Leicester University offers students paid internships

The University of Leicester wants its internship scheme
 to help students compete in a global jobs market

A leading university is offering up to 500 paid internships to undergraduates.

The University of Leicester says they will be available to students based in the UK or EU starting degree courses in 2014 and will last up to 12 weeks each.

The aim is to give students insight into what employers want from recruits and to compete in a global jobs market.

"Crucially we want our students to be able to adapt to the challenges they face when they leave", said career development manager Raj Patel.

The university says the scheme will be the first of its kind offered by any top-20 higher education institution in the UK.

All the internships will pay the equivalent of £12,000 to £16,000 a year pro rata, says the university.

Some will be within the university's own departments, others will be in the private sector.