City Internships

Faqs
Find answers to some of the most common
questions our applicants ask below.

OUR TOP 5 FAQs


What does each program include?

A lot. We often state our program offers more (for less) than any of our contemporaries in the accelerated education space. Here's how:

Our unique model – in a nutshell, companies pay us if they hire you as a graduate so we're not solely funded by your tuition fees – means we can pack CI programs with all the things needed to get your career off to a flying start.

All CI programs contain three key ingredients:

1. An internship. Where you can put your education into practice, acquire marketable skills, make professional connections and add some real-world experience to your resume.

2. Group learning. Global Accelerator programs include two group sessions - we're reluctant to call them classes - each week. They're everything school often isn't; they're dynamic, interactive and give you practical, modern skills, tools and mindsets that are proven to matter to prospective employers. These sessions are divided into two tracks, commonly referred to as the 'Career Navigator' and 'Future Leaders' series.

3. Group activities and travel. Global Accelerator programs include regular group activities and excursions. On a CI program, you'll be part of a cohort of ambitious, hardworking go-getters brought together in one of the world's great cities; we'll encourage you to have fun and to see, do and experience as much as you can together.

To help you see everything that's included in each CI program, we've included an interactive timeline on each specific program page. To navigate to a specific program, visit our programs and locations main page.

When do the programs take place?

Our 8-week Accelerator programs take place in the summer.

Dates can vary slightly according to location. For specific dates, visit our programs and locations main page and select your chosen city.

Dates vary based on accommodation availability.

Given the structured nature of the summer programs we advise against, but can sometimes accommodate, late arrivals or early departures only. If you have a scheduling conflict, let us know as soon as you can.

Explorer programs run on a rolling basis during the Fall, Winter and Spring semesters. Dates are customizable according to partner company availability.

Which company will I intern with?

We partner with leading companies across 9 locations and 9 core industries. Our partner host companies vary in age, scale and growth phase; from large, established publicly-listed organizations to early-stage, innovative start-ups.

Each of our 18 locations represent thriving hubs of modern commerce and culture: London | Paris | New York | Washington DC | Boston | Chicago | Miami | Los Angeles | San Francisco

Each of our 9 industries represent the spectrum of high-value graduate career paths:

Banking & Financial Services | Consulting & Professional Services | Marketing, Advertising & PR | Law & Politics | Media, Entertainment & Journalism | Technology & Engineering | Art, Fashion & Design | Start-ups & Entrepreneurial

On completing your Career Consultation, our Employer Engagement team will begin to introduce you to host companies where your aspirations are well-matched.

We do not routinely publish lists of our partner host companies. You may however find our Where Are They Now guide, containing alumni stories updated each quarter, a useful guide to the caliber of companies that call on CI for their student and graduate employment efforts.

How much do CI programs cost?

Program tuition fees are the same regardless of the city you choose, but vary according to your program choice.

The tuition fee for the 8-week Global Accelerator Program, our flagship program, is $5,950 USD. That's roughly equivalent to one-month's tuition fees at a US private college or a month and a half at a US public out-of-state college.

CI alumni get hired 3x more quickly and earn 30% more, straight out of college compared with the average graduate, $47,000 versus $36,000 per year. A CI program is an investment that should pay for itself more than twice over within your first year of finishing college alone.

For the Accelerator programs, we offer an optional accommodation package providing centrally-located summer housing in your chosen city.
Global Accelerator Program (8 WEEKS) $3850

The 6-12 week Global Explorer Program, which runs in all seasons and does not include group study, activities and travel, starts at $6,250 USD. However, remote support and online delivery of our curriculum is provided.

Can I customize my program by event?

Programs are all-inclusive and cost-based; we are unable to remove any element of your program or offer customization by event.




FAQs ABOUT THE PROGRAMS WE OFFER


What does each program include?

A lot. We often state our program offers more (for less) than any of our contemporaries in the accelerated education space. Here's how:

Our unique model – in a nutshell, companies pay us if they hire you as a graduate so we're not solely funded by your tuition fees – means we can pack CI programs with all the things needed to get your career off to a flying start.

All CI programs contain three key ingredients:

1. An internship. Where you can put your education into practice, acquire marketable skills, make professional connections and add some real-world experience to your resume.

2. Group learning. Global Accelerator programs include two group sessions - we're reluctant to call them classes - each week. They're everything school often isn't; they're dynamic, interactive and give you practical, modern skills, tools and mindsets that are proven to matter to prospective employers. These sessions are divided into two tracks, commonly referred to as the 'Career Navigator' and 'Future Leaders' series.

3. Group activities and travel. Global Accelerator programs include regular group activities and excursions. On a CI program, you'll be part of a cohort of ambitious, hardworking go-getters brought together in one of the world's great cities; we'll encourage you to have fun and to see, do and experience as much as you can together.

To help you see everything that's included in each CI program, we've included an interactive timeline on each specific program page. To navigate to a specific program, visit our programs and locations main page.

Will I have free time during my program?

Evenings and weekends are yours. CI events will span two evenings per week, a Weekend Retreat and day-trip. We actively encourage all participants to explore their city, and travel to surrounding areas. To enhance your experience, we offer two, non-compulsory days of vacation to all program participants. Vacation days must be arranged directly with your host company.

Can I talk to someone who did a CI program?

Absolutely; we are excited to launch our Alumni Ambassador Program enabling you to liaise with alumni and ensure that you fully understand our programs prior to making any commitments.

What will I learn in the Career Navigator Series and Future Leaders Series?

The Career Navigator Series is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and confidence to make smart, informed career decisions. The Future Leaders Series, often likened to a mini-MBA, helps students to learn about the intricacies of running a business and think beyond their internship role.

Both courses include over 30 hours of teaching time, access to regular drop-ins and one-on-one help. Participants leave our programs with real-world experience, a professional network, technical skills, career readiness and broadened horizons. All events are designed to enable participants to foster the following behavior traits; curiosity, intelligence, communication, collaboration and empathy. Five traits that we believe embody a mature, effective mindset.

What is included in the Weekend Retreat?

The Weekend Retreat, included as part of the Global Accelerator Program, is a chance to spend two nights away from your host city with your fellow interns in popular nearby destination. CI will cover transportation and accommodation costs for the Weekend Retreat. We will also cover the cost of recreational activities that we arrange.

Do you offer certification at the end of my program?

We will provide a CI endorsed certificate of completion and reference. Offering certification accredited by an external body would require us to model your program curriculum on the requirements of a governing body. Our focus is on career-readiness and making sure that participants leave our programs with the core skillset to catch the eye of even the most demanding hiring managers. We like to think of hiring companies as our governing bodies and our curriculum is flexible to reflect the ever-changing requirements of the graduate employment market.

Is event attendance mandatory?

Event attendance is expected but not compulsory. We suggest that you miss no more than three events over the course of your program. We advise you against missing any program events to ensure you get the full program experience. You may not miss your internship for any reason other than health problems or family emergencies, unless previously approves by your employer. You will receive two vacation days to take at your leisure throughout your program, enabling you to take extra time to explore the city and surrounding area.

Can I customize my program by event?

Programs are all-inclusive and cost-based; we are unable to remove any element of your program or offer customization.

Are my program dates flexible?

Our 8-week Accelerator programs take place in the summer.

Dates can vary slightly according to location. For specific dates, visit our programs and locations main page and select your chosen city.

Dates vary based on accommodation availability.

Given the structured nature of the summer programs we advise against, but can sometimes accommodate, late arrivals or early departures only. If you have a scheduling conflict, let us know as soon as you can.

Explorer programs run on a rolling basis during the Fall, Winter and Spring semesters. Dates are customizable according to partner company availability.

Do you provide help with flights or visas?

CI is not an official visa sponsor. Participants on our programs will be required to make their own travel and visa arrangements. Bunac and InterExchange are examples of third parties which serve as visa sponsors for international students. You may visit their respective websites for detailed information on the correct visa requirements.

Guarantee: What if it doesn't quite work out?

First, it's very unlikely. Once you've enrolled, we'll bring a considerable amount of time, resources and expertise to bear in making your program a success. We have a five-year track-record and are pretty good at what we do. Don't just take our word for it. Read alumni stories here.

That aside, in the event that we are unable to match you with an internship within your chosen location and industry despite your full co-operation during the placement process, you will be eligible for a full refund of any fees paid. Terms & Conditions apply.




FAQs ON THE INTERNSHIP COMPONENT


Will my internship result in a job offer?

Over 65% of our students are hired straight out of the program by their host companies. CI alumni are hired three times more quickly and earn 30% more straight out of college than their graduate peers compared with the US and UK national graduate averages.

We're committed to job creation and closing the skills gap for the benefit of the next generation of leaders, creators and thinkers.

We advise all interns to be the hardest worker in the room and to make yourself indispensable; your efforts will be recognized. We’ll also reward you with a tuition rebate of $2,500 if you’re hired by your host company within three years. General terms and conditions apply.

We are unable to guarantee that an internship will culminate in a job offer, as this will often depend on your performance.

What office hours should I expect at my internship?

Typically, you are at your internship from 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday. Your Advisor will inform you of any changes to this schedule prior to your arrival.

Do you guarantee an internship placement?

Unlike other internship program providers, we guarantee to find you an internship placement within both your chosen location and industry preferences. We view the internship placement process as a collaborative process and are always clear that whether you choose to join a company, or not, is ultimately your decision. Once you've enrolled, we'll bring a considerable amount of time, resources and expertise to bear in making your program a success. We have a five-year track-record and are pretty good at what we do. Don't just take our word for it. Read alumni stories here.

That aside, in the event that we are unable to match you with an internship within your chosen location and industry despite your full co-operation during the placement process, you will be eligible for a full refund of any fees paid. Terms & Conditions apply.

Are internships paid?

Compensation, if any, is determined by and at the discretion of your internship host company.

Internships offered by our partner host companies are by design generally skewed towards the benefit of the student. Interns with set hours, responsibilities and obligations similar to an employee though should expect to be paid.

Most students receive a stipend for daily lunch and travel expenses. Note however that we cannot guarantee additional compensation, if any, on behalf of internship host companies.

Can I see a list of host companies?

We partner with leading companies across 9 locations and 9 core industries. Our partner host companies vary in age, scale and growth phase; from large, established publicly-listed organizations to early-stage, innovative start-ups.

Each of our 9 locations represent thriving hubs of modern commerce and culture:

London | Paris | New York | Washington DC | Boston | Chicago | Miami | Los Angeles | San Francisco

Each of our 9 industries represent the spectrum of high-value graduate career paths:

Banking & Financial Services | Consulting & Professional Services | Marketing, Advertising & PR | Law & Politics | Media, Entertainment & Journalism | Technology & Engineering | Art, Fashion & Design | Start-ups & Entrepreneurial

On completing your Career Consultation, our Employer Engagement team will begin to introduce you to host companies where your aspirations are well-matched.

We do not routinely publish lists of our partner host companies. You may however find our Where Are They Now guide, containing alumni stories updated each quarter, a useful guide to the caliber of companies that call on CI for their student and graduate employment efforts.




FAQs ON OUR ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE, ENROLLMENT & PROGRAM TUITION


When is the application deadline?

We don't publish an official deadline, but if you're interested in one of our programs you should apply as soon as you are able to since we accept applicants and enrollees on a first-come, first-served basis.

You can apply here: www.city-internships.com/apply

Do you take my GPA or current grades into account when I apply?

Yes, grades are a contributing factor when our Admissions team reviews applications, but they are not everything. We look for candidates who are ambitious, motivated and display a passion for their future careers.

Here’s what impresses us when evaluating applicants.

  1. Academics
  2. Extra-curricular interests
  3. Career ambition
I’ve applied. What happens next?

The CI Admissions Committee meets each Monday to review the applications received the previous week – so you should expect to learn the outcome of your application within 7 days or less.

Applications to CI programs are competitive. Our admissions committee typically receive and review more than 1,500 applications per week.

The committee looks for the usual suspects – good academics, a foundation of hard and soft skills and well-rounded interests – but values evidence of personal excellence, drive and maturity above all else. On a CI program, you're an ambassador for us, and your university, to the some of the world's leading companies.

I’ve enrolled. What happens next?

Once you've enrolled, your place on a CI program is secured. Your journey thereafter can be broken-down into three distinct stages:

1. Program and Career Consultations

The CI Student Experience team will host a Program Consultation with you to help you consider and finalize your program selections. Here, you'll make your final decisions on program type, city and industry focus.

The CI Employer Engagement team will also spend time learning more about you, your skills and aspirations. Ahead of the matching stage, you'll complete a career questionnaire, video interview exercise and one-on-one consultation to get you, your resume, interview technique and industry knowledge in fighting form.

2. Internship placement matching

The CI Employer Engagement team are the gatekeepers to our partner host companies. They'll manage the matching process from beginning to end, setting you up with a leading internship in your chosen city and industry.

We're rewarded if your host company hires you as a graduate, and so are you, which happens 65% of the time. If it doesn't, you'll still have an experience that'll open doors for you. CI alumni get hired 3x more quickly and earn 30% straight out of college than the average graduate.

If you do get offered a full time position, there's no obligation to take it. So don't worry if you're not looking to get a graduate job from a CI program!

3. Preparing to arrive

With your internship finalized, the Student Experience team will have your back again. They'll ensure you're well-prepared and ready to make the most of your 8-weeks in your chosen city.

We run all our programs - so we'll see you when you arrive. And we'll keep on seeing you at least twice a week for the duration of your program. This part is almost as enjoyable for us as it is for you, it's the most rewarding part of our job, we're driven to get your career – and life, no less – off to a great start.

How much do CI programs cost?

Program tuition fees are the same regardless of the city you choose, but vary according to your program choice.

The tuition fee for the 8-week Global Accelerator Program, our flagship program, is $5,950 USD. That's roughly equivalent to one-month's tuition fees at a US private college or a month and a half at a US public out-of-state college.

CI alumni get hired 3x more quickly and earn 30% more, straight out of college compared with the average graduate, $47,000 versus $36,000 per year. A CI program is an investment that should pay for itself more than twice over within your first year of finishing college alone.

For the Accelerator program, we offer an optional accommodation package providing centrally-located summer housing in your chosen city.
Global Accelerator Program (8 WEEKS) $3850

The 6 - 12 week Global Explorer Program, which runs in all seasons and does not include group study, activities and travel, starts at $6,250 USD. However, remote support and online delivery of our curriculum is provided.

Do you offer financial assistance?

Every year, a portion of CI students enjoy some form of financial assistance. We have collated some useful resources in the 'Fund Your Future' section on our home page to help you diminish or spread the cost of attending a CI program. Among the most popular are our Student Ambassador Program and Payment Plans.

When do I pay my program fees?

You have three options to choose from; visit our Payment Plans page to find out more.




ACCOMMODATION PACKAGE


What does the Accommodation Package include?

Depending on your chosen city, the Accommodation Package includes a shared or single room in centrally-located, dedicated student housing. You will live with other interns that have selected the optional accommodation, a little over half of students do so.

Selecting the Accommodation package eliminates any worry and admin associated with finding your own temporary place to live. Perhaps above all, it serves as a great way to arrive on a CI program with a ready-made social group to enjoy your 8-weeks in your chosen city with.

For more information on the housing provided in your chosen city, visit our programs and locations main page and select your city.

Will I have gym access?

The majority of our housing providers offer gym access. However, we are unable to guarantee that you will have gym access; this differs from city-to-city. For more information, find your selected program and city page or contact us.

Will I have Wi-Fi in my room?

While the majority of housing providers offer Wi-Fi, we are unable to guarantee that you will have Wi-Fi in your room. The Accommodation Package is provided in partnership with external providers and some may charge a small fee. Visit your selected program and city page or contact us for more information.

Have an unanswered question?

Please contact the Student Experience team in Los Angeles via +1 (310) 438-5329 (7am to 4pm PST).

Alternatively, send an email to [email protected]