London Internship Areas
Except for the Winter Quarter option, all participants are placed into London-based internships. Please review the general description of the internship areas below as you will need to provide your top 3 choices on your SCU - FIE Administration Form. Please download the FIE Guide to Internship Areas for specific industry descriptions, specific areas and opportunities, required skill sets, realities of the industry, and links to some of the actual companies or organizations used. You also need to download and review the FIE Internship Handbook which provides helpful tips in putting together your UK-formatted resume, statement of purpose, procedures, etc.
Accountancy & Finance
Businesses and organizations working in the financial and accountancy sector provide internships for students in areas such as investing, trading, financial regeneration, fundraising, accounts and research. There are also companies in various other fields who are able to offer placements within their accounts or finance department.
Arts & Humanities
This area includes placements within museums, theaters, galleries and organizations relating to art and photography. Students may be involved in various aspects of performing arts, events and exhibitions.
Business & Economics
Whilst interning in the business and economics fields, students may find themselves working within small and medium sized companies, assisting with various operational and planning aspects of the business. There are placements available in areas such as entrepreneurship, property management, human resources and within business membership NGOs.
Communications
Public relations, marketing, advertising and events planning comprise the communications industry in which interns will be able to work at either specialty firms, small businesses, or within a specific communications department of a company.
Design
There are opportunities available within the areas of graphic and web design, fashion design, and interior design where skilled interns may be able to assist with the creative process of design as well as participate on various sides of the business.
Education
Public and private schools, educational departments of companies and independent educational organizations can offer interns a valuable experience within the British education system, either in a hands-on capacity with children or within an office-based environment.
Environment and Sustainability
Internships are offered within organizations who promote sustainability and environmental issues through community action, awareness campaigns and research projects that can influence policy and practice.
Fashion
There are numerous areas of fashion in which interns may able to work, including marketing, public relations, merchandising, business, sales and creative development. These placements may be with designer labels, high street retailers, independent boutiques or PR firms who represent a range of clients.
Film & Television
Students working in the field of film and television may be involved with various stages of the process including education, pre-production, talent management, research development, production, post-production, marketing and distribution.
IT & Multimedia
For interns with appropriate skills, there are opportunities available to work in the IT and digital media industries. This may include working with management information systems, technical support, computer programming and new media.
Journalism & Media
In the journalism and media industry, interns may gain experience within print media, online journalism or industry trade publications. There are opportunities available at magazines, local newspapers, websites and publishing companies.
Legal and Justice Organizations
Internships in this area include placements at small law firms, legal departments of businesses, crime reduction units, and organizations concerned with crime prevention and justice.
Music
Students wishing to work within the field of music may be placed at any number of organizations relating to the industry such as independent record labels, music venues, non-profit organizations promoting music, talent management agencies and radio stations.
Politics
Political internships may present students the chance to work within political parties, not-for-profit political organizations, think tanks and pressure groups. There are also a select number of placements working with a Member of Parliament.
Psychology
In the field of psychology, interns may assist with research projects at universities or government-funded organizations. Community-based groups dealing with psychological issues such as mental health and child development also provide internship opportunities.
Social Welfare & Non-Profit Organizations
Internships with a wide range of organizations and charities working for the collective good of society are available to students. Specialist areas include refugee support, homelessness, women’s issues, poverty, substance abuse/addiction, disability, gay/lesbian advocacy, ethnic/racial/religious diversity, human rights, conflict resolution, youth issues and community regeneration.
About the Internships
FIE recognizes the importance of experiential learning in developing students' skills and knowledge, and our internship programmes offer the opportunity for US students to gain first-hand experience of the world of work in an international context.
Each year FIE successfully places hundreds of visiting international students in a wide range of London-based organizations that reflect each individual intern's interests, career aspirations, and academic field of study.
In the first part of the program, the emphasis will be on in-class learning. The second half of the semester concentrates on internships and the internship coursework, with classes meeting on a reduced schedule. Academic credit will be given for the internship class as well, and may be applicable for major credit as well.
The work environments available to interns range from large multinational corporations to small and medium sized enterprises, and include voluntary, political, public sector and creative organizations. They cater for almost every conceivable major.
Our partners cover a wide spectrum of professional fields in large and small, public and private organizations. We maintain a close relationship with every organization to ensure that interns are given mentoring, suitable job tasks and the right level of responsibility. Our preparation also means that both student and site provider are aware of each other's expectations.
We make certain that the right organization is found for every student by carefully matching (through an ongoing dialogue with the student) an intern's personal profile to the most suitable position in the best type of host organization.
Preparation for the British work place
Comprehensive pre-arrival information materials and an orientation on arrival ensure that students are fully prepared for their placements. In addition, our British Life & Culture core course is an excellent way of enabling visiting interns to place the internship into the economic and cultural context of modern Britain.
Continuous support
During the internship, our team maintains regular contact with every student to monitor progress and address any issues.
An international insight
London work placements are accessible to US students due to the English language, yet UK and European work cultures and organizational practices are sufficiently different from the US to make the work experience genuinely cross-cultural.
Due to immigration regulations all FIE internships are always unpaid. You will receive at minimum elective credit for your internship experience. If you wish to seek major credit for the internship experience, this must be arranged with the relevant department chair at Santa Clara.
