Internships in Florence: Program
In a competitive world, practical experience is an invaluable addition to classroom learning. Richmond’s internship program provides vital insights into a career field, experience in the global workplace, practical exposure to demands of specific jobs and development of professional and personal skills.
International work experience helps students test a potential career path while exploring interests and abilities in new ways. Working side by side with Florentines is the best way to gain insight into their culture, understand different approaches and prepare for the realities of working in a multicultural and interdependent world.
Richmond has specifically designed the International Internship Program to combine an academic program and individual attention with a unique opportunity to spend 12 weeks working in Florence-based organizations.
The program benefits students by enabling them to:
- apply academic training to practical situations in business and other organizations
- work alongside professionals and managers to observe different work-styles and techniques
- relate work experience to classroom situations
- enrich employment opportunities and establish a work record for their CV (resumé)
- acquire skills and strengths essential to the development of personal confidence
- gain contacts and insight into a career area
The internship program is offered in the spring semester. Students participating in the semester program earn up to 16 credits. It consists of intensive study of the Italian Language, internship seminars and 12 weeks on an unpaid internship.
In addition, students choose one semester-long, 3-credit course related to the Internship chosen, taught weekdays by Richmond faculty, many of whom are practicing experts in their fields. Check online at www.richmond.it for details.
Interns are full members of the Richmond community and benefit from all facilities and services. They can use the campus library, computer lab, studios and other facilities and take part in the active community life of the diverse student body through travel, performances, sports and social programs.
The ideal internship placement is a coordination between the skills and personality that an organization is seeking and those that a student presents. Each student should approach the program with cultural awareness and flexibility. This will enable the internship office to identify suitable organizations at which the student may intern. Placements are made with both small and large organizations, and selection is based on a number of criteria. In many working places the language barrier is not considered a problem, although some places require a good knowledge of the Italian language.
Please note: Students must attend interviews with suitable organizations and understand that this is a competitive process. Final selection is always at the discretion of the organization, and the internship program is not able to honor specific requests to join a particular organization or guarantee that students will be successful at interviewing.
Florence has an extensive public bus system to get to and from classes and housing. Many sites throughout the center of the town are accessible by foot. Interns use public transportation to get to work if necessary. Students should budget approximately 40 euros per month for a bus pass.
Admissions guidelines
Students must meet all the normal criteria for admission to Richmond, The American International University in London and have:
- enrolled at least 75 semester credits (105 quarter credits) by time of admission and enrolled in a full-time degree program
- 2.75 minimum GPA (3.0 for those students seeking a placement in finance or psychology)
- a thoroughly and thoughtfully completed internship application which forms part of their portfolio and a completed academic year and semester application
- paid or unpaid work experience during the last two years
- letter of reference from a former employer
- one letter of academic reference
Completed applications will be reviewed by the Florence Admissions Committee. AIFS will notify applicants of their acceptance.
