More than half of students and graduates have seen workplace discrimination, and the majority would undertake unpaid internships even though they think they are unfair, recent surveys have shown.

Research from graduate jobs board Milkround shows that 37% of students have been discriminated against due to age or ethnicity, with 52% saying they had seen colleagues discriminated against.

The research showed that nearly males were most likely to be discriminated against on the grounds of ethnicity and females on the grounds of age.

Retail and banking financial services were the two worst industries for discrimination, according to respondents.

The survey also reveals that 69% were more likely to apply to a firm with a clear equal opportunities policy.

A second survey by graduate recruitment website WikiJob.co.uk reveals that 75% of the website’s users believe employers should be forced by law to pay interns, with nearly half of respondents having participated in an unpaid internship in the last six months.

Nonetheless, 58% of respondents said that they would still take an internship even if it was unpaid, with three-quarters believing it is essential for their graduate career.

However, while the world of work may seem an ever more daunting place for young people, skills matching website Skills-Hive.com suggests freelancing while at university could be the key to enhancing employability.

The company’s managing director or ‘King Bee’, Mike Orchard, says: “Students don’t want to be taken advantage of and want to work in areas where they will be appreciated, have control and be able to build on their skills in preparation for graduation.”