An internship CV should be one page, in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Two pages is the outer limit, and only if you have substantial relevant experience. With no work experience, fill the page with modules, societies, part-time jobs, volunteering and projects, and write each one as what you did and what changed. Autumn is when many UK employers open applications for summer 2027 internships, so this is the moment to get the CV right.
What goes where on a UK internship CV
| Section | What goes in it | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Contact details | Name, email, phone, city, LinkedIn or portfolio link | 2 lines |
| Profile | Course, year, the internship you want and one specific strength | 3 lines |
| Education | Degree, university, expected grade or year, 3 to 5 relevant modules | 4 to 6 lines |
| Experience | Paid and unpaid roles, most recent first, 2 to 4 bullets each | Half the page |
| Projects | Coursework, dissertation, personal or society projects with an outcome | 3 to 5 lines |
| Skills and languages | Tools you can use on day one, languages with an honest level | 3 lines |
UK CV conventions compared with abroad
| UK | Germany | USA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo | Not expected | Standard | Not expected |
| Date of birth | Leave out | Often included | Leave out |
| Page length | 1 page for an internship | Up to 2 pages | 1 page |
| Name of the document | CV | Lebenslauf (CV) | Resume |
| Language | English | English or German, depending on the employer | English, US spelling |
More destinations are in the table further down this guide. Tailoring the format is one of the cheapest ways to look prepared, and it starts from a solid UK master version.
What to put on your CV with no experience
- Modules: pick three to five that match the internship and name one piece of coursework with an outcome, such as a dissertation, group project or presentation.
- Societies: committee roles count. Say what you organised, how many people were involved and what happened.
- Part-time and seasonal work: a retail or hospitality job shows reliability, teamwork and dealing with people. Give numbers where you honestly have them.
- Volunteering and projects: a blog, a small app, a fundraiser or a tutoring role all show initiative.
Before and after: turning duties into evidence
These examples are illustrative. Swap in your own real numbers and never invent them.
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| Worked in a cafe at weekends. | Served customers in a busy weekend cafe, handled cash and card payments and trained two new starters. |
| Treasurer of the marketing society. | Managed the society budget, tracked spending in a spreadsheet and reported to the committee each term. |
| Studied data analysis. | Analysed a survey dataset in Excel for a group project and presented three findings to the class. |
The pattern is action, what you did it with, and what came of it. If you want to see how a finished profile reads, look at an example profile and read how your profile works. The free internship toolkit covers what to prepare before you apply.
Turing Scheme and law applications
If you are applying for a placement abroad, funding routes sit alongside the CV. The Turing Scheme is applied for by your university, not by you, so read our Turing Scheme guide for UK students and ask your international office. For legal roles, see law internships abroad, where the CV expectations are different again.
Adapting the CV for an internship abroad
The rest of this guide covers destinations such as Berlin, Barcelona and Bali, plus what international employers look for.
You have found the perfect internship abroad. The company looks great, the destination is exactly what you wanted, and you are ready to apply. Then you realise you only have the CV you built for UK graduate schemes, and you are not sure whether it works for an employer in Barcelona, Berlin, or Bali.
It probably does not. CV expectations vary significantly between countries, and what impresses a London recruiter can fall flat with an international hiring manager. The good news is that adapting your CV for an internship abroad is straightforward once you know what to change.
This guide covers everything UK students need to know about writing an internship CV for abroad: country-specific formats, what international employers actually look for, the sections that matter most, and the mistakes that get applications rejected.
Why Your UK CV Needs Adapting
A standard UK CV follows a fairly predictable template: one to two pages, no photo, personal statement at the top, reverse-chronological education and experience, and references available on request. That format works well in the UK. In many other countries, it does not.
The differences go deeper than formatting. Different countries have different expectations around length, personal information, photos, and even the order of sections. Here are the key variations you need to know:
- Length: The US and Australia expect a one-page resume for interns. Germany and the Netherlands are comfortable with two pages. Some Asian markets expect even more detail.
- Photos: In Germany, Spain, France, and Austria, a professional headshot on your CV is standard and expected. In the UK, US, and Australia, it is actively discouraged.
- Personal information: German CVs often include date of birth and nationality. UK and US CVs leave these out entirely.
- Terminology: A "CV" in the UK is called a "resume" in the US and Canada. What you call "A-levels," an international employer may not recognise at all.
Sending a UK-formatted CV to a German employer signals that you have not done your research. Adapting your format to the destination shows cultural awareness before you even start the role.
What International Employers Actually Want
When companies hire international interns, they are not looking for the same things as a UK graduate scheme. Your degree classification and UCAS points matter far less than you think. Here is what actually moves the needle:
- Transferable skills over grades: International employers want to see what you can do, not just what you studied. Project management, communication, problem-solving, and digital literacy are more valuable than a 2:1 from a Russell Group university when you are applying to a startup in Lisbon.
- Adaptability and initiative: The fact that you are applying abroad already signals something. Reinforce it. Mention any experience living, travelling, or working in unfamiliar environments. Show that you can handle ambiguity and figure things out independently.
- Language skills: Even basic proficiency in the local language is a strong signal. If you speak any languages beyond English, list them with your honest proficiency level. It shows effort and cultural curiosity.
- Cultural awareness: Reference why you want to work in that specific country or city. A generic "I want international experience" is forgettable. "I want to work in Berlin because its startup ecosystem leads Europe in data-driven marketing" tells the employer you understand their context.
The single biggest differentiator is specificity. Students who tailor their CV and cover letter to the destination and company stand out against those who send the same application everywhere.
The Essential Sections
Every internship CV for abroad should include these sections, adapted to the norms of your target country:
Personal Statement (3 to 4 lines)
Open with a brief summary of who you are, what you are studying, what kind of internship you are looking for, and why you want to do it in that specific country. Keep it tight and specific. Avoid vague phrases like "passionate team player" or "motivated self-starter." Instead, state what you bring: "Final-year marketing student with hands-on experience in social media management, looking for a content marketing internship in Barcelona to build campaign skills in a multilingual startup environment."
Education
List your degree, university, and expected graduation date. If your course is not widely known outside the UK, add a one-line description of what it covers. Include relevant modules only if they relate directly to the internship. Leave out GCSE results unless you have very little other content to fill the page.
Experience
Include any work experience, part-time jobs, volunteering, or university society roles. Focus on what you did and what the result was, not just the job title. "Managed Instagram account for university society, growing followers from 200 to 1,400 in one academic year" is far stronger than "Social media responsibilities."
Skills
List technical skills (software, tools, platforms) and soft skills separately. Be specific: "Google Analytics, Canva, Mailchimp, basic HTML" tells the employer exactly what you can use on day one.
Languages
Always include a languages section, even if you only speak English. Use the Common European Framework (A1 to C2) or clear descriptions like "conversational," "working proficiency," or "native." International employers scan for this section first.
Interests
This section is more important for international applications than domestic ones. Interests that show travel experience, cultural engagement, or independent projects help build the picture of someone who thrives outside their comfort zone. Leave out generic hobbies like "reading" or "socialising."
What to Leave Out
- Your full home address (city and country is enough)
- "References available on request" (it wastes space and is assumed)
- UK-specific acronyms without explanation (UCAS, AAB, Russell Group)
- An objective statement that could apply to any job in any country
CV Tips by Destination
Here is a quick reference for how CV norms differ across the most popular internship destinations:
| Destination | Length | Photo | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bali | 1 page | Optional | Portfolio links matter more than formal CV for creative roles |
| Barcelona | 1 to 2 pages | Yes | Include photo, mention Spanish language level even if basic |
| Berlin | 2 pages | Yes | German employers expect structured detail, include date of birth |
| Amsterdam | 1 to 2 pages | Optional | Concise and skills-focused, English is fine for most companies |
| Lisbon | 1 to 2 pages | Yes | Include photo, mention Portuguese even at beginner level |
| New York | 1 page | No | Call it a "resume," use US spelling, keep it strictly one page |
| Tokyo | 1 to 2 pages | Yes | Formal tone, mention any Japanese language study, respect hierarchy |
| Cape Town | 1 to 2 pages | Optional | Similar to UK format, highlight volunteering and community experience |
Create a master CV with all your experience, then build destination-specific versions from it. This saves time and ensures you do not forget key details when tailoring for different countries.
The Profile Alternative
A static CV has limitations that become more obvious when you are applying internationally. It cannot show your personality, demonstrate your work, or adapt to what each employer values most. That is why we built the profile.
Your profile is a live page that shows who you are as a candidate. Instead of a flat document, international employers see your skills, experience and what you are looking for. It is built specifically for international internship applications, and you get your own link to send with every application.
Companies browsing the list can find your profile, which means it works for you even when you are not actively applying.
You can still send a traditional CV alongside your profile. But for students applying to internships abroad, an interactive profile that shows who you are beyond a single page of text is a genuine advantage. Create your free profile here.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
These are the errors that most often hold back applications from UK students:
- UK-centric language: Terms like "A-levels," "2:1," "Russell Group," and "personal tutor" mean nothing to most international employers. Translate your achievements into universally understood terms. Instead of "Achieved a 2:1," write "Graduated with upper second-class honours (GPA equivalent: 3.3/4.0)."
- No international context: If your CV reads like you have never left the UK, that is a red flag for an employer who needs someone adaptable. Include travel experience, language study, exchange programmes, international society involvement, or any cross-cultural experience you have.
- Generic cover letter: "Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to apply for an internship at your company" is the fastest way to get rejected. Name the company, name the city, and explain why you want to work there specifically. Show that you have researched the role and the destination.
- Wrong format for the country: Sending a two-page CV with no photo to a German employer, or a CV with a photo to a US company, signals that you have not done basic research. Match the format to the destination.
- Ignoring the language section: Even if you only speak English, include a languages section. It shows awareness that language matters internationally. And if you have any other language skills at all, even basic level, include them.
- No portfolio or links: For creative, marketing, and tech roles, international employers expect to see your work. Include links to your portfolio, LinkedIn, GitHub, or any relevant project pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I include a photo on my internship CV for abroad?
It depends on the country. In Germany, Austria, Spain, France, and most of Southern Europe, including a professional headshot on your CV is standard practice and expected by employers. In the UK, US, Canada, and Australia, photos are not expected and can even work against you due to anti-discrimination hiring practices. If you are applying to multiple countries, prepare two versions of your CV: one with a photo and one without.
How long should my internship CV be for an international application?
For most English-speaking countries like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, keep your CV to one page. In Germany and much of continental Europe, two pages are acceptable and often preferred because employers expect more detail on education, skills, and personal interests. As a student or recent graduate, one well-structured page is usually enough for any destination. Only go to two pages if you have substantial relevant experience or the country norm clearly calls for it.
Do I need to translate my CV into the local language?
Not always, but it helps in certain markets. If you are applying to international companies or startups in destinations like Amsterdam, Berlin, or Bali, an English CV is perfectly fine. For placements in Spain, France, Italy, or Latin America where the company operates primarily in the local language, submitting a translated version shows effort and cultural awareness. If you speak the language at a working level, submit both an English and a local-language version.
What is the biggest mistake UK students make on their internship CV for abroad?
The biggest mistake is sending the exact same CV you would use for a UK graduate scheme. International employers are looking for adaptability, cultural awareness, and transferable skills, not just your degree classification and UCAS points. Other common errors include using UK-specific terminology that does not translate well internationally, failing to mention language skills, and writing a generic cover letter that does not reference the destination or company. Tailoring your CV to each country and employer is what separates successful applications from rejected ones.
How long should an internship CV be, and what goes on it if I have no work experience?
Keep an internship CV to one page, in reverse chronological order with the most recent entry first. With no work experience, build the page from your degree modules, university societies, part-time or seasonal jobs, volunteering and personal projects, and describe each in terms of what you did and what changed because of it.
What order should the sections of a UK internship CV go in?
A common order is contact details, a three-line profile, education, experience, projects, skills and languages. Put education first if your degree is your strongest asset and experience first if you have relevant work. Leave out a photo, date of birth and full home address for UK applications.
How do I adapt a UK internship CV for a placement abroad?
Keep the UK one-page version as your master, then check the destination's norms for photo, personal details, page length and language. Explain UK qualifications in terms an employer abroad understands, list your languages with an honest level, and say why you want that country. If a Turing Scheme route is available, it is applied for by your university, so ask your placement or international office rather than applying yourself.
Related Guides
- Turing Scheme for UK students: how funding for placements abroad works
- Marketing internships abroad: top destinations for UK students with strong CVs
- Hospitality internships abroad: sectors and destinations for UK students
- Summer internships in Europe 2026: Barcelona, Berlin, Lisbon compared
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