london photo
Words cannot describe how much I have grown from my internship here in London. First, the sheer amount of articles I've written has greatly improved my writing skills. Second, the contacts I've made thought the product launches, London fashion week, my office... will be so beneficial to put on a resume. Third, I am much more confident now. I know my internship will look impressive on a resume and my portfolio of work from here will speak volumes to future employers.
– Abigail Schwennen
Central College

internships/service-learning

On Central’s study abroad programs, learning begins in the classroom, but continues in many different settings outside the traditional educational environment — offering you a more in-depth cross-cultural experience. Students can choose from either a service-learning or an internship option, both for academic credit. Both options provide a more dynamic understanding of British culture as you work and serve alongside members of the local community. This unique component sets our program apart from other study abroad options that are available to you in London.

Internships

Internships offer a fantastic opportunity for students to get hands-on experience in a field related to their major or academic interest in a local environment. These work experiences are invaluable assets to your résumé and future job options, and also give you the chance to work alongside members of the British community for a glimpse into another side of the culture. Students have the choice of interning one day a week (four credits) or two days a week (six credits).

Internship areas include:

  • Art and art history

    One placement per sponsor
    Art, Graphic design, Interior design, Fashion design and art history majors - office/casual dress. Students should be confident in dealing with the public, have a genuine interest in art and design or have hands-on experience in that particular field of art. Past internships have included placements in:

    • Commercial art galleries
    • Specialist creative art and design studios
    • Marketing firms
    • Fashion outreach organizations
    • Major public museums
  • Biology/Pre-Health

    One/two placements per sponsor
    Biology, Physiology, Pre-health majors - office dress

    When possible, students will be placed in a department suitable for their interests and experience. Students should have some experience working with patients and the public. Apply early, because a background check is required for internships in which a student will be dealing with patients. Past internships have included placements in:

    • Biomedical research
    • Dental industry (office-based)
    • Health services (observation)
    • Therapy (in such fields as sports medicine, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and geriatrics)
  • Business/Finance

    One/two placements per sponsor
    Accounting, Business, Computer Science majors - office dress

    Working in administration, human resources, accounting, business, finance, event planning or marketing departments of various organizations. Past internships have included placements in:

    • Hospitals
    • Computer firms
    • Banks (including international)
    • Human resource departments
    • Retail
    • Art studios and galleries
    • Museums
    • Non-governmental organizations
    • Consulting firms (for such things as education, information technology, sports and business, and construction)
    • Financial institutions
    • Small and medium-sized enterprises

    Students must be confident in dealing with the public, computer proficient and able to act on their own initiative. Interns are often given their own projects to complete.

  • Communication/English/Journalism

    One placement per sponsor
    Communication, English, Journalism, Library Science majors - office dress

    Tasks dependent on the needs of the various sponsors at the time. Students must be confident with the public, able to act on their own initiative, computer proficient and well spoken. Knowledge of QuarkXPress and related programs is useful to these placements. Past internships have included placements in:

    • Humanitarian agencies
    • Research organizations
    • Publishing firms
    • Social service agencies
    • Environmental agencies
    • Design firms
    • Media (magazines)
    • Marketing and promotion firms
    • Journalism
    • Medical agencies
    • International organizations
    • Public relations
    • Urban planning
  • Computer science/Information systems

    One placement per sponsor
    Computer Science majors - office dress

    While computer-based internships may be available at various organizations, we will attempt to place computer science majors with computer companies. These interns should have at least an intermediate background in computing, especially on the technical and/or software side. They should also consider the possibility of an intensive internship. Past internships have included placements in:

    • Computer services
    • Database management
    • IT departments
    • Programming
    • Web design consulting
  • Education

    One/two placements per sponsor
    Education majors - teaching dress

    These internships are teaching assistantships where students will observe and aid in classes. Each internship varies by school and teacher. When possible, students will be placed in the area of their particular interest (i.e. music, physical education, mathematics, special needs, science, etc.). Because a background check will need to be completed before starting at this internship, please indicate your interest early. Past internships have included placements in:

    • Public primary and secondary schools
    • Special needs schools and departments
    • Private international schools
    • Activity groups for children
  • Environmental science/Ecology

    One placement per sponsor
    Political Science, Sociology, Communication majors - casual office dress

    Intern duties can range from providing the public with information (mail and telephone) or compiling research information, general administrative duties to working outdoors and educating the public about the environment, depending on the needs of the various departments and the agenda at the time. Students must be comfortable communicating with the public. Internships with these organizations do not involve any direct participation in public protest. Past internships have included placements in:

    • Human rights organizations
    • Nature parks
    • Wildlife parks
    • Animal rights organizations
    • Environmental activism
    • Urban planning
  • Fashion PR/Fashion journalism

    One placement per sponsor
    Fashion, Public Relations, Marketing, Communication, Journalism majors - office dress

    Intern duties can range dependent on the needs of the various sponsors at the time. Students must be confident with the public, able to act on their own initiative, computer proficient and well spoken. Past duties have included creating press booklets, transporting items for photo shoots, fashion journalism writing, attending product launches, reviewing beauty products, to general administrative duties, depending on the needs of the various departments and the agenda at the time. Placements are competitive and students must have some experience with and passion for the fashion industry. Past internships have included placements in:

    • Fashion marketing agencies
    • Fashion PR orgranizations
    • Online fashion magazines
    • Fashion outreach organizations
  • History

    One placement per sponsor
    History majors - casual office dress

    Past internships have included placements in:

    • Museums
    • Historical societies
    • Ethnic foundations
  • Political science/Pre-Law

    One placement per sponsor
    Political Science (preferred for Parliament), History, English, and Communication majors - office dress.  Parliament interns must have a minimum 3.0 GPA or significant related experience.

    Internships in Parliament require advance security clearance in order to obtain a security pass for access to the Houses of Parliament. Students who are accepted must take the internship. Past internships have included placements in:

    • Parliament - Internships involve aiding the running of the office, shadowing the Member of Parliament (MP), research, working with other MPs and assisting the MP and their assistants. Students will be exposed to the particular areas of interest of the MP they are working under and will often have to visit the MP's constituency (often quite far from London), sometimes on weekends. Interns should have a strong interest in politics and world news/issues, be familiar with British political processes and be comfortable communicating with politicians, influential business people, general public, press, etc.
    • Community Law Centers
    • Research departments
    • International think-tanks
    • Environmental and development agencies
    • Urban planning

    *Due to security clearance formalities, students interested in an internship related to Parliament (politics) need to submit a completed internship application and details form at the same time as the general London program application. These forms can be found within the general online application.

  • Music - Management

    One placement per sponsor
    Music majors - casual dress

    Assisting in various tasks as required by the administrative departments (i.e. development, marketing, press and education). Students should have a strong interest in classical and/or choral music. Past internships have included placements in:

    • Orchestras
    • Opera houses
    • Gospel music organizations
    • Promotion companies
  • Public Relations/Advertising/Marketing

    One placement per sponsor
    Public Relations, Communication, Marketing, English, Journalism majors - office dress

    Tasks dependent on the needs of the various sponsors at the time. Students must be confident with the public, able to act on their own initiative, computer proficient and well spoken. Knowledge of QuarkXPress and related programs is useful to these placements. Past internships have included placements in:

    • Brand and design agencies
    • PR and Advertising firms
    • Press and Communications Departments
  • Publishing

    One placement per sponsor
    Communication, English, Journalism majors - office dress

    Internships at various publishing organizations depend on the needs of their departments (i.e. editorial, sales, marketing, production and research). Duties may involve proof/copy reading, analysis and rejection of unsolicited manuscripts, composition of rejection letters, author correspondence, publicity mailing and collation of sales materials, photocopying, filing, etc. Interns must have a good command of English. Knowledge of QuarkXpress and other related computer programs is useful to these internship placements. placements. Past internships have included placements in:

    • Publishing departments
    • Print and online magazines
  • Psychology

    One placement per sponsor. Past internships have included placements in:

    • Psychological research
    • Help centers for women and families
    • Help centers for homeless and other marginalised communities
  • Religion

    One placement per sponsor
    Religion, Psychology majors – office/casual dress. Organizations are religious-based. Past internships have included placements in:

    • Childcare facilities
    • Inter-city youth groups
    • Charity organizations
    • Community centers
    • Humanitarian assistance centers
    • Homeless shelters
    • Radio/media companies
  • Science

    One/two placements per sponsor
    Chemistry, Biology, other science majors - casual to office dress. Past internships have included placements in:

    • Biomedical research
    • Dental industry (office-based)
    • Health services (observation)
    • Occupational therapy
    • Physiotherapy
    • Universities (research with faculty)
  • Social sciences/Sociology

    One/two placements per sponsor
    Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology majors - casual dress

    Internships are with a variety of organizations that care about the well-being and social issues of children, the mentally ill, the poor, the elderly, the homeless, the physically disabled, alcohol and drug dependents, family planning and the home environment. Students work with care workers and clients, as well as providing the organizations with the administration, research and information needs required at the time.

    Interns must be able to work on their own initiative. Students should feel comfortable working with disadvantaged children and adults, as well as local social service officials. Students should state their specific area of interest, and we will attempt to place them with a relevant organization. Past internships have included placements in:

    • Homeless shelters
    • Women's health and awareness organizations
    • Social service agencies
    • Care homes for the elderly
    • Missions
    • Care facilities for mental health patients
  • Sports marketing and management

    One placements per sponsor
    Exercise Science, Business, Communication majors - casual office dress

    Past internship placements have included:

    • Fitness membership organizations
  • Theatre

    One placement per sponsor
    Theatre majors - casual dress

    Internships at various well-known fringe/pub theatres, assisting in the running of these venues and working with the administrative and artistic staff. Interns work in departments, as required, with tasks that can include stage management, assisting directors, some script reading, providing technical support during productions, box office and general administrative duties. Evening and weekend work is often required. These are not acting or directing internships.

 

Students are expected to keep a reflective journal, complete written assignments and attend individual meetings associated with the internship placement. The student is responsible for balancing their other academic requirements with the demands of the placement.

Internship placements are organized by the London program assistant director. This person assesses internship application materials, searches out potential placements and communicates directly with students regarding the progress of their placement. Because of the competitive nature of some internships, and due to the difficulty in establishing placements in certain areas, specific placements cannot be guaranteed. Some placement cannot be secured until shortly before the beginning of each semester; therefore, students should apply for two or three general interest categories.


Service-learning

Service-learning connects meaningful service opportunities in the community with academic learning, personal growth and civic responsibility. It gives students a chance to make a difference in their host city while exploring another aspect of contemporary British culture. A big part of the academic-based service-learning option is journaling and reflecting on your experiences. Most service-learning opportunities carry up to two semester hours of credit.

Service-learning opportunities include:

  • churches
  • homeless shelters
  • non-profit organizations and charities
  • refugee organizations
  • schools and childcare facilities

Application process

To apply, you must first create an online account and submit a complete online application for the London, England program. Detailed internship and service-learning guidelines including deadlines, application requirements and materials will be provided in your online account.

Additional areas may be available for service-learning or internships. The internship and service-learning coordinator in London works individually with you to find the best possible option.

Please feel free to contact the Central College Abroad office with questions about internships and/or service-learning.