British Parliamentary Internship
Introduction
London, the largest urban area in England, has been an important settlement for almost two millennia, dating back to the Roman invasion of Britain. With it's rich history and cultural, political, and economical influence, it can easily be considered the capital of the western world. Many famous sites, including Big Ben, Tower Bridge, and the British Museum, make it a must-see on any traveler's checklist, and an ideal place to live and learn.
CUA students will have the opportunity to work with a Member of Parliament (M.P.) in the British Parliament, located in Westminster. This highly competitive program is designed for upper undergraduates or graduate students with a strong background in Politics and Political Science.
Learn more about this program in our Youtube miniseries!
Internship responsibilities might include:
- Researching and writing briefs & speeches & reports
- Preparing parliamentary questions
- Corresponding with regional and national ministries/agencies
- Drafting press releases
- Updating MP’s website and social media
- Scheduling MP and/or town hall meetings
- Note taking at meetings and committee hearings
- Answering constituent phones and mail
- Campaigning (e.g. door-to-door, emails)
- Accounting, expense tracking
Accommodation
Students live in program sponsored housing paid for by Catholic University. Typically, these are furnished flats or international student residence halls in the city located within about a 30-40 minute commuting distance from Westminster.
While CUAbroad and our education abroad partners make every effort to provide students with internet access, it is important for CUA students to remember that internet access in different areas of the world may differ significantly from the unlimited internet access our students enjoy at CUA. CUA students are encouraged to remember that having limited access to the internet may be part of the cross-cultural experience and that they need to adjust their expectations to their host country and its customs as much as possible before departure. CUAbroad cannot guarantee unlimited internet access at overseas locations and students are encouraged to discuss this with their parents before applying to and participating in an education abroad program.
Academics
Students enroll in a 6-credit internship seminar, along with three additional courses, for a total of 15 credits that will be applied toward their degrees. One course is taught remotely by a Catholic University professor, while the other three are taught on site. Courses and equivalencies are as follows:
Students should be aware that the syllabi included above are recent examples, but that exact topics and assignments may change.
Student Voices
See how
Samantha Wolfe enhanced her experience of politics in London!
Ask
Anthony Risalvato for his top reasons of studying abroad in London!
Check out
Ryan Winn's experiences while abroad in London!
Scholarships:
Students looking for scholarships to help finance this experience should reference the Office of Education Abroad's
scholarship website.
