The SME Internship Fund supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to engage Imperial students and graduates in paid, project-based summer internships.

The scheme offers businesses a fantastic opportunity to tap into Imperial’s diverse talent pool, bringing fresh skills, ideas and perspectives from some of the brightest STEMB minds in the UK.

  • All internships must offer a minimum 160 hours of graduate-level work.
  • Roles may be offered on a full or part-time basis over a period of 4-8 weeks.
  • Eligible SMEs receive a one-off £1,000 contribution towards the intern's salary costs, based on interns being paid at least the Real London Living Wage (2026 rate).

Please find a full overview of the eligibility criteria in the tabs below.

Funding update

All funding for summer 2025 has now been fully allocated. Details of the next round of funding will be confirmed in early 2026. Please note that future funding is not always guaranteed. If you would like to kept up to date, please complete our Expression of Interest Form.

For queries about the fund, please contact the Placement and Internship Unit at internship.unit@imperial.ac.uk.

SME Internship Fund Tabs

How does it work?

1. Project Registration

All interested businesses must complete a Project Registration Form (available from early Spring). Submitted forms will be reviewed by a selection panel against the scheme criteria and available funding will be allocated on a rolling basis until the advertised deadline.

2. Project Scoping

If selected for funding, we support you in shaping the project and finalising an attractive and engaging job description.

3. Advertising

Roles are promoted on Imperial’s JobsLive platform for at least two weeks and widely advertised to eligible students and graduates via Imperial's internal marketing channels.

4. Shortlisting 

Applications are shortlisted by us following the advertised deadline in line with your job criteria, or you can opt to review all applications yourself.

5. Interviews

You arrange interviews directly and select your preferred candidate(s), informing the Placement and Internship Unit of the outcome. It is expected that you provide feedback to any unsuccessful interviewees.

6. Funding Agreements

Once details are confirmed with the student, we issue a Funding Agreement outlining the terms of the fund. Please note; this is not an employment contract. Full details of the internship should be confirmed between the intern and the company in a separate agreement.

7.  Invoicing

SMEs pay interns their agreed salary directly and then claim the fund contribution via invoice, usually before the end of July.

How will I benefit?

Hosting an intern through the SME Internship Fund offers businesses a unique opportunity to access top talent, drive innovation, and build valuable connections with Imperial College London. Whether you’re looking for fresh insights, additional project support, or a pipeline for future hires, participating in the Fund delivers a range of benefits:

  • Access high-calibre STEMB talent from Imperial College London.
  • Gain fresh perspectives and innovative ideas.
  • Secure cost-effective, short-term project support with a salary contribution
  • Build a strong talent pipeline and assess potential future hires.
  • Enhance your organisation’s visibility and strengthen links with Imperial.
  • Demonstrate commitment to diversity and social responsibility.
  • Leverage student insights to refine graduate attraction strategies.
  • Receive end-to-end recruitment and admin support from Imperial Careers Service.
Eligibility criteria

In order to be eligible, your organisation must be:

  • Registered and based in the UK
  • SME (250 employees or less)
  • Annual turnover of less than £1 million

If you are a member business or charity based in Scale Space or I-HUB on the White City campus, please visit the Imperial College London White City Internship Fund page for alternative support. 

In order to be eligible, the project must be:

  • A minimum of 160 hours of work
  • A minimum duration of 4 weeks
  • Delivered outside of Imperial Academic Term dates
  • Paid London Living Wage or higher
  • Offered to an Imperial student or graduate
  • Suitable for STEM and Business School disciplines
  • Able to provide challenging graduate-level experience to penultimate years, finalists or recent graduates of Imperial College London.