internship Scheme (RIS) offers undergraduate students the opportunity to take part in a 4 – 8 week internship with professionals. The scheme aims to support students in building meaningful business skills and developing their employability and transferrable skills. RIS uses its funds to contribute towards interns’ salaries, meaning students can undertake paid, meaningful work experiences. 

Gaining experience before graduating from university can provide valuable insight into your future career goals. While some may aspire to a traditional office job with a 9-5 schedule, others may prefer working in a laboratory and analysing data. Pursuing internships not only helps you gain valuable experience but also shows future employers your motivation and dedication to your chosen field. 

Since 2021, we have seen an increase in engagement in the course, which was affected by COVID limitations. In 2021/2022 98 students received internship placements. From a survey conducted before and after the internship, we have seen increases in confidence in the workplace as well as an increase in their knowledge of their chosen industry. One student from the 2020/2021 cohort commented on this:  

“Now that I have just graduated, I was worried about being able to secure a full-time job but the positive comments on my work from supervisors and others I met on the internship has boosted my confidence for the future.” 

In 2022, 33.3% of students (11 out of 33) who completed the ‘After Survey’ have reported that they’ve been offered further employment after their RIS internship and 100% of students would recommend the scheme to other students.  

Read the full report: Reading Internship Scheme reflection August 2023 (PDF, 0.8 MB)