Given that these internships covered nothing more than lunch and travel expenses, if it hadn't been for the fact that my parents live within commuting distance of London and that I still had the vestiges of my student overdraft available, neither of these opportunities would have been possible.
A further challenge is getting paid, which remains a controversial issue as there's no guarantee that an internship will cover more than lunch expenses.
Paid internships can cover some costs, and graduates' earnings may justify taking on debt for tuition and expenses, the CGS survey suggests.
Many undergraduates do not think twice about accepting an internship that barely covers their expenses.
Overall though, use social media to find opportunities, sign up to recruitment agencies (but be wary of any that charge you for their help or push for unpaid internships), and send speculative cover letters to companies you find interesting.
All the while, my bank balance keeps shrinking and I have to turn away from volunteering opportunities or internships which would barely cover my cost of living, let alone the debt I'm starting to acquire.
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