Our internship programme is an exciting opportunity for King’s postgraduate students to see behind-the-scenes at the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership (GIWL), experience how we put research into action, and gain practical, hands-on experience in policy, or communications and events. Interns will also benefit from guidance and supervision from members of the GIWL team.
Who can apply?
Applicants must be enrolled and continuing in a master’s programme at King’s and must receive credits or another form of formal recognition from their course for participating in the programme.
Applicants will be expected to have confirmed this information with their departments prior to submitting their application. We will not be able to accept applications from students who do not meet these criteria and we are not accepting any other work experience or volunteer placements at this time.
You can find out more about the programme and how to apply in the sections below.
We're looking for applicants who...
- Have a demonstratable interest in gender equality and women’s rights generally, and GIWL’s key research areas specifically.
- Are enthusiastic, positive and proactive.
- Are highly self-motivated and able to work well independently and as part of a team.
- Have good communication skills and a strong command of written and spoken English.
- Proficiency in other languages is a plus.
What to expect
We are recruiting interns for two roles. The first will work with GIWL’s research team and the second with GIWL’s communications and events team.
Interns working with the research team can expect to:
- Gain experience in qualitative and/or quantitative research.
- Complete literature reviews of academic and grey literature.
- Undertake stakeholder engagement for research impact.
- Present key findings from the research they undertake as part of their internship to the GIWL team.
Interns working with the communications and events team can expect to:
- Gain experience copywriting, proofreading and editing for a number of formats.
- Undertake research into ideas, speakers and themes for GIWL events.
- Develop social media and digital marketing skills.
- Develop hands-on experience in events planning and provide operational support with live and online events.
- Support the wider comms and events team with key administrative tasks (eg maintenance of mailing lists and monitoring of social media and website analytics).
Practical requirements
The Global Institute for Women’s Leadership is located in central London, based in the Virginia Woolf Building on Kingsway. Interns are encouraged to complete this internship in person, working from our London office for a one day per week, but usually online participation can be accommodated. We are currently recruiting for two cohorts for our internship programme. The first will start on 31 October 2023, and the second on 17 January 2024. Please indicate your preferred start date on the application form. The duration of the internship programme will be dependent on the requirements of your internship module.
How to apply
To apply, please submit the following via email: giwl-admin@kcl.ac.uk
- Your completed GIWL internship application form.
- An up-to-date CV.
- A cover letter describing:
- Why you want to complete the internship and what you hope to gain from the experience.
- How you hope the internship will further your personal and professional development.
- Relevant coursework and work experience.
- Any languages and level of proficiency, or other relevant skills or qualifications.
- A writing sample:
- Written on a relevant topic demonstrating your interest in, for example: equality, women's rights, society, public policy, culture, or politics.
- Three to five pages in length.
- You may use a previously qualifying written assignment.
Applications should be submitted to: Senior Team Administrator at the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at giwl-admin@kcl.ac.uk. Please include your name and GIWL internship: Research team or GIWL internship: Comms & events team, in the subject line.
- For cohorts one and two the submission deadline is Wednesday 18 October 2023, 23:59 BST.
- If you require any additional information about the internship programme application process or requirements, please contact giwl-admin@kcl.ac.uk.
Next steps
All applications received by the deadline will be shortlisted by the GIWL Team. Candidates will be notified within two weeks on the outcome of their application.
The internship will begin on either Monday 30 October 2023 or Wednesday 17 January 2024 (depending on your cohort). Your first week will consist of an induction, including a tour of the GIWL office and introduction to the team. You will also meet your supervisor, who will oversee you and your work assignments for the duration of the internship.
Written work and presentations
As part of the internship programme, interns will be required to write a short report of their experience, including highlights and learnings from the internship, particularly in relation to inclusive leadership and gender-related issues. The paper is due one month from the completion of the internship. With permission, excerpts from this report may be used by GIWL in case studies, or as part of GIWL’s promotional materials.
Interns working with the GIWL research team will also be required to present key findings from the research they undertake as part of their internship to the wider GIWL team. This is a great opportunity for interns to develop their presentation skills, gather feedback on their research, and practice presenting data in an engaging, easily accessible way.
At the end of the internship, interns will be asked to submit feedback to help us improve and develop the programme for future cohorts.