London Internship Program

Interns at the Tower Bridge

Purdue students with majors in the above listed departments are eligible if they have attained a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 out of 4.0, reached at least junior standing (four semesters of study) by the start of the program, and have the prerequisites for the internship course for their major. Students who have switched majors need to have taken some classes from the new major to qualify for participation.

In order to determine eligibility, check with your academic advisor about prerequisites for the following courses: A&D 47800, AGEC 49800, ANTH 39000, AT 43300, BIOL 49500 or 39500, CDFS 39000, CGT 31600, COM 49000, CSR 39000, ENGL 49000, F&N 35000 (Dietetics), F&N 59000, HIST 49900, HK 49000, HTM 39000, IT 19100, MET 49900, MFET 49900, MGMT 39000, OLS 49100, POL 40300, SOC 39000, and THTR 39000.

Successful candidates will demonstrate academic success, maturity, and a desire to experience another culture.

Only Purdue students physically on the West Lafayette campus during the spring semester are eligible to participate in this program.

Internship placements are available in a variety of sites, including small businesses, corporations, art facilities, government agencies, brokerage houses, publishing companies, museums, radio stations, and many others. Internships offer students a learning experience which integrates formal academic preparation and the culture of the work place, furthering the development of professional values, attitudes, and skills.

CAPA, the internship/program coordinator in London, will locate an internship in the student's major and general area of interest usually prior to departure. Placements depend on the major, background, training, interests, and talents of the student, as well as success in securing the internship at the time of the interview (by phone prior to departure or in person after arriving in London) with the potential internship site.

By working approximately 24 hours per week, students should easily be able to fit in the total required 140 hours. However students should not plan to have Fridays or weekends free, and commute time, which can easily be an hour each way, does not count towards internship hours.

Students will attend a weekly Internship Focus Session as well as enroll in one three-credit course, taught by Purdue or British faculty. Internship hours will be arranged around students' class schedules. Students should note that, just like on campus, there must be a minimum or maximum number of students in a class to be able to enroll in it. While students will be asked during the application process to select one of the courses below, it does not guarantee them a spot in that class. Following admission into the program, courses will be filled on a first come, first serve basis.

Students must take one of the two courses listed under Time Block A and should check with their academic advisor as soon as possible regarding the best class for their plan of study:

Courses for Summer 2010

Time Block: A

IDIS 49000: Post-War British Popular Culture
3 credits
- Instructor: British Adjunct Instructor
This course will look at some key theories of popular culture, and include case studies of selected examples from the British Isles since 1945. The main aim will be to enable students to think independently about this topic, to draw in the students’ previous educational and life experiences of culture & history, including oral cultures, popular & ethnic cultures, and social & religious movements. It will compare British and American experiences of popular culture, the differences, similarities, and cross-influences. The course will include study visits to galleries, museums, and other sites as an important learning experience.

OLS 39900: Leadership in Human Resources: An International Perspective
3 credits
- Daniel Lybrook
Effective utilization of an organization's human resources are key to the success of any organization. Whether a one-person shop or a multinational corporation employing thousands in various global locations, the functions of human resource management--planning, staffing, compensation, employee relations, training and development, and safety--must all be accomplished. This survey course will cover human resource management of small to large organizations in service, retail, and manufacturing sectors. The students will explore the differences in strategies that diverse types of organizations utilize to achieve their human resource goals. Through the pedagogical use of the case method, the student will be placed in the role of decision-maker in the organization and be asked to make and justify strategic decisions concerning human resources. Note that course objectives include writing.

Time Block: B

London Internship Experience/Internship Focus Session (REQUIRED)
3 credits
- Instructor: evaluated by the student's Departmental Internship Supervisor

In order to receive credit for the internship, students must successfully complete ALL of the tasks listed below.

Prior to departure:

The program fee includes a half-day guided tour of London and a guided day trip to Bath and Stonehenge.

Any student who chooses not to participate in the excursions will not receive any refund of the program fee. Additional inexpensive and subsidized excursions and cultural events will be available at the student's expense.

Purdue students will be housed in self-catered flats in central London (zone one or two). Housing in London is extremely expensive, and accommodations are not spacious, so students should adjust their expectations accordingly. Depending on size, there will be three to eight students in each flat with two to three students per bedroom. 

Each flat’s layout will vary greatly, but all have a living area with sofa, TV, and dining table with chairs, and the bedrooms will have bunk beds or single beds and small closets (storage space will be very limited!). The kitchen will be equipped with basic cooking/eating utensils, a small washing machine, and a microwave, and the bathroom will have either a shower or bath and shower.

Each flat will have a phone to receive incoming calls, and students will be able to make outgoing calls with a calling card. Wireless access will be available for web searches and email only; downloading TV shows, movies, music, etc., will not be allowed.

The program costs are estimates. They are useful for planning purposes, but are subject to change due to currency exchange rate fluctuation and inflation. Students should regard these figures as approximate amounts. London is an expensive city and extensive travel on weekends will increase students' costs.

Note: The program fee covers tuition and fees for six credits, housing, internship placements, a public transportation pass, and excursions.

Costs for this program are estimated and subject to change. The cost figures listed below are for: Summer 2009

Purdue University financial aid may be applied to the costs of studying abroad. Students interested in receiving financial aid should

• direct financial aid inquiries to the Division of Financial Aid on the West Lafayette campus; 
• consult the brochure entitled, Financial Aid and Study Abroad -- Purdue University Guidelines;
• complete and submit the FAFSA by the appropriate deadline.

NOTE:  Recipients of certain tuition remission and scholarship programs (those funded by the State of Indiana such as Indiana Top Scholars) should pay careful attention to the regulations for using those benefits for study abroad.  Ask your financial aid advisor about any limitations.

Click here for a list of scholarships and grants available to assist with the costs of studying overseas.

For full consideration, students must submit all supporting documents by the dates below.  Popular programs fill quickly, often before the deadline.  To insure a place in a program, apply as early.

As soon as a student submits an on-line application, a My Study Abroad account is created.  Consult the My Study Abroad page for the specific list of requirements for the chosen program since those can differ slightly from program to program.  Applicants may also check on the status of their applications.

After a student is approved for a program, s/he will receive additional information regarding any necessary supplemental paperwork, including any program-specific applications, and confirmation deposits.

Application Process for Purdue’s Summer Internship Programs: 

The preliminary application includes: the online study abroad application, a transcript, essay, and two recommendations (one academic recommendation on the form that you can download from your My Study Abroad page and one work-related recommendation on company letterhead from any current or previous job or internship supervisor). The preliminary application must be submitted to Programs for Study Abroad by February 1, 2010.

*It is imperative that the preliminary application is complete by the deadline!*

Once students are conditionally accepted into the program, they must attend a mandatory advising session in February (2010 time, date, and location: TBD). Students must remain present for the entire session.

During the advising session students will receive further instructions on completing the rest of the internship application, including resume, cover letter, and other additional paperwork. 

Upon full acceptance into the program, students are expected to pay a non-refundable confirmation deposit to ensure their participation in the program and course choice.

A student hard at work.

Purdue students who have come back to campus after participating in an overseas program are an excellent source of information. Click below to search for students who have participated in this program and are willing to be contacted.  If you get no results, you can use the search form to find people who went to the country you are interested in.

The websites listed below contain information of relevence to this program. Purdue Study Abroad is not responsible for the information at sites not maintained by Purdue; the accuracy of information at external sites cannot be guaranteed.

• Search Google(tm)*
• Department of State Consular Information
  (You must find United Kingdom in list)
• CDC Travel Information (You must find United Kingdom in list)