International Internships (i-Intern)

International Internships in the USA - Academic Internship Council

What is this programme about?

The Academic Internship Council (AIC) is an international, non-profit, study-abroad organisation that places nearly 2,000 students in comprehensive and high-quality internships across a broad spectrum of industries. AIC endeavors to find the right match between students and host companies, offering advice (outside of internship work hours) on professional practice and cultural immersion.

When does the programme take place?

3 June to 11 August, 2012

Where does the programme take place?

Boston, Massachusetts, USA and New York City, New York, USA

What is the academic/internship content?

Internship positions offered through AIC are multi-disciplinary, and are available in various industries including:

	Arts & Culture Business & Finance Communications & Design Education Healthcare Hospitality & Travel Law, Politics and NGOs Marketing & Media

Participating host organisations will vary each year, and a sample of the internship placements in previous years is as follows:

	Boston
		Architexa Emerging Portfolio Fund Research MassVOTE Neighbors to Neighbors The Williams Agency
	New York City
		Aegis Capital DBS Vickers Securities Christina Jensen PR Cross Border Ltd. Sunshine Suites NYC

Academic credit MAY be available.  Credit for the internship is strictly at the student’s discretion. Students interested in obtaining credit must work with their faculty for credit mapping. IRO does not apply for credit transfer on the students’ behalf.

What does the programme fee include?

	Matching and placement for a 9-week unpaid internship Accommodation in student residences for the duration of the programme Orientation, social activities and 24/7 support Workshop or materials on topics such as interviewing, resume preparation and making the most of the internship J-1 visa services Health insurance

 

What is the student accommodation?

Participants will be housed in student residences as designated by AIC, which are convenient to the city center and easily accessible via public transportation. Bedrooms are typically twin-sharing and fully furnished. Facilities and services will include kitchen facilities, laundry access and internet connection.

While not recommended, students who prefer to secure their own accommodation for the programme may also choose to opt out of the AIC housing at the time of application.

How much does it cost?

Programme expenses will vary with the city of the internship and the requirement for AIC housing. Please refer to the following for an estimate of the programme costs.

Item	Boston	New York City
Programme Fee (with AIC housing)	USD $6,192	USD $6,346
Programme Fee (without housing)	USD $2,512	USD $2,574
Food and Transportation	USD $1,200	USD $1,200
Airfare	Approx. SGD $2,500	Approx. SGD $2,000
Airport Transfer (Pre-arranged shared private pick-up service)	USD $40 per pax (two-way)	USD $40 per pax (two-way)
Visa	USD $320	USD $320
Miscellaneous Expenditure (e.g. entertainment, etc.)	USD $1,000	USD $1,000
Total Cost (fees, housing, food/transport, airfare/transfers, visa and expenses)	USD $10,770 (approx. SGD $13,360)	USD $10,516 (approx. SGD $13,050)

Please note, these are estimated expenses and actual expenses may differ based on price shifts and personal spending habits!

Is Financial Assistance Available?

Yes. Students can apply for a study travel grant from the International Relations Office.

Number of Placements Available

No limit.

What are the eligibility requirements?

Students from any faculty who have completed at least one year of study at NUS prior to participating in this programme. Students should not be in their graduating semester prior to participating in this programme. CAP of 3.0 and above. Students with a lower CAP may be considered, but IRO will require such applicants to submit additional documentation (e.g. a third letter of recommendation from a faculty member, etc.).

 

Is a visa required?

Yes. AIC will assist in providing students proper documentation to apply for a J-1 visa. 

Students are to consult the United States Embassy in Singapore to determine the visa application procedures required for their participation in the programme.

U. S. Embassy, Singapore
27 Napier Road
Singapore 258508
Phone: (65) 6476-9100
Fax: (65) 6476-9340

Students are responsible for ensuring that they have proper entry documents for all countries they plan to visit as part of this programme!

How do I apply?

Application deadline is Friday, 17 February 2012. Students are encouraged to submit an application as early as they can, as the overall application/placement process begins with IRO’s receipt of your application.

Applications and Required Documents:

	Students are to complete the IRO Programme Application Form. Submit your application form to IRO, together with hardcopies of the following documents:
		Latest unofficial NUS transcript CV/Resume Two letters of reference/recommendation (preferably from a faculty member and/or employer/supervisor)

Placement Process:

Students will receive a welcome email from AIC, with instructions on signing-up for a webinar orientation / information session with AIC. Students will complete an online questionnaire and schedule a pre-placement meeting with AIC. Following the pre-placement interviews, AIC sends the student’s resume to a number of companies on their database. Companies will notify AIC and AIC arranges an interview in which company representative and the students directly discuss their needs and determine if there’s a match.   The companies notify AIC of the interview results. AIC will notify students. Students who are unsuccessful in their first interview will wait for AIC to contact and solicit interest from other companies.

Payment and Withdrawal Policy:

Students will make payment for the programme fee across three installments to IRO. Failure to submit full payment prior to departing for the programme will result in dismissal from the programme and loss of non-recoverable expenses.

	First Installment (Deposit of USD $500): Due on 9th March 2012 Second Installment (20% of Programme Fee): Due on 2nd April 2012 Third Installment (Remainder of Programme Fee): Due on 7th May 2012

Students will be levied with financial penalties for withdrawals after the following dates. All requests for withdrawals must be made in writing and addressed to AIC, and will be respective to the date your request is received.

	Before  8th March 2012: No financial penalty After 9th March 2012: Loss of 50% of deposit (USD $250) After 1st April 2012: Loss of full deposit (USD $500)

 

Who to contact for more information?

Orion KEW (Mr)
Phone: (+65) 6516 6172
Email: irook@nus.edu.sg