Internships

Considering a career in research?

A career in research may seem daunting, and you may be unsure if it’s the right path for you. Doing a research internship is a fantastic opportunity to:

• Gain valuable research and work experience.
• Apply knowledge from your undergraduate studies to real-world research.
• Get a feel for what a career in academia has to offer.
• Enhance your employability.
• Learn new skills.

Your internship 

As an Undergraduate Research Intern (UGRA), you will assist a faculty member in the Department with an ongoing research project. Further information on the research projects available for 2023-24 is below.

For further information on the duration of the internship and rate of pay please read the Internship Guidance.

Am I eligible?

The Undergraduate Research Internship is open to all 2nd and 3rd year undergraduate students in the International Relations Department, including students undertaking a joint degree. It is also open to International Relations General Course students taking 200- and 300-level courses in the department. Selection will be based on student academic performance and the fit between faculty research needs and student skill-sets. Students must be resident in the UK (holidays are permitted, but your primary residence should be in the UK) and have a UK bank account for the full duration of this programme to participate.

You are responsible for checking your own visa regulations (if applicable) and confirming you are permitted to work on the project.

How to apply

The deadline of 10.00am on Wednesday 25 October 2023 has now passed and applications are closed.

Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email by the end of Friday 10 November. If you have any queries or problems please contact ir.comms@lse.ac.uk

Research Projects 2023/24

• Theorising World Order Transitions in International Relations: The Role of Anti-Imperial Movements with Dr Martin Bayly
• Green Political Economy with Professor Robert Falkner
• Norms of UN peacekeeping: prior precedent and norm entrepreneurship in interstate conflict resolution with Dr Patrick Gill-Tiney
• Ideologues or Interest Groups? The Effect of Issue Linkage and the Limits of Design-based Solutions in International Negotiations with Dr Boram Lee
• Renationalising finance in the global south with Dr Natalya Naqvi
• Money in Politics: Revolving Doors across Sectors with Dr Victoria Paniagua
• Nuclear Weapons, Extended Deterrence, and Alliance Politics with Dr Lauren Sukin
• Interreligious Futures with Professor James Walters
• Reimagining Climate Governance: Institutional Evolution for a Sustainable Future with Dr Noah Zucker

Are you considering doing a summer internship with a UK Charity or small to medium-sized company? 

The deadline of 12 February 2023 for applying for the LSE International Relations Internship Fund Scheme has now passed.

The Internship Fund Scheme is open to 1st and 2nd year undergraduates including Joint Honours students. The scheme invites eligible students who are interested in undertaking an internship, that would otherwise be unpaid, to apply for funding. 

What is the Internship Fund Scheme?

The International Relations Internship Fund Scheme provides funding for a limited number of internships within a charity or small to medium sized enterprise* (SME) each year. This enables a number of students to receive funding for an internship that would be otherwise be unpaid and therefore might not be possible to do. 

Am I eligible? 

• Open to 1st and 2nd year International Relations undergraduate students, including Joint Honours students
  
  You are not eligible to apply if you have already received funding via the Internship Fund Scheme in a previous year or are in receipt of support from another LSE Careers work-based learning/internship programme, or the International Relations research assistant programme. 
• You don’t need to have an internship secured to apply

What does the scheme offer? 

• A grant of £1673 (equivalent to London living wage salary)
• Internships must be for 140 hours and take place between 19 June and 15 September 2023
• Funding is for internships with a registered UK Charity or SME based in the UK, that would otherwise be unpaid

How can I apply?  

• The deadline of 12 February 2023 has now passed and applications are closed.

Application forms will be assessed by LSE Careers and the department. We aim to notify all successful applicants by 6 March 2023.

You do not need to have an internship secured in order to apply for funding. If your initial application for funding is approved, you will then have several weeks to source an internship.

What happens if I am shortlisted to receive this grant?  

• We aim to notify all successful applicants by 6 March 2023
• You’ll have until 14 May 2023 to source and secure an internship and notify LSE Careers. Students can self-source their internship or apply to internships via the scheme (with the support of LSE Careers).
  
  LSE will not provide a guaranteed internship as part of this scheme but you will be invited to attend a compulsory careers seminar, designed to provide more guidance on how to find an internship. You will also be invited to attend a one to one careers appointment with an LSE Careers Consultant
• Internships will be confirmed and approved by 6 June 2023

If you have any questions about the scheme please contact careers@lse.ac.uk and use the subject heading ‘Internship Fund Scheme’.

* EU definition of SME: The organisation has less than 250 employees and annual turnover does not exceed €50 million or annual balance sheet total does not exceed €43 million