Paris
Finance, fashion, luxury, and culture — two hours from London by Eurostar.
Paris is Europe's second business capital. LVMH, BNP Paribas, L'Oréal, Total, AXA — the world's leading luxury, finance, and energy companies are based here. Post-Brexit, the visa process is real but manageable. The professional opportunity is genuinely world-class.
Interning in Paris: The Honest Guide for UK Students
Why Paris for a UK student?
The proximity is the obvious answer — Paris is a 2-hour Eurostar ride from London. But the real reason is the companies. Paris is home to some of the world's most iconic brands and financial institutions. LVMH (Louis Vuitton, Dior, Givenchy), L'Oréal, BNP Paribas, AXA, Total Energies, and Renault are all headquartered here. The city is Europe's second financial centre and the unquestioned global capital of luxury and fashion.
For UK students interested in finance, luxury, fashion, or consulting, Paris offers access to institutions that simply don't exist in the same form anywhere else. French language skills open these doors further. A Paris internship on your CV signals European ambition in a way that Barcelona or Amsterdam can't quite match.
What you should know honestly
- Post-Brexit visa is required. UK citizens can visit France for up to 90 days, but this does not authorise any form of work — even unpaid internships. You need a convention de stage (internship agreement registered with French authorities) or a work permit. The process takes 4-8 weeks through the French consulate in London. We handle the documentation.
- French matters more than in other European cities. Paris is less accommodating of English-only speakers than Berlin or Amsterdam. International companies operate in English, but local businesses, NGOs, and most fashion brands require working French. We recommend at least A2 before you go. We won't place you in a role that requires more than you have.
- Accommodation is expensive and rooms are small. Paris has some of the smallest apartments in Europe. A chambrè de bonne (converted maid's room) is the classic small room on an upper floor — often 12-18m² for £600-800/month. Shared flats are better value but competitive to find. Start looking 8 weeks in advance.
- Many fashion and luxury internships are unpaid. The glamour of LVMH doesn't come with a salary — most fashion internships are unpaid or minimal-stipend placements. Budget accordingly. Paid opportunities exist in finance, consulting, and tech.
- Your GHIC covers emergency state healthcare. France has good public healthcare. Your GHIC (replaced EHIC post-Brexit) still provides access to state healthcare in France at local rates. Supplement with private insurance for comprehensive cover and repatriation.
What You Can Do in Paris
Finance & Banking
BNP Paribas, Société Générale, AXA, Crédit Agricole. Investment banking, asset management, insurance, fintech startups in Paris's growing La Défense and Marais financial districts.
Luxury & Fashion
LVMH, Kering, Chanel, Hermès, L'Oréal. The world's luxury capital. Communications, design, marketing, supply chain, and retail operations roles. Most are unpaid — they're CV builders.
Consulting
McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Roland Berger, Capgemini all have significant Paris presences. Strategy and management consulting with European client portfolios. Strong French required for most roles.
Tech & Startups
Station F (world's largest startup campus), BlaBlaCar, Doctolib, Criteo. Paris's tech scene has exploded. Many companies operate in English, making it accessible without advanced French.
Food & Hospitality
From Michelin-starred kitchens to boutique hotels and international restaurant groups. Paris is the world's culinary capital — a unique context for hospitality experience.
International Organisations
OECD, UNESCO, and various NGOs are Paris-based. Policy, research, communications, and programme coordination roles. English working environment, competitive application.
Real Monthly Costs for UK Students
Visa, Language & What to Expect
Since 1 January 2021, UK citizens are no longer EU members and cannot freely work in France. For a Paris internship you need one of:
Convention de stage (most common for unpaid internships): A three-way agreement between you, your UK university, and the French host company. Registers the internship with French social security authorities. Allows you to be in France and work legally as an intern. Applicable to placements up to 6 months. Our team prepares all documentation.
For stays over 90 days or paid internships: A long-stay visa (visa de long séjour, VLS-TS) is required. Applied for through the French consulate in London. Process takes 4-8 weeks. Requires proof of accommodation, financial means, insurance, and the internship agreement.
For stays under 90 days: You can visit France without a visa, but the tourist waiver does not permit work of any kind, including unpaid internships. Don't risk it — we ensure everything is documented properly.
Paris is the European city where language matters most for UK interns. Here's the honest breakdown:
International companies (consulting, tech, finance): Working language is primarily English. You'll manage fine with no French. However, French for social situations, coffee, and navigating the city is helpful and appreciated.
French-headquartered companies (LVMH, BNP, AXA): Internal culture may be French. Teams often switch between languages. B1 French gives you access to far more of the company's culture and networking opportunities.
Local businesses, fashion, NGOs: Working French is generally required. These are not accessible without language ability.
Daily life: Paris is far more manageable in English than its reputation suggests. Younger Parisians are generally helpful. Learning basic French (merci, bonjour, excusez-moi, une baguette s'il vous plaît) genuinely changes how locals interact with you.
See our language learning guide for recommendations. Alliance Française, Coffee Break French podcast, and online tutoring via iTalki are our top picks for getting to A2 before you go.
Eurostar: London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord in 2h15. Standard fares from £39 return if booked early and off-peak. Flexible fares can reach £200+. For a Paris internship, Eurostar is the most comfortable and practical option — no airport faff, city-centre to city-centre, no liquid restrictions. Book early.
Budget flights: easyJet, Ryanair, and Transavia fly London airports to Paris Orly and CDG from £25-60 return. The airport-to-city journey adds 45-90 minutes each way, so the time saving over Eurostar is minimal. Useful for last-minute bookings when Eurostar is expensive.
Visiting family back in the UK: The short distance means you can realistically go home for a long weekend occasionally — which many Paris interns appreciate, especially for longer placements.
Paris is an eligible Turing Scheme destination and a popular one — European placements tend to get approved more smoothly than more distant destinations. The scheme covers travel costs and a monthly living allowance (typically £150-450/month depending on your university and circumstances). Students from disadvantaged backgrounds receive additional top-ups. Apply through your university's international or placement office — not directly. We provide all documentation needed. See our scholarships guide for the full picture.
What UK Students Say About Paris
I interned at BNP Paribas in La Défense. The French I had was limited (A2) and the team was very patient. The work was genuinely interesting — real projects on sustainable finance. The Eurostar home for Christmas was a bonus I didn't expect to appreciate as much as I did.
The accommodation search was genuinely stressful — Paris rooms are tiny and expensive. Start earlier than you think. But once I found my flat in the 11th, it was brilliant. The Navigo pass is absurdly good value compared to London. And picnics on the Seine are free.
Fashion internship at a mid-size brand in the Marais. Unpaid, which I knew going in. But the skills and portfolio material were exceptional. My French improved from A2 to B1 in 6 months just through daily work and life. Worth every penny I spent getting there.
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