The London Summer Internship Program offers 8 weeks of study and work through academic internships that complement a student’s particular academic concentration. The six available tracks examine a particular academic area in the context of Great Britain’s history, its culture and society, and its role within Europe. The first four weeks are spent taking a core course, and in the last four weeks, students work full time four days a week in their internships and participate in an internship course.
BU Abroad: Gathering Intelligence in London
BU Abroad: Gathering Intelligence in London
Requirements & Considerations
- Students are accepted into one of the program’s six tracks
- Admissions requirements for all programs
Curriculum
Note: Syllabi are for course approval and reference only. Students will receive up-to-date syllabi when their courses begin.
Internship Areas & Tracks
The placement process begins before arrival and continues during the initial coursework phase in London. Each student meets with the program's internship advisors to finalize their placement details. The internship placement includes a four- credit internship course, which has a classroom component. Study Abroad will also enroll students in a non-credit Hub co- curricular regardless of track choice. Upon successful completion of the internship experience, students will receive a Hub unit in the area Individual in the Community from the co-curricular HUB SA 330.
- Non-credit Hub Co-curricular: HUB SA 330 Study Abroad Internship
- This course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area:
- Individual in Community
- This course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area:
Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations
Study British and European marketing techniques, public relations and advertising strategy and intern in advertising agencies, or the marketing and PR departments of British or international firms.
Core Course
- COM CM 521 British and European Marketing Strategy (4 credits)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry I
- Oral and/or Signed Communication
- Introduction to the strategic marketing concepts, tools and frameworks that underlie consumer marketing strategies. Analysis and assessment of companies operating in British and European markets that face increased global competition, demanding consumers and fast-evolving technologies. Examples used are updated to reflect current events.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Internship Courses
- COM CM 471 Internship in Marketing/Advertising/Public Relations (4 credits)
Arts & Media
Core Course
- CAS AH 319 Arts and Media in Britain (4)
- This course is designed as an introduction to the arts in Britain. The course should serve to widen the specialist's knowledge, and to provide non-specialists with an overview. The course should cover core elements on such subjects as funding, institutions, accessibility, and value of British Arts.
- Syllabus
Internship Course (course number will depend on the area of specialization)
Business
Core Course
- Questrom IM 345 International Management Environment (4)
- Prerequisite: CAS EC 101 and CAS EC 102, or equivalent.
- This course has been designed to appeal to students who wish to gain an international perspective on the environment faced by business organizations. In today’s business environment, with the pressures of an evolving global economy, managers must take into account the many ways in which differences are apparent when compared with the domestic scene. Managers must adapt their approaches to take account of the strong international competition, which is increasingly apparent and which is critical to successful business performance. They also need to be informed as to how firm strategies may be developed. It is a must for business students to learn the international dimensions of business activities in order to be successful in today’s business world.
- Syllabus
Internship Course
- CAS EC 497 Internship in Economics & Finance (4)
Economics & Finance
Core Course
- CAS EC 364 British Economic Performance: A Comparative Perspective (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry II
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Prerequisite: CAS EC 101, or the equivalent.
- Recommended: CAS EC 102, or the equivalent.
- An economic analysis of UK government policy relating to economic performance. It explores in particular market-oriented economic reform since the 1980s designed to reverse long-term economic decline in the United Kingdom relative to the EU and USA. These reforms include privatization, deregulation, labor market reform, trade, UK economic relations with the EU, and Brexit.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Internship Course
- CAS EC 497 Internship in Economics & Finance (4)
Politics, International Relations & Pre-Law
Core Course
- CAS PO 221/IR 359 British Political Institutions in Theory and Practice: A Comparative Perspective (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry I
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Critical Thinking
- This course will introduce you to the main political institutions and actors in Britain. It will focus upon the historical and cultural context of British politics and detailed consideration will be given to competing political ideas and ideologies, divergent conceptual methods drawn from the social sciences and popular perceptions of British politics. The course aims to give you a fairly thorough knowledge of Britain, to prepare you for internships, and to give you, hopefully, some enjoyment.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Internship Course (course number will depend on the area of specialization)
- CAS PO 401/IR 451 Internship in Politics (4)
- CAS PO 403 Internship in Comparative Law (4)
- CAS PO 405/IR 455 Internship in International Organization (4)
Psychology & Health Sciences
Core Course
- CAS PS 365 Psychology and Social Issues: British Perspectives (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry II
- Individual in Community
- Teamwork/Collaboration
- This course will consider the value of contemporary theories and research in social psychology for understanding and addressing a number of current issues facing Britain today: violence and social disorder, immigration and asylum seeking; attitudes to gender and sexual diversity.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Internship Course (course number will depend on the area of specialization)
- CAS PS 495 Internship in Health/Human Services
- SAR HS 405 Health Science Practicum
- SAR HS 410 Internship in Human Physiology
Housing & Student Services
- All students on the summer London Internship Program live in residence hall or apartment-style housing in a variety of locations in central London.
- Dorms may include a mix of singles, doubles, triples, and quads, with en suite or shared bathrooms depending on the location.
- All students have access to kitchen facilities; depending on the location, kitchens may be within shared apartments, or may be communal spaces shared between 6–14 students.
- Students are responsible for budgeting the cost of their own meals. Board is not included in this program. BU London does not have dining hall facilities, but there are grocery stores, restaurants, and other amenities in the areas surrounding the accommodations.
- All residences are within walking distance to local transportation, including the London Tube and bus systems. Students will commute to classes and internships.
- Laundry facilities are located in all residences; exact laundry arrangements vary by location, but are generally card/app operated. Cost of laundry and laundry supplies are not included in the program fee.
- WiFi is provided at all facilities.
Program Dates
- Summer Term: Late May to late July
Application Timeline
This program follows rolling admissions and may fill before the official deadline.
Summer Semester
- Applications Open December 1
- Applications Deadline February 15
This program is rolling admissions; applications are reviewed once all application materials are received, prior to all deadlines. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials are received by the BU Study Abroad office. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible as some programs and internship tracks have limited space and may fill up before the deadline. Submitting a complete application prior to the application deadline, does not guarantee acceptance. Students will be emailed an admissions decision within three weeks of a completed application.
Information for BU Students Awaiting an Admissions Decision and exceptions to the standard admission calendar for all students can be found here.
Cost & Financial Considerations
- Summer 2023 Tuition & Fees: $9,795
Cost includes tuition, housing, overseas medical insurance, and emergency evacuation coverage. - Estimated program budget, including cost of living expenses for Summer 2023
- Grants and Scholarships available
- BU Study Abroad arranges a trans-Atlantic group flight that is not included in the program fee. We recommend that students take this flight.
