LSE has been placing high-calibre interns with parliamentarians and the administration of both Houses since since 1998, when the scheme was launched by alum and governor, Barry Sheerman MP.

These voluntary part-time placements with our graduate-level students for up to fifteen hours per week (October - March), involve a mixture of research projects, policy work, scrutiny and monitoring, constituency work and general office support.

Opportunities are open to students from all programmes and disciplines, with candidates providing hosts with excellent analytical and research skills and offer a unique international outlook and in return they gain the invaluable experience of witnessing the parliamentary process and apply their studies first hand.

We are now seeking interest from MPs and peers for the 2016-17 parliamentary session.

1. Discuss your potential opportunity and planned tasks or research brief with LSE Careers and review our frequently asked questions.
2. Register your office with us and complete an online internship request form.
3. Once reviewed and formalised we will advertise the position to students.
4. You receive a shortlist of potential candidates for the role and can then choose to interview or follow up with those you feel best match your requirements.
5. You inform LSE Careers of the outcome and then complete the relevant paperwork for the Parliamentary Security Department (e.g. pass forms).
6. We keep in contact with the intern and host throughout the placement and you can contact us if you require further assistance.

• Be clear about your ability to reimburse any lunch or travel expenses whilst on parliamentary or constituency business.
• Provide clear instructions from the outset on the project/s you will assign to your intern and the level of assistance you would like them to offer.
• Don’t forget that your intern will have past experience or contacts, possibly even from another country, that could be useful to various projects that you will be working on.
• If there are any events or meetings which it would be suitable for your intern to attend please invite them along. The networks they can build throughout this internshis will be very valuable.
• Try to ensure that you set aside a small amount of time each month with your intern to discuss their progress. Students will appreciate constructive feedback.
• If you have been happy with your intern then don’t forget offer to give them a reference should they require one.
• At the end of the internship give feedback to LSE on your experience so that we can evaluate and improve the programme.

For further details or to discuss your potential opportunity, please contact:

Rob Cannings
careers.employers@lse.ac.uk
+44 (0)20 7107 5293