The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars
 The Washington, D.C.-London Internship ProgramStudents interested in participating in the Washington, D.C.- London Internship Program may now apply by Wednesday, March 12th for the summer 2008 term. In order to speed application processing, students are encouraged to send in the refundable $250 deposit with their application. Please note that there is a specific Washington, D.C.- London PDF application found in the “How Can I Apply?” section of the London Quick Links below (NOT the link to the left). Students who believe they may have used our regular application (printed or online) should contact DCLondon@twc.edu immediately. London Quick LinksOverviewThe Washington Center is pleased to announce its new Washington, D.C.-London Internship Program, which enables students to combine two sought-after academic experiences, study abroad and a tailored internship. Providing an integrated academic and work experience in a comparative and global context, the 10 or 15-week program will be offered each semester, starting in spring 2008. Each term will begin with ten days in Washington, D.C., including an orientation, academic work, and other programming. At the end of this seminar in D.C., students will fly to England, where, for the remainder of the semester or summer term, they will complete a full-time internship, academic course, and other programming. This program has extraordinary features. These include the unique combination of settings – the capitals of the United States and the United Kingdom - and the many opportunities the internships, academic course and additional programming will provide.
London- Spring 2008 Student Bloggers
The Washington Center is a nonpartisan, non-profit, educational organization. The views expressed by TWC interns do not necessarily reflect those of The Washington Center. To read the student blog posts, you will be leaving www.twc.edu and navigating to a new website.
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Staff will consider students for a range of possible placements and ultimately select for them the one that is likeliest to provide a good fit. A London-based Washington Center staff member will monitor the placement process, notifying students before the term begins where they are tentatively placed. Final placement will be pending an interview, completed upon arrival in London.
Internship Course
Students will meet as a group for two hours each week to take part in "Perspectives on Experiential Learning Abroad (PELA).” This course is designed as an interactive seminar that both complements and enhances the internship experience. Students will also gain a better understanding of the host culture. The key components of the course will be examined through seminars, workshops, presentations and discussions. Each student will also prepare a substantial portfolio that documents, analyses and reflects on his or her experience. Below is the syllabus from the previous group’s course. An updated version will be added when it becomes available.
Academic Course
Students will also take a specially-designed academic course, “London and Britain, 1886-2006: An Interdisciplinary Exploration.” This course, covering the history of the United Kingdom over the past 120 years, uses London as a text for studies of law, politics, criminal justice, and international relations. Students will be expected to draw connections among the UK’s constitutional history, its political, social and economic changes, and its evolving role in the world during this dynamic period. Below is the syllabus from the previous group’s course. An updated version will be added when it becomes available.
The academic course will taught by Dr. Martin Meenagh. Dr Meenagh holds four degrees in history from Oxford University, including a First from Balliol College, two masters degrees and his doctorate. He is a member of the Middle Temple, one of the four Inns of Court, and is currently qualifying as a barrister. Previously a tutor and lecturer at Oxford, he lives in London and teaches courses in social sciences and history for several leading U.S. universities.
Engaging Programming
Along with the internship, PELA seminar and academic course, students will be advised about opportunities such as cultural celebrations, sporting events, volunteer opportunities and lectures. Activities could range from a Jack the Ripper walking tour to a discussion about the representation of the Muslim and Hindu religions in the U.K.; and they will allow students to engage with full-time residents of the city while gaining a deeper knowledge of their London community.
D.C. Seminar Housing InformationThe apartments are located in well-lit, high traffic neighborhoods that provide comfortable surroundings. You'll have access to Washington's Metro subway system, shops, restaurants, and convenience stores.
Although there are differences among the various housing units, all offer:
Program Setting
The class and group activities are centered in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in West London. This historically and culturally rich area is home to the Imperial College of the University of London. Students will have access to all facilities of the College’s Student Union.
Housing
Students will live in central London flats (apartments) conveniently located to the Tube, London’s public transportation system, which can be used to commute to their internship sites and to the CAPA center. Londoners' daily commutes average 30-60 minutes. Students will find that the tube (as well as the extensive bus system) is convenient for getting around the city and it is also fairly easy to walk around central London to local attractions.
Student flats have 1 -3 bedrooms and a shared central living area. Several students may share a bedroom. Linens are provided, but students should bring their own towels. Flats also have full kitchens with basic utensils, where students will be able to prepare their own meals. Information about local grocery stores and other helpful information will be provided. Each of the possible housing sites will be furnished and will have an RA on-site to help with apartment-related issues.
Since outlets are different in the UK students should buy an adapter for any electronic products. Most recently made electronics do not require a voltage converter, but please check with each manufacturer. Adapters can be found on www.ricksteves.com or many other travel websites or stores.
View Sample London Housing Pictures
All students are responsible for their own travel to and from Washington, D.C. The Washington Center is planning to arrange round-trip group travel between Washington, D.C. and London. All students who use this option will have the chance, for a modest fee, to modify their tickets to take advantage of post-program travel opportunities in Europe. Group travel is not part of the program, but is offered as a convenience. For those participating in group travel, ground transportation from the London airport to housing will also be provided at no additional charge. Details and itinerary will be available shortly for those who would like to take advantage of this offer. Other students will need to arrange their own travel to and from London.
Students are invoiced upon acceptance. All internships are unpaid and most forms of Washington Center financial assistance – including state-provided scholarships – cannot be applied to this program. A limited number of housing scholarships may be made available by The Washington Center on a competitive basis to selected students. These include our Civic Engagement Awards ($1,000), Diversity Leaders Awards ($3,000) and Honors scholarships ($1,000 - $2,000). A description of the awards, eligibility and financial assistance policies can be found on the Washington-London Program PDF application.
Be sure to speak with your campus financial aid officer and study-abroad adviser to learn more about specific funding options available through your college or university.
The following links contain information about these and other sources of assistance, including institutional aid, federal aid, scholarships and other types of study-abroad funding:
Depending on their need and current indebtedness, some students who do not qualify for other types of assistance may want to consider a private educational loan. Numerous low-interest, non-need based loan options are available from private financial institutions. The Washington Center does not endorse these lenders or their products, but we encourage students to explore carefully any that might be appropriate. Below is a partial list of institutions that provide such loans.
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This is not an exhaustive list of resources. Students should also speak with their local financial institution about the educational loan packages they provide.
| Withdrawal Date | Cancellation Fee |
Refund Amount |
More than 60 days prior to DC check-in |
$250 |
100% refund, after $250 cancellation fee |
46 to 60 days prior to DC check-in |
$250 plus 25% of the total cost of the program |
75% of the total cost of the program, after $250 cancellation fee |
22 to 45 days prior to DC check-in |
$250 plus 50% of the total cost of the program |
50% of the total cost of the program, after $250 cancellation fee |
21 days fewer to DC check-in |
Total cost of the program |
No Refund |
Currency Policy: The Washington Center reserves the right to adjust program fees to reflect fluctuations in the value of the dollar in excess of 5%.
Applicants should be enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university as second-semester sophomores, juniors, seniors, or graduate students at the time they take part in the program (recent graduates should see below; international students enrolled in U.S. institutions are warmly welcomed). Applicants should have at least a 2.75 grade point average on a 4-point scale. They must receive academic credit from their institution for their participation in the internship program, and their application must have the endorsement of their campus liaison (or if their campus does not have a liaison, an academic sponsor). The Washington Center does not grant academic credit. A limited number of applicants will be accepted, so early application is encouraged.
Postgraduate students who have received their undergraduate degrees within the last eighteen months are also eligible. A very limited number may be admitted. They will complete all components of the program except the academic course in London. Their program fee will be reduced as indicated below.
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If you do not already have a passport that will be valid for the timeframe during which you’ll be traveling to the U.K., you can visit the website for the U.S. Department of State to learn what steps you’ll need to take prior to your departure.
Congratulations on your acceptance into the Washington, DC – London Internship Program. This section of the website will continue to be updated with pertinent information and resources, so check back often!
Please Click Here to listen to a welcome message from our Instructor of Record, Dr. Suzan Harkness.
| Term | Deadline |
Spring |
November 8, 2007 |
Summer |
March 21, 2008 |
Fall |
June 15, 2008 |
*Summer and Fall dates are subject to change, please check back closer to the term you have applied for. Materials received after the deadline are subject to a $100 late fee and a $250 non-refundable deposit.
The post-acceptance materials are those mentioned in your acceptance letter and include the following:
Please note that if you have not yet turned in any of the application materials we will need those by the above deadline in order to send your application to London to begin the placement process. You can find all of the forms in the Documents and Forms Section below.
Included in this will be ground transportation from the housing in Washington, DC to the airport and from the airport in London to the housing there. Students not using the group travel will need to arrange their own transportation. Sign-up information will be sent directly to students via email when it becomes available.
Please note that The Washington Center is not able to arrange flight or ground transportation between your home and Washington, DC.
If you have questions, please email us at dclondon@twc.edu or call us at 202-238-7978.
