International Internship Program
Every year in June the Katie School offers two 4-week international internships to London, England and Zurich, Switzerland as well as a 3-week international internship to Bermuda. Two juniors are selected each spring per each location and the six students receive a tremendous experience in these global insurance markets learning about different facets of the industry. They develop networking skills by interacting with many industry professionals on a daily basis.
The Katie School covers costs including airfare, lodging, meals, and ground transportation. Each student will receive scholarship funding to cover incidental expenses. The student interns will receive 6 hours of University credit when all requirements are completed and the Katie School will also pay the tuition for this course.
London
The internship in the Lloyd’s and London markets will provide the students with experiences including:
- Spending time in the legendary Lloyd’s underwriting boxes and working with underwriters as they complete transactions with brokers.
- Shadowing brokers as they interact with underwriters in Lloyd’s and the London company markets.
- Working with claims personnel as they facilitate the claims process for the syndicates.
- Learning more about the reinsurance segment of the industry.
- Experiencing an international living experience at the International Student House (ISH) with 400 other students from around the world.
- Enjoying discounted weekend trips through the ISH.
- Living in a new cultural environment.
Bermuda
The internship in the Bermuda market will provide the students with experiences including:
- Shadowing brokers and underwriters plus seeing the claims, finance and investment aspects of the Bermuda market.
- Seeing how a company is incorporated and the registration process.
- Visiting with a captive management company.
- Delving into the reinsurance segment of the industry.
- Interning with two Bermudian students who are also studying insurance at the University level.
- Living in a new cultural environment.
View the 2008 interns in an article from The Official Journal of the Bermuda Insurance Industry
Zurich
The internship in the Zurich market will provide the students with experiences including:
- Shadowing reinsurers, claims personnel and underwriters plus visiting with various departments in the corporate setting.
- Focusing on reinsurance business in the insurance industry.
- Gaining a global perspective on the insurance industry.
- Developing networking skills by interacting with many industry professionals on a daily basis.
- Experiencing an international living experience at the Youth Hostel in Zurich.
- Working on an identified project within the market.
- Living in a new cultural environment.
Watch 2009 interns Doug Johnson and Nick Paul describe their unique experiences while interning in Zurich.
Criteria
- Completion or enrollment in FIL 250: Introduction to Insurance and Risk Management.
- Currently completing junior year at Illinois State University.
- Pursuing a career in the Insurance and Risk Management industry.
- Minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
- Preference given to students with Insurance major or minor and Gamma Iota Sigma members.
Requirements
- The student will be required to prepare a research paper on the applicant's respective international market prior to departure.
- The student will make a presentation to the sponsoring organizations and also present to small groups on the ISU campus during the following academic year.
- The student will represent the Katie School of Insurance and Financial Services with the highest degree of professionalism while abroad.
- The student will attend all planned events as outlined by the internship schedule each day.
- The student will send 'thank you' notes to all company contacts within one week upon arrival in the U.S. after completion of the internship.
- The student will compose a reflection paper after completion of the internship.
Any interns failing to meet the responsibilities will not receive credit for the internship and will reimburse the Katie School for all costs incurred including transportation, lodging, and meals.
How to Apply
The application deadline has already expired. Applications are available for pick-up in the Katie School Office or by printing the PDF file. The application process begins in November and ends mid-January. Candidates are chosen shortly thereafter.
