Summer Work Program

For over fifty years, the German Department’s Summer Work Program has offered Princeton students a unique opportunity to improve their language skills while learning about Germany or Austria. Beginning in 2012-2013, the Summer Work Program will be coordinated in partnership with Princeton’s International Internship Program (IIP). This partnership allows us to offer two types of internships: cultural internships which are usually four to five weeks long and are aimed at introducing students to German culture in a professional environment; and professional placements, which are eight to ten weeks long, are aimed at giving students a pre-professional experience in Germany, and are offered in collaboration with the IIP.

During all the SWP internships, you will live in a typical environment and learn, through everyday contact, about people’s attitudes, values, and aspirations. You will be part of the country’s work force and will be integrated into its social structure.

The Department of German and the International Internship Program work closely with the Princeton Alumni Association of Germany and with a number of other organizations that have adopted the Princeton Summer Work Program as an outstanding model for strengthening German-American friendship and cultural exchange.

About the Internships

The Summer Work Program places students in jobs with German and Austrian companies and institutions. Internships ordinarily last for four to five weeks (cultural) or eight to ten weeks (IIP pre-professional), usually from mid-June to mid-August.

In cooperation with our partner organizations in Germany, we have considerably expanded the range of positions that will be available to Princeton students in coming years. In recent years, we have been able to offer internships in the following sectors:

  • Banking and Finance
  • Insurance
  • Consulting
  • Marketing and Office Work
  • Museums and Theaters
  • Media: TV, Radio, Newspapers, Publishing
  • Engineering: Automotive, Electronics, Energy, Chemical
  • Architecture, Construction, and Real Estate
  • Research Institutions (Economics, Environmental)
  • State Government and Politics
  • Medical Clinics
  • Law

These companies and institutions are located in various cities across the three countries, such as Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt, Freiburg, Hamburg, Mainz, Munich, Vienna, and Wiesbaden.

Eligibility

Any student can apply with at least a B- grade in German 107 (fourth semester), i.e. satisfactory competence in German. The application procedure includes a short interview in German. Unfortunately, seniors are not eligible.

Accommodation, Funding and Transportation

Housing: In a few cases the companies provide housing; otherwise, in the past, students have made their own arrangements. SWP will assist students in arranging housing if necessary.
Salaries for the cultural internships vary depending on the internship, particularly in cultural and governmental institutions. Although we cannot guarantee funding for these positions, in previous years we have been able to offer a number of scholarships to cover living expenses. The IIP guarantees funding for all of its pre-professional placements, including the ones in Germany that are part of the SWP.

Transportation Costs: The costs for a round-trip plane ticket to Europe and any transportation within Europe are usually borne by each participant. Students who need assistance may apply to the German Department for travel assistance grants. In the past, the department has been able to offer travel subsidies for up to $1,000.
Summer Earnings for Financial Aid Students: Because the Program is educational, the Princeton Financial Aid Office will modify its expectations with regard to the usual obligation of scholarship students to earn money during the summer. Students should contact the Financial Aid Office directly.

How to Apply

Students should apply to both the cultural and professional internships International Office’s online application. The general application for cultural internships will soon become available. For the IIP professional placements, students should apply using the IIP Placement Application. All applications are due by 5 P.M. on December 17, 2012 (online and hard copy, including a letter of recommendation from a faculty member). Please note that for all SWP internships, you must schedule a German interview with a faculty member of the German Department and Timothy Attanucci, Assistant Director of the Summer Work Program between November 21 and December 16. Interview slots will become available in November and should be schedule through the Web Appointment Scheduling System. For more information about the application process, see the IIP website.

Contact

For more information, please contact Timothy Attanucci, Assistant Director of the Summer Work Program.
Office hours: Thursdays, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm; alternatively, email to arrange another time.
 Office: 224 East Pyne; Phone: (609) 258-4132; 
E-mail: swp@princeton.edu; or contact the International Internship Program at (609) 258-2115 or iip@princeton.edu.