CAPA London Summer Internships
- Gain in-demand global skills and hands-on experience in your field
- Experience English culture first-hand by living and interning in London for 7.5 weeks
- Earn 6 KU credits
- Explore London and/or travel on the weekends
- Watch CAPA's Internship Overview Video to learn more!
- Week-long orientation will include a reception, walking tour, city tour and confirmation interviews
- The Summer 2022 program dates are May 19th -July 9th
Participation in an international internship allows students to experience the benefits of studying abroad while also gaining real-world professional work experience. Only a small percentage of students study abroad – and even fewer intern abroad - so participation in an internship overseas can give you the professional advantage you need to succeed by giving you in demand global skills. The University of Kansas (KU) has partnered with CAPA, an internship and study abroad program provider, to offer high-quality placements in London, England. The internships, for which you earn academic credit from KU, are unpaid. They are available in a wide-range of fields including the arts, business, communication, economics, journalism, politics, healthcare, social policy, and hospitality. Other fields are available on a more limited basis so if your field is not listed, please inquire with Study Abroad & Global Engagement.
CAPA strives to place students in internships that directly relate to their course of study, thus ensuring the quality and academic relevance. Placements are based on student skills, interests, and professional goals as well as the project needs and work cycles of internship sponsors. The companies and organizations selected as internship sites are carefully monitored by site visits and student assessment.
Learn more about the placement process by watching CAPA's Internship Applicaton Process Video and reviewing the Global Internship Application Guide!
The London Program is 7.5 weeks in length. Orientation will take place during the first week and will include a welcome reception, a neighborhood walking tour, a half-day city tour, and confirmation interview. Students will also participate in two full-day excursions including one to Stonehenge & Bath and a second of their choosing.
All internship hours and class time will take place Monday-Friday leaving students with the weekends to explore London or travel on their own. The program also includes CAPA’s My-Education Program, a rich and varied calendar of free or low-cost optional activities, events, lectures, walking tours, and film showings intended to help students make the most of their time in London.
London is one of the most cosmopolitan cites in the world. Thousands of world cultures mingle with British tradition in this metropolis, creating an air of excitement and sophistication. London is the cultural capital of the United Kingdom and offers endless attractions: art, theatre, music, and plenty of British politics and history. The sheer diversity of London life and culture ensures that internships can be obtained in almost any field.
London participants intern for 20 hours per week while taking the Global Internship Program (GIP) course and a second elective course of their choosing. The GIP provides the opportunity to discuss and analyze theories and models of work organizations in a cross-cultural context and creates a framework for personal reflection on issues related to professional development, using the internship experience as a vehicle to contextualize and discuss the wider significance of internship activities.
Tentative elective offerings include:
Analyzing and Exploring the Global City
Child Development in a British Context
Comparative Healthcare Systems
Global Perspective on Nursing and Midwifery History
A total of 6 credits will post to each student’s KU transcript after the conclusion of the program upon receipt of a transcript from the CAPA's school of record (the University of Minnesota). Students may transfer each course in as a pre-approved option (if applicable) or go through the regular course approval equivalency process if they wish to receive credit via other academic You will complete an Academic Plan & Approval Form with your academic advisor as part of the KU application process to indicate how you will transfer the internship course credit back to KU and which elective course you would like to take. departments. The Global Internship Course has been pre-approved to transfer to KU for 3 credits in the following ways:
Please Note: Some academic departments offer departmental internship credit not listed below so students are encouraged to check with their department about credit options. Past participants have received internship credit through ACCT, ADS, BIOL, EVRN, FMS, HNRS, HSES, SPLH, etc.
LA&S 490 – Internship Exploration (3 credits)
Open to students of any major and level.
Fulfills KU Core Goal 6.1 Integration and Creativity.
GIST 495 – Global Internship (3 credits)
Open to students of any major and level.
BUS 310 (1 credit) + BUS 400 (2 credits) – Business Internship (3 credits total)
Open to business majors who have completed BUS 210.
JOUR 507 – Practicum in Journalism (3 credits)
Open to journalism majors who have completed either JOUR 415 or JOUR 560 (or Jour 435) with a grade of 2.0+, and at least eleven hours of journalism with a GPA of 2.5+, both overall and in journalism.
PSYC 483 Undergraduate Internship Psychology (3 credits)
Open to psychology majors and minors.
Students will be housed in apartments with shared bedrooms. Apartments will include a kitchen, bathroom, television, wireless Internet connection, and weekly cleaning service (all utilities and linens are included). Students will be housed with other students from the program and/or with students from other CAPA programs.
Check out the following blog posts and articles to learn more about life in London:
Highlights of the Academic Environment of CAPA
A Day in the Life of a CAPA London Intern
CAPA London Students on their Internships
Living Like a Londoner: A day at my internship
A London Internship with emc3 in the Events and Experience Industry
How to Take Ownership of Your Personal and Professional Development Abroad
SAGE is dedicated to creating international engagement opportunities that meet the needs of all our students and providing resources to support you through the process of studying abroad. Study abroad is achievable for students of all identities including our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students, students with disabilities, and students with religious/non-religious viewpoints. Before selecting a program, consider how your identities may impact your experience abroad in unique ways and talk with your Program Coordinator about any program-specific concerns. Students with documented disabilities should discuss any accommodation needs with their Program Coordinator early in the planning process.
Additional Resources
Check our Identity Abroad page and resources listed below for information specific to you and other students who may be on your program.
Second semester sophomore status is strongly recommended, however, first semeser sophomore students will be considered on a case-by-case basis. A minimum 2.75 GPA is required (exceptions considered with the submission of a GPA petition).
Please note that CAPA requires all program participants to be fully vaccinated two weeks prior to departure.
Application Procedures
Step 1: Complete KU application. Below is a list of the required documents and questionnaires.
a. Statement of Purpose
b. Verification of Minimum GPA Requirement
c. Unofficial Transcript or Advising Report
d. 1 Recommendation - academic or professional (recommendations from family members are not accepted)
e. Authorization to Release Student Information
f. Student Conduct Verification
g. Academic Plan & Approval Form
h. Financial Aid Questionnaire
i. Passport Information Required Reading
j. CAPA Application Instructions Required Reading
Step 2: Complete CAPA’s KU London Internship application. See the CAPA Application Instructions in your Jayhawks Abroad account for details.
Please Note: Due to UK visa requirements, international students must have passed an accepted English Language assessment at a B2 level and participate in an English Language Assessment Skype Interview with a CAPA onsite staff member prior to being accepted. Applicants who are U.S. permanent residents, completed high school in the U.S., or are citizens of countries where English is identified as the official language are exempt from these additional requirements. Please contact CAPA and Study Abroad & Global Engagement for more information if you are a student who will need to complete these additional requirements.
