Internships in London: Program
In a competitive world, practical experience is an invaluable addition to classroom learning. Richmond's internship program provides vital insights into a career field, experience in the global workplace, practical exposure to demands of specific jobs and development of professional and personal skills.
International work experience helps students test a potential career path while exploring interests and abilities in new ways. Working side by side with Londoners is the best way to gain insight into another culture, understand different approaches and prepare for the realities of working in a multicultural and interdependent world.
Richmond has specifically designed the International Internship Program to combine an academic program and individual attention with a unique opportunity to study working life in Britain first hand with placements in London-based organizations.
The program benefits students by enabling them to:
- apply academic training to practical situations in business and other organizations
- work alongside professionals and managers to observe different work-styles and techniques
- relate work experience to classroom situations
- enrich employment opportunities and establish a work record for their CV (resumé)
- acquire skills and strengths essential to the development of personal confidence
- gain contacts and insight into a career area
The internship program is offered during fall and spring semesters as well as mid-May to mid-August. Students participating in the semester program earn up to 15 credits. It consists of intensive study of Contemporary British Culture, internship seminars and an unpaid internship.
In addition, students choose one or two semester-long, 3-credit courses taught weekday evenings by Richmond faculty, many of whom are practicing experts in their fields. Check online at www.richmond.ac.uk to see what courses are offered in the evening.
Interns are full members of the Richmond community and benefit from all facilities and services. They can use University libraries, computer labs, studios and other facilities and take part in the active community life of the diverse student body through travel, performances, sports and social programs.
The ideal internship placement is a coordination between the skills and personality that an organization is seeking and those which a student presents. Each student should approach the program with cultural awareness and flexibility. This will enable the internship office to identify suitable organizations at which the student may intern. Placements are made with both small and large organizations, and selection is based on a number of criteria.
Please note: Students must attend interviews with suitable organizations and understand that this is a competitive process. Final selection is always at the discretion of the organization and the internship program is not able to honor specific requests to join a particular organization or guarantee that students will be successful at interviewing.
Interns use public transportation to get to work. London's extensive bus and subway network allows easy and quick travel throughout the city and should budget around $190 per month for this.
Admissions Guidelines
Students must complete the internship application (to request an application call 800.727.2437, ext. 5163). Quality and depth of the answers can contribute to internship possibilities.
Students must meet all the normal criteria for admission to Richmond, The American International University in London, and have:
- enrolled at least 75 semester credits (105 quarter credits) by time of admission and enrolled in a full-time degree program
- 2.75 minimum GPA (3.0 for those students seeking a placement in finance or psychology)
- a thoroughly and thoughtfully completed internship application which forms part of their portfolio and a completed academic year and semester application from the back of this catalog
- paid or unpaid work experience during the last two years
- letter of reference from a former employer
- one letter of academic reference
Completed applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. AIFS will notify applicants of their acceptance.
