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, CHM 49000, CGT 30900, COM 49000, CS 49000, CSR 39800, EAS 41900, ENGL 49000, HDFS 39000, HIST 49900, HK 49000, HTM 39000, IT 49000, MET 49900, MGMT 39800, NUTR 39800, OLS 49100, PHYS 39000, POL 40300, PSY 49200, SOC 39000, STAT 49000, THTR 39000, and YDAE 49000.

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.

Non-native speakers of English will need to participate in additional testing as proof of language skills. Click here for requirements.

Internship placements are available in a variety of sites, including small businesses, corporations, art facilities, sports management organizations, major hotels, government agencies, fashion houses, publishing companies, museums, broadcasting studios, 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 served 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 2018

Time Block: A

COM 30300: Intercultural Communication
3 credits
- Josh Boyd, Department of Communication
Intercultural Communication is designed to provide students with an immersion experience while studying the implications of interaction with diverse others in interpersonal, small group, and organizational contexts. The course will begin with an overview of the concepts and issues that frame the study of intercultural communication, such as culture as context, cultural values, and barriers to intercultural communication. Students will then analyze the relevance and practice of these concepts and issues by contrasting American perspectives with the surrounding international social, political, and business community. The course format will include mini-lectures, class discussion, group work, role playing, and video presentations. Pertinent examples from students' internship experiences will also be considered. There are no prerequisites for this course.

IDIS 49000: Analyzing and Exploring the Global City--London
3 credits
- Instructor: British Adjunct Instructor
Cities around the world are striving to be ‘global.’ This course focuses on the development of one of the greatest global cities, London, from the nineteenth through to the twenty first century and investigates the nature and implications of its ‘globality’ for its built environment and social geography. This class will examine how the city has been transformed by the forces of industrialization, imperialism and globalization and consider the ways in which London and its inhabitants have been shaped by their relationships with the rest of the world. Students will gain insight into London’s changing identity as a world city, with a particular emphasis on comparing the city’s imperial, post-imperial, and transatlantic connections and the ways in which past and present, local and global intertwine in the capital. The course is organized chronologically: themes include the Victorian metropolis of the nineteenth century; London as an imperial space; multicultural London; London as a commercial center of global capitalism; and future scenarios of urban change. The course will mix classroom work with experiential learning and will include field trips to give students the opportunity to experience its varied urban geographies first hand and interact with these sites in an informed and analytical way. Addition course fee required on site (amount: 30 GBP).

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:
-- attend the mandatory advising session in February as well as the pre-departure orientation in March or April
-- compile a resume, cover letter, and internship questionnaire according to the instructions and standards discussed at February's mandatory advising session
-- be interviewed via telephone by the potential internship site in London(students who are not placed in an internship prior to departure will be interviewed in person in London)
-- based on the internship site and expected duties, develop a list of goals and objectives

While in London:
-- attend a one-hour-per-week Internship Focus Session designed to increase awareness and understanding of the culture, people, and work environment in which they are training
-- keep a daily journal to reflect on and analyze internship experiences
-- intern/work 140 hours (approximately 20 hours per week)

Upon return to the USA:
-- write an Internship Analysis Paper that includes 1.) a description of the internship work setting, the purpose and structure of the host organization, and the student’s responsibilities; 2.) a description of one or more experiences which relate the student’s academic program; 3.) a review and evaluation of the student’s learning objectives; and 4.) a discussion of how the internship experience relates to concepts or theories learned in academic courses at Purdue and what was learned from the internship

Interns will also be evaluated by the on-site internship supervisor toward the end of the internship. Evaluations will be mailed to Purdue by CAPA when completed.

NOTE: Some academic departments may have additional academic requirements for their students. The internship experience will be awarded a letter grade or grade of pass/no pass, depending on the department’s policies. It is the student’s responsibility to discuss these details and requirements with his/her academic advisor and/or departmental internship supervisor!

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 multiple students in each flat with two to three students per bedroom. 

Each flat’s layout could vary greatly, but all have a bathroom, living and dining area, bedrooms with beds and small closets (storage space will be very limited!), and kitchen, which will be equipped with basic cooking/eating utensils. Wireless access will be available for web searches and email.

Students should carefully note what costs need to be paid to Purdue University or to a co-sponsor or agency, and what costs need to be paid at the overseas study location.  This will vary by program.

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.

There is an additional course fee for the Global Cities class.

Costs for this program are estimated and subject to change. The cost figures listed below are for: Summer 2017

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 website Study Abroad Financial Aid Process;
• complete and submit the FAFSA by the appropriate deadline.

NOTE:  Recipients of certain tuition remission and scholarship programs 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 application deadline.  Popular programs fill quickly, often before the deadline.  To insure a place in a program, apply early.

As soon as a student submits an on-line application, a My Study Abroad account is created. Applicants should consult this page often to check on the status of the application.

Application Process for Purdue’s Summer Internship Programs: 

The preliminary application includes: the online study abroad application, a transcript, essay, two recommendations (one academic recommendation on the form that you can download from your MyStudyAbroad page and one work-related recommendation on company letterhead from any current or previous job or internship supervisor), and a copy of your passport or proof of passport application.

The preliminary application must be submitted to Programs for Study Abroad by February 5, 2018.

**We will begin reviewing completed applications in early January; the program could potentially fill up before the deadline. It is imperative, however, that the preliminary application is complete by the deadline at the very latest!**

Once students are conditionally accepted into the program, they must attend one of the two mandatory advising sessions in February (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.

Click below to search for Purdue 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 studied in the country you are interested in.

The websites listed below contain information about this program. 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)