The Intern Abroad Experience
Want to go abroad? Learn about and experience the excitement of another country? Get the kind of international work experience that’s increasingly prized in today’s global economy? The Washington Center offers spring, summer and fall programs in London: Europe’s largest city, a business, financial and cultural center; and a major global crossroads.
The Intern Abroad program is structured much the same as The Washington Center’s D.C.-based programs, but with some differences to help you make the most of your time overseas. To create a solid foundation for your international experience, you’ll first attend a 10-day academic seminar in Washington, D.C. Once you’re abroad, you’ll complete the necessary coursework and attend weekly meetings of the Learning Through Internships workshop series. All students participate in the same program. Students interning abroad gain academic credit from their home institutions, just as they would in D.C.
Included in Each Program
- 10-day pre-departure seminar in Washington, D.C.
- 2½-day-a-week tailored internship
- Academic courses
- Programming that encompasses site visits, guest speakers, events, group travel and more
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The Internship
Working in a Different Culture Offers Immeasurable Life-Long Value
Understanding the people and cultures of different countries is no longer considered just an advantage; it is a necessity. When you intern abroad, you will be working in organizations that will give you a first-hand understanding of global interconnections. You will also gain insight into how people in other countries approach the challenges that they face in their societies.
You will become attuned to small cultural differences so that you can better understand and easily adapt to a variety of circumstances and environments throughout your life and career. After your internship in London, you will come away with a wealth of cultural, interpersonal and business know-how that is difficult to gain in any other way. These multicultural skills will be an asset to you throughout your career.
Undertaking an internship abroad with The Washington Center will help you deepen your understanding of the world and, especially, make you a more attractive candidate for work at international organizations and multinational businesses.
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Sample Internship Sites
Sample Internship Sites
* Please note that The Washington Center cannot guarantee the availability of any particular placement.
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The Placement Process
The Intern Abroad placement process differs from that of our programs in Washington, D.C. Once you have committed to the program, your application materials will be sent to the internship placement team abroad.
Your application will then be reviewed to determine which internship might be the best fit for you. Your Statement of Professional Interest will be of particular importance at this stage of the process.
Placement information will be provided during the seminar in Washington, D.C. Though some students may have phone interviews before the seminar begins, this is rare. The placements in London are not paid positions, as the student visa that you must obtain in order to participate in the program prohibits students from working for wages.
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The Academic Course
Internships at The Washington Center are highly academic and the Intern Abroad programs are no exception. All students traveling to London will participate in the same academic course; however, as with all of TWC’s programs, there will be ample time to expand your learning opportunities using the resources around you.
The Academic CoursesLondon and Britain - An Interdisciplinary ExplorationExamine the society, government and politics of contemporary Britain, up to and including the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition led under Prime Minister David Cameron. Classes, held three hours each week, include lecture and discussion, with breaks for group discussion and work.
Special Topics SeriesThis course expands the examination of the cultural and social history of Britain in the 20th and 21st centuries. You’ll spend three hours each week with either a guest speaker or at a site relating to the week’s focus. Topics include:
- Crime and Justice in London
- Immigration and Modern Britain
- Britain’s Role on the World Financial Stage
Academic CreditAll undergraduates must receive academic credit at their home institutions to participate in the Intern Abroad program. Graduate students wishing to receive credit facilitated by The Washington Center may also enroll in the London program. Recent graduates and graduate students not receiving credit are not eligible for this program. Instead, they may consider our Postgraduate Professional Development Program [8] located in Washington, D.C., as an alternative.
Credit is awarded by the home institution, not by The Washington Center. The amount of credit varies by college or university, and the method by which a student will receive credit should be worked out with the liaison or campus sponsor prior to approval. Regardless of how the credit is allocated by the home institution, all components of the program must be completed.
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The Academic Seminar & Workshop
Your internship abroad begins with a fast-paced 10-day seminar in Washington, D.C., featuring site visits, guest speakers, academic work and other programming tailored to London. Past activities have included:
- An interview workshop
- A visit to the British Embassy
- A walking tour of the Kennedy Center
- A tour of the Capitol Building and meeting with the House Parliamentarian
- A discussion and comparative analysis of government scandals in the U.K. and the U.S.
- A mock “Prime Minister’s Questions” in the style of the U.K.’s parliament
Each seminar has a set of themes, such as:
- Homelessness
- The environment
- Political economy
- History, architecture and public spaces
- Immigration
You'll continue to explore these themes through your academic work and internship course abroad.
Learning Through Internships
The seminar will continue when you are abroad in the form of an "internship course" comprised of weekly class meetings. This is an educational experience that gives you the opportunity to apply classroom learning to the workplace and social environment of the host culture, to expand professional skills and earn academic credit. Themes that will be examined as part of this course include:
- Leadership
- Communication
- Gender
- Multiculturalism
- Media, Law and Politics
- Social Justice and Urban Challenges
Your time abroad will culminate in the creation of a substantive portfolio of work completed for both the Washington, D.C. seminar and the Learning Through Internships course.
