Overview | Academics | Cost | Location | Life Abroad | Student Voices
Co-sponsored by UW-Madison, the Foundation of International Education (FIE) London Internship program offers you an educational experience that will help to develop professional and cultural skills and provide personal and career awareness. An international internship at FIE is a pre-professional, field-based experience coupled with academic analysis and reflection. It is an experience through which you can apply classroom theory to practice in one of the world's greatest cities.
An international internship provides an opportunity to experience working life in another country, and challenges pre-conceived notions of cultures and of the professional world. FIE's Internship Team evaluates your CV (resume), coursework and experience carefully to ensure an appropriate match is made between the your background and an organization's needs. The organizations that FIE works with are primarily small- and medium-sized organizations, not large corporations. These are the types of organizations that tend to be interested in providing short-term opportunities, and those that can benefit most from the unpaid assistance that the intern provides. In turn, by working with a small team it is possible for you to earn more responsibilities and opportunities within the workplace.
The tasks that you can undertake are quite varied and can include: administrative support, event planning and attendance, data entry, research, letter and report writing and project support. The exact tasks that an intern will be asked to perform are based on the needs of the organization at any given time as well as the skills and attitude of the intern. The experience belongs to you, and your commitment to the work site will determine the outcome.
The types of internship placements available include:
Accountancy & Finance
Arts & Humanities
Business & Economics
Communications
Design
Education
Environment & Sustainability
Fashion
Film & Television
Human Resources
IT & Multimedia
Journalism & Media
Law & Criminal Justice
Music
Not-for-profit & charities
Politics
Psychology
London and its extended suburbs have a population of 7.2 million people and it is one of Europe's most densely populated areas. There are a plethora of historical landmarks, world-class museums, beautiful parks and gardens like Hyde Park, and cutting edge entertainment venues from a hopping and eclectic club scene to renowned theaters and concert halls. And of course, there are endless shopping opportunities to be found in colorful, neighborhood street markets or large, fashionable department stores such as Harrod's and Harvey Nichols. You will be able to explore famous attractions like Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, the British Museum, and the Houses of Parliament, as well as discover the many fascinating qualities that characterize London's variety of village-like neighborhoods such as Notting Hill, Islington, Chelsea, Shepherd's Bush or Kensington.
Getting to Your Program
You are responsible for arranging your own transportation to London but are given guidelines for arrival dates and times.
You will receive a London transportation pass for the duration of the program. This will allow you to not only get back and forth to your classes and internship placements, but also explore the city and its great cultural sites and rich social scene!
Visa
U.S. citizens participating in an internship require a student visa prior to entering the United Kingdom. A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of the program is required. FIE assists you with UK student visa application.
Orientation
IAP expects you to be an active participant in preparing yourself for your study abroad experience. As a participant on an IAP program, you will receive a pre-departure orientation, either in-person or online. The type and format of this orientation will vary by program and will be provided to you upon acceptance to the program.
Once on-site, over the course of two to three days, you will participate in a variety of
orientation activities. FIE's London Team will conduct a Study in London and Student Life Orientation. Both orientation discussions are crucial in helping you adjust to a different academic culture and learning about life in London. You will meet the Internship Team and get the inside knowledge on making a success of your international internship.
Housing
FIE offers
student accommodations based in historic and charming Kensington, just a few minutes walk from the Foundation House Study Center. Student residential buildings in the Kensington area are usually mid- to late-nineteenth century converted townhouses. Bedrooms are fully furnished. The majority of students live in double-occupancy rooms, while some will live in single, triple or quadruple rooms.
Common kitchens are equipped with utensils such as cookware, silverware and dishes. Metrogate Residence also houses a complete teaching kitchen. Coin-operated laundry facilities are available at Metrogate for use by FIE residents. Common living areas in each residence allow you to interact frequently with each other.
Excursions and Activities
Outside of academic excursions, FIE's Student Life Team offer a wide range optional extra-Curricular events at a subsidized cost. FIE aims to satisfy a variety of student interests by providing activities in sport, theatre, music, sightseeing, tours and more. Using social media, FIE supplies information on events in and around London on a daily basis so students don't miss out. In addition, they create a weekly newsletter entitled 'Cheap London', pointing students in the direction of events around the city for less than a fiver (5 pounds)!
Insurance
All participants in IAP programs are enrolled in health insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) and the cost of the insurance coverage is included in program fees.
On-Site Support
FIE Staff
Returned Student Network
Click
here to see testimonials from students abroad or to contact a returned student.
FIE's Internship Team works with you individually upon admission to the program to match your skills and background with an appropriate organization. The summer internship program provides you with the opportunity to spend 8 weeks interning in London. This internship program offers 6 UW-Madison credits.
You will begin your program with the British Life and Cultures class. Studying in another culture can be challenging for even the best students, so the British Life and Cultures course will help you contextualize your experience in London in a broad, academic manner. Internships begin about a week into the program. Each week is split evenly between class work and placement time.
In order to enhance and contextualize the internship experience, there is an important academic component, an International Internship Course, which runs in conjunction with the placement. The class aims to provide you with support in order to allow you to develop your understanding of the UK workplace and enable to you to make the most of your experience. You will be assessed on your ability to engage analytically with the internship experience. You will also be required to compile a portfolio, deliver a presentation and write a final report that will provide structured expression of student development throughout the process.
Program Web Page(s)
FIE Internships in London
Foreign Courses
Academic Information
Course Equivalents
Use the links below to see a list of courses that students have taken on this program before and the UW equivalents. Note: this list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses or departments. You will get instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance.
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