UCDC Internships

Internships are the core of the UCDC Program. A student’s internship experience not only involves the majority of their time, but also helps define and enrich the academic components of the program.

Finding an internship

You will need to secure your own internship (working a minimum of 32 hours/week) prior to the start of the program.  While applying for internships is your responsibility, the UCDC staff is available to assist you in navigating this process.  

Internship categories

Past Internship Organizations 
View a list of internship sites that previous students interned at in the past few years.  This list is for your reference only and is not intended to guarantee or promise that you will receive an internship at one of these organizations.  

When should I apply?

You can apply to the program without having secured an internship.

Some students begin applying to internships even before being accepted into the program. While this is allowed, it is not necessary—unless you intend to intern with the State Department, Department of Defense, or any other government department where a multi-month security clearance is required.

Please note that securing an internship does not ensure acceptance to the program. 

Again, it is your responsibility to apply for internships and secure one in time for your term. 

Applying for internships

To find the right internship for your term in Washington, D.C., you should expect to:

• Be proactive
• Research possible internship sites
• Have you resume and cover letter reviewed by Career Services and by the UCDC internship advisor
• Apply to at least 30 internships - use the internship spreadsheet to keep yourself organized
• Be flexible

The staff at the UC Washington Center will start working with you shortly after they are notified of your acceptance.  They will work with you throughout the search process, providing feedback and assistance.

You will have access to the UCDC database, which features organizations in the DC area that offer internships and with whom UCDC has worked.  The database is also a platform where students will document their experience by completing forms and providing feedback.  In addition to the database, you should also look for internship in other employment resources such as LinkedIn and Handshake.

There will be professional development events through the UCDC mentoring program, Monday Night Forums, and other opportunities.

Following the seven steps listed below, as well as seeking assistance from the UCSB CIP staff / UCDC Program staff, can help to ensure that you find the right internship at the right time.

Steps to take

Step 1: Determine your goals

What type of internship experience are you looking for? The questions below can help you narrow your vision:

• What is my mission/purpose for seeking this internship?
• What do I hope to gain from this experience? (connections, a future position, insight into what a job in this field is really like, etc.)
• Do I want to learn something related to my intended career?
• Do I want my internship to be related to my major?
• Do I prefer to work in the private sector, government, non-profit, etc.?
• Would a bigger or smaller organization be best for me?

Step 2: Research internship sites that align with your goals

It is wise to use as many resources as possible when conducting your internship search.  After you've been accepted into the program, the UCDC staff will provide you with lists of available internship positions.  You are also encouraged to perform your own research as well if you have particular interests not reflected in the site listings.

Step 3: Identify the application processes for 30 or more internship sites

Understand what the application entails and the deadlines.  

Step 4: Prepare your application materials and apply

Each internship site will requires different application materials.  Listed below are some common application elements and tips.

• Cover letter – Be sure to state that you are a UC Santa Barbara UCDC participant and include your participation dates.

• Resume – As much as possible, tailor your resume (and your cover letter) to each organization. Highlight the experiences most relevant to each internship. 

• Writing Sample (as needed) – Carefully follow the internship site’s instructions. Some sites have very specific writing sample requests, while others simply want to verify that you can write well. 

• Letter(s) of Recommendation (as needed)– If sites would like more than one letter of recommendation, you may need to obtain letters beyond the one you used for your UCDC application. If you want to use your UCDC letter of recommendation for an internship application and you do not have access to it, please contact the UCSB CIP Program Advisor. 

Before sending off your documents, be sure to convert them to PDFs in order to preserve formatting. Finally, proofread everything carefully (don‘t just spell check)!

Step 5: Follow up

It is critical that you remain proactive with your internship search and record the dates you expect to hear back from each internship site. If you have not heard from a site by the time specified, you must follow up to check your application status and/or set up an interview time (if necessary). Continue to keep track of any information you receive about a new time frame, and continue to follow-up, if needed. If an internship site is not getting back to you in a prompt fashion (allow at least one week for them to respond), you may need to apply to another internship site.

Step 6: Participate in interviews

Most internship sites will want to conduct a phone/virtual interview with you. If you need assistance in preparing for an interview, UCSB Career Services is a fantastic campus resource. Be sure to conduct your interview in a quiet place without music or roommate interruptions. Send a thank you email within 48 hours of your interview.

Step 7: Secure and commit to a placement

Once you are offered a position, you should make a decision within the timeline provided by the internship organization.  Be sure to notify the UCDC advisor that you've secured a placement and complete the UCDC Internship Offer Form.

It is in your best to keep your UCDC internship advisor informed of your search status, especially as your program start date approaches.   

IMPORTANT: DO NOT accept an internship if you are not sure that you want it. It reflects poorly on you and the UCDC program if you commit to a position, only to decline after accepting it.  You are encouraged to speak with a UCDC advisor if you have concerns about accepting a position.

Internship FAQs

How can I begin searching for internships?
Please visit the UCDC Finding an Internship page for a large listing of DC-area organizations.

How many internships should I apply for?
You are encouraged to apply for at least 30 internships.

Are there many paid internships in DC?
There are some paid internships in DC. If your internship is unpaid, you would be eligible for the Subsidizing Unpaid Interns Program (SUIP).  This is available only for the fall, winter, and spring terms.  You can receive a $1,000 scholarship and if your internship compensates you for less than $1,000, you would then receive the difference up to the $1,000 amount.  If you receive financial aid, your financial aid package must have room to accommodate this $1,000 - check with the UCSB Office of Financial Aid to determine if you would be able to accept this amount.  

The deadline has already passed for an internship I want. Should I still apply?
Some internship sites are strict about deadlines, while others are flexible. If a deadline has passed, contact the organization directly to ask if applications are still being accepted.

The internship start and end dates listed on the organization’s website are different than our school’s quarter dates. Is this a problem?
Not usually. Most organizations are more familiar with semester students and, therefore, list their internship opportunities as starting and ending according to those dates. Most of the time, however, they are open to quarter students’ schedules as well.

Some organizations are asking for confirmation that I am receiving academic credit for my internship. How do I obtain this?
There are many different forms of verification. The UCSB Capital Internship Program office can provide you with the appropriate method of verification. 

A potential internship site has asked me for a writing sample. What should I provide?
Sometimes the organization will be specific about what type of writing sample is needed, although this is not always the case. If not specified, feel free to ask the UCDC internship advisor for guidance.

How many hours per week am I required to work at my internship?
During the academic year (fall, winter, spring), you must work at least 32 hours per week in order to earn the required 8 P/NP internship units.

In summer, there are different options for units.
4 internship units - 24 hours/week
6 internship units - 28 hours/week 
8 internship units - 32 hours/week
  Financial aid recipients must enroll in at least 6 units to be eligible to receive some aid.

What should I do if an organization offers me an internship but I am still waiting to hear from other organizations with whom I would rather work?
Organizations in DC know that internship applicants are applying to multiple organizations. If you get an offer and you are still awaiting a reply from a more preferable site, simply ask the organization if you can have more time to consider the offer. Or, find out the latest possible date that the organization will need a response.

My internship site needs to know the dates of my first and last day of work. How do I determine this?
All of the session dates for each quarter are listed in the Calendar section of the UCDC site. Generally, you are encouraged to begin working the day after your orientations in D.C. As for your last day of work, be sure to leave yourself adequate time to pack and check out at the end of your term. You will be working up against strict move-out dates and will need to be on-time for your return flight, so a sufficient time cushion will be important.

If I arrive in DC and end up not liking my internship, what should I do?
If you have concerns about your internship, you should speak to your UCDC internship advisor for advice.  They can discuss communication methods for you to talk to your supervisor about ways to improve your internship experience. Please note that it is not acceptable to quit an internship at any time while participating in UCDC.