THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION Capitol Hill Programme 2012 Deadline: Monday 12 December 2011 “It’s a different system to Westminster…almost like a democratic political religion, which you only a sense of by spending time there. It’s something you can’t pick up from the books. It’s the Hill experience.” - Capitol Hill Programme Alumna
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The English-Speaking Union invites applications for its Capitol Hill Programme for the summer of 2012. The opportunity is available to undergraduates who started one of their last two years at a British university during 2011 to undertake placements in offices of members of the U.S. Congress. Applications are welcomed from students of any discipline at universities in the United Kingdom. Visa support and placements will be organised by ESU Washington DC and candidates will be selected by ESU England, based in London. In recent years ESU interns have worked in the offices of, amongst others, the late Edward Kennedy, Richard Gephardt and Don Young. Internships also offer excellent networking opportunities as well as C.V. building. The placements are unpaid and successful applicants are expected to raise the funds to cover the costs of their internships. In the past interns have received financial support from universities and grant-making trusts. Interns are assisted in finding accommodation, usually at George Washington University. This year, thanks to the generosity of Braxton Moncure there is free accommodation for several students who are able to demonstrate financial need. (All other costs will still need to be met by the intern.) Successful applicants will require approximately £1,300 to cover the cost of the accommodation. All other costs - flights, insurance and living expenses, estimated at around £2,000 – must be covered and arranged by the participants themselves. If you would like to apply for a bursary please send a separate letter stating that you are applying – please make it clear if free accommodation would be helpful, or the difference between being able to accept a place if offered or not. We also require some documentary proof of financial need; i.e. a scan of your student loan details, evidence of university based bursaries etc. This information will be treated as confidential and will not form any part of the interview process. The ESU may need to contact you for further clarification. The 2012 programme will run from mid-June to early August. SELECTION PROCEDURE Candidates should e-mail an appropriately detailed CV with a 250-word covering letter which supports their application. Successful candidates should be able to demonstrate an active interest in politics and that the internship will assist their medium-term career goals. All applications must be received by 5.30pm on Monday 12 December 2011 – you will be notified by Wednesday 14 if you are being invited to interview, and interviews will take place on Friday 13 January from 10am. When possible we prefer candidates to attend interview but in exceptional circumstances we may allow an interview via skype. Successful candidates would be expected to leave the UK around June 20th which may mean some applicants would miss their graduation.
Applications must be submitted to, and further information can be obtained from: Capitol Hill Internship Applications The English-Speaking Union Dartmouth House 37 Charles Street London W1J 5ED
Tel: 020 7529 1550 Fax: 020 7495 6108 E-mail: jason_vit@esu.org website: www.esu.org