The prerequisite topics ensure that you have the minimum level of knowledge and skills required to undertake the internship tasks set by your office, as well as to complete the WIP assessments to the required standard. The prerequisite topics are listed in the Application Guide, and further detail on each topic is available via the Handbook. Prerequisites cannot be waived. 

Yes, you will be enrolled in the Flinders topic AMST3016 (9 units). AMST3016 involves conducting independent research on a topic relevant to your internship placement. You will be mentored by the Topic Coordinator. Students undertaking the 17-week program also complete AMST3016 alongside their studies in the US. 

The 6000-word research paper is an opportunity to conduct in-depth research on a topic relevant to your placement. For example, you might write a paper about a policy issue that is significant for your congressional office. It is an independent research project, where you are responsible for choosing your topic and managing the project. The Topic Coordinator will support you throughout the process of designing and conducting your research. 

To prepare you for the major research paper, you will complete three other assessments.

• Background paper (500 words): write a short brief that profiles your congressional placement. 
• Research proposal (1000 words): prepare a research proposal that outlines the research plan for your proposed research paper. 
• Oral presentation (10-12 minutes): deliver an oral presentation on your research project.

The internship is a position of trust and significant responsibility. The selection committee takes particular account of the applicant’s statement of interest, resume, and letters of recommendation. The committee looks for evidence that you will succeed in the internship - that is, that you are highly committed to it and have the background knowledge and personal attributes and skills necessary to succeed in a congressional office. Washington works on the basis of information, and it is important that anyone applying for the program is well‑informed about American politics and political culture. The selection committee will also look for evidence that you will function as a supportive member of the Flinders Internship group, assisting and supporting any member who encounters a problem or difficulty. The committee is interested in how the internship fits in with your career plans and will look for evidence of your relevant experience and maturity.

Successful applicants to the Washington Internship programs work as political professionals. Students applying for admission list three preferred areas of policy or partisan interest, and every effort is made to match these interests with the offices offering placements, but prospective interns may not reject placements. The Program focuses on providing a congressional experience rather than aligning with personal political preferences. Offices of members of the US Senate and House of Representatives assign a staff member to oversee all interns, and these supervisors are informed of the unique requirements of the Program, particularly the need to produce a major research paper based on the internship. The topic of this paper is determined collaboratively by the intern, the Topic Coordinator, and the intern’s congressional office supervisor.

The congressional office intern supervisor sets the daily tasks for the Flinders intern. The goal of the internship is to provide an experience of political life in an influential congressional office and exposure to the many tasks, priorities, and pressures of that environment. As a result, not all assigned tasks will relate directly to the major research paper, which is a natural part of the internship experience. Interns are encouraged to remain in close contact with their coordinators to ensure that both their work assignments and the development of the major paper progress smoothly.

Placements are allocated at the discretion of our US-based WIP partner. At the time of application for the WIP, you can indicate a preference to intern at a Democrat or Republican office, although these preferences may not be catered for due to the limited availability of placement positions. We therefore encourage you to approach the internship with curiosity and be open to the prospect of interning at an office which may not align with your personal political beliefs. 

The following table shows the breakdown of your estimated program cost. The "Estimated contribution by student" is the total amount for a which a student is responsible, taking into account the generous contribution of $4,000 per student by the College of Business, Creative Arts, Law and Social Sciences.

Students are eligible to apply for the RA Simpson international scholarship and the OS-help loan and can seek individual financial support from local councils and local service organisations.