Unpaid internships: opportunities for the privileged, exploitation for the rest

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University and student life is full of opportunities for a wealthy few, with unpaid internships serving as one of the most glaringly obvious examples. Under UK law, employers are not required to pay the minimum wage to interns for an internship that lasts for less than one year. This represents sandwich courses that many Exeter students take, as well as summer internships.

Unpaid internships have been touted as crucial stepping stones for students seeking to launch their careers. However, beneath this image of opportunity lies a troubling reality: these internships often serve as exclusive gateways to career advancement, disproportionately benefiting a small, privileged group of individuals who can afford to work without financial compensation.

This creates a cycle of inequality, leaving many talented and capable individuals from less affluent backgrounds unable to access the same opportunities, further entrenching the socioeconomic divide.

For those with the financial means to support months of unpaid work, internships provide invaluable benefits: experience in the field, networking with key professionals, and a prestigious addition to their CVs.

“Unpaid internships perpetuate inequality by ensuring that the most prestigious roles are filled by those who can afford to forgo a pay check.”

These advantages give privileged students a head start in highly competitive job markets, particularly in industries like media, fashion, law, and the arts, where unpaid internships are the norm rather than the exception.

However, for students from less fortunate backgrounds, the situation is vastly different.

Many cannot afford to take on unpaid positions, as they have living expenses or family obligations that prevent them from working for free. Without family support, they are forced to juggle part-time jobs that are often unrelated to their field of study, losing the chance to compete on a level playing field with their more affluent peers.

The impact of this imbalance is profound. Unpaid internships perpetuate inequality by ensuring that the most prestigious roles are filled by those who can afford to forgo a paycheck. In doing so, they reinforce a system where access to career-building opportunities is determined by financial privilege, rather than merit or potential.

Unpaid internships therefore continue to be a tool of exclusion, offering a fast track to career success for a fortunate few, while leaving many others behind, locked out of the opportunities they deserve.