Internships

Kew offers three types of paid internships designed to offer practical work experience and training to undergraduates and recent graduates.

Successful applicants will work alongside experienced botanists, mycologists and conservation scientists to contribute to projects designed to achieve the goals set out in Kew's Science Strategy. This could include contributing to ongoing botanical research, policy or conservation activities, and many undertake an extended project.

They receive training in key research skills from our leading experts, so these placements offer valuable hands-on, professional experience. Interns also have access to our world-renowned collections of plant and fungal specimens, and our library and research facilities.  

Past internships have involved projects such as exploring the carpological collection in the herbarium, assessing mycorrhizas for ecosystem health across England, and studying the bees at Wakehurst.

If you are interested in pursuing an internship at Kew, please check the careers portal for advertisements.

Summer internships

Each year, we offer six 8-week internships for undergraduates with at least two years of university education, or graduates who have completed their degree within the last two years from the start date of the internship. This includes bachelor’s, master’s and integrated master’s degrees. Interns must be studying biological sciences, bioinformatics or a related subject to the project.

Summer internships are advertised in early spring every year and placements begin in June or July. Please keep an eye on our careers portal for details.

Science Project Internships

Throughout the year, we advertise science project internships. For this internship, the placement period varies from under six months (2 – 6 months) to over six months (7 – 12 months). 

For internships under six months, candidates are undergraduates with at least two years of university education, or graduates who have completed their degree within the past two years from the start date of the internship. This includes bachelor’s, master’s and integrated master’s degrees. These placements start at any time of the year.

For internships over six months, candidates are undergraduates either between their 2nd and 3rd or 3rd and 4th year of a bachelor's degree, or 3rd and 4th year of an integrated master’s degree. These placements can start at any time in the year, but always start in September if the placement is for 12 months and the intern will join the undergraduate sandwich students for any intern-related activities.

For either type of science project internship, you will be studying or will have studied biological sciences, bioinformatics or a related subject to the project. 

Science project internships are not advertised on a set schedule and there is not a specific number of placements available, like with the undergraduate sandwich and summer internships. Please keep an eye on our careers portal throughout the year for details.