Global Competencies Internship Program
Filling the skills gap in the global workforce.
To launch a career after college, you need more than a degree. You need real-world experience, the right skills and expertise to succeed in a competitive international labor market. The Global Competencies internship program was developed to give global citizens like you a competitive edge and upward mobility throughout your career.
Eligibility
To be eligible to participate in this program, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a non-U.S. citizen
- Be a college senior, a recent college graduate (no more than 18 months post-graduation); or a graduate student
- English skills necessary to function in an American work environment
- Have a GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent)
- Hold a valid passport
Program Components
You will intern at your assigned internship site four to five days per week. Time spent at your internship site will help you gain professional experience and a competitive edge in the job market. Each week, you’ll attend sessions and workshops on core professional competencies to further build on your newly developed skills and strategize about your career path opportunities. You’ll also have numerous opportunities to network with professionals at special events and conferences.
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Program Cost
Spring and Fall 2023 Programs
- Program Fee: $5,665
- Housing Fee: $6,570
Housing and Living
The community you become a part of is one the best things about The Washington Center. You never know what will spark a conversation that turns a roommate from halfway around the globe to a lifelong friend. You might come for an internship, but you’ll be amazed by what you can learn from a late night burger run.
We don't like to brag, but our neighborhood, NoMa, is one of the coolest and 'most connected' neighborhoods in D.C. You'll be in the middle of it all with easy access wherever you need to go.
Want to learn all about TWC housing, the community and the neighborhood? Check out our Housing page below.
Housing
Most interns share a 2-bedroom/2-bath apartment with three other students in our modern academic and residential building. We'll provide everything you need, most of what you'll want and even some perks you might not have expected (like tips on where to find that burger at 2am).
Each apartment is fully furnished and includes:
- a full dining set (pots, pans, dishes, silverware, coffee maker and toaster)
- refrigerator
- microwave
- dishwasher
- iron and ironing board
- vacuum cleaner
- mop and broom
- washer and dryer
- wi-fi
What to Pack
Please be prepared to pack the following:
- linens including twin-sized sheets, towels, a blanket/comforter and pillows
- personal toiletries
- government-issued ID card
- at least three business professional outfits
- notebook and pens
- clothes hangers
Once you’ve arrived we recommend you purchase these additional items:
- cleaning supplies
- dishwasher and laundry detergent
- toilet paper and paper towels
- groceries
Due to limited storage we cannot accept packages in advance of your check-in date.
Housing Services
We give you your space, but we don't leave you totally on your own. Our housing services team and alumni mentors make sure you have the support you need, any time day or night. And our disability services staff ensures that every student has the tools they need to live comfortably, complete assignments and succeed in their work.
Academic Credit
You are not required to earn academic credit for this program.
Non-US Citizens
The Washington Center is a designated J-1 Visa sponsor by the U.S. State Department and sponsors a J-1 Visa for international students attending or recently graduated from a university in a foreign country. Once you’re accepted into The Washington Center’s program, you’ll be given details for how to secure your J-1 Visa. Special provisions may be available for Canadian citizens.
International students enrolled in U.S. universities with a valid F-1 visa can participate in TWC’s programs with their current visa as long as they remain enrolled in the university and their visa is valid until the last day of The Washington Center’s program or beyond. Please contact the home institution for further information.
J-1 Visa Requirements
In order to obtain a J-1 Visa, you must be accepted into one of our programs and:
- Be enrolled in a foreign degree- or certificate-granting university outside the United States OR have graduated from such an institution no more than 12 months prior to the program start date. Alternatively, you may have a degree or professional certificate from a foreign university and at least one year of work experience in your field.
- Know English well enough to perform successfully in the program.
- Plan to leave the United States within 30 days after completion of the program.
Once you have been accepted into our program and placed at an internship site, The Washington Center will send you the DS-2019 and DS-7002 forms along with other important materials.
Health Insurance
All J-1 Visa participants must certify that they have a valid health insurance policy for the entire duration of the program to comply with State Department requirements. You will need to bring proof of insurance with you when you come to the United States to provide to The Washington Center.
Your policy must include:
- Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness.
- Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000.
- Expenses associated with the medical evacuation to your home country in the amount of $50,000.
- A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.
An insurance policy secured to meet the benefits requirements must be underwritten by an insurance corporation with an A.M. Best rating of "A-" or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of "A-I" or above, a Standard and Poor's Claims Paying Ability rating of "A-" or above, or a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above. Alternatively, the policy may be backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor's home country.
Dates and Deadlines
Program Dates
| Check-In | Internship Period | Check-Out | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2023 | January 18, 2023* | January 24 – April 28, 2023 | April 29, 2023 |
| Summer 2023 | May 31, 2023* | June 6 – August 4, 2023 | August 5, 2023 |
| Fall 2023 | August 23, 2023* | August 29 – December 1, 2023 | December 2, 2023 |
* Alternate dates for check-in may be provided by your campus liaison. If you’re not sure who your campus liaison is, email info@twc.edu.
Application Deadlines
Your school may have deadlines that are earlier than the ones listed below, so we encourage you to contact your campus liaison before starting an application. If you’re not sure who your campus liaison is, email info@twc.edu.
| Early Deadline* | Regular Deadline | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer 2023 | February 15, 2023 | March 15, 2023 |
| Fall 2023 | March 29, 2023 | April 26, 2023 |
* Applying by the Early Deadline gives you the chance to hear from TWC sooner and be considered for internship sites that have earlier internal timelines.
** Spots at internship sites are most highly competitive during the summer. Students looking for summer internships in law enforcement, the legal affairs and international relations fields, and at various think tanks, government agencies, embassies and museums are encouraged to submit their application in January 2023.
How to Apply
Start and submit the online application by clicking the button below. When choosing a program option within the application, select the Academic Internship Program. Throughout the process, you can save your application and return to it at a later time. You must include the application documents listed in the section below to complete the application process.
If you're not quite ready to apply or are interested in learning more about our programs, please submit a Request For Information below.
Application Documents
Below are the documents you’ll need to submit with your application. Please note that your One-page Resumé, Transcript and Issues Essay or Writing Sample must be saved as PDFs in order to upload them.
- One-page Resumé: Outline your educational background and include experiences like volunteer opportunities, leadership roles on campus, honors and awards. See our resume guide and view sample resumes.
- Statement of Professional Interest: Write a summary (around 100 words) of what you’re seeking in an internship, the skills you’re hoping to develop and interests you’d like to explore. Please do not specify the name(s) of any particular organization in this statement, as it will be shared with potential internship sites. See our statement of professional interest guide.
- Issues Essay or Writing Sample: Write an essay (around 500 words) on a key issue that is relevant to the field you are hoping to intern in or submit a writing sample (around 500 words) from a previous course or experience. See sample issues essays.
- Transcript: Upload your transcript directly into the application or sent it to info@twc.edu. We accept both unofficial and official transcripts!
If you are attending school outside the U.S., you must also submit:
- Your TOEFL score
- Copy of your valid passport ID page
Policies
You can view TWC's Internship Policies here, which includes information on student conduct, billing, grades, and much more. All students will be expected to follow these policies so we encourage you to review them.