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Psychology and Cognitive Science Internship

Description

Explore your career goals, expand your professional network and skills, and gain real work experience by participating in an internship for an organization in either Dublin, Ireland or Barcelona, Spain. Internships are customized according to your career interests and skills in Psychology or Cognitive Science. You will earn UCSC credit by enrolling in Psychology 193 which will fulfill major requirements, complement your experience, and support a successful internship. You will intern approximately 25 hours per week and should expect to spend additional hours per week on coursework for PSYCH 193.

Dates: 

  • Arrival Date: Saturday, June 24, 2023
  • Internship Start Date: Monday, June 26, 2023
  • Departure Date: Saturday, August 19, 2023

Language of Instruction: Internships are in English, with some Spanish language immersion options. Internship placements can complement language learning and fluency, if the student indicates this interest. 

Courses: Psychology 193I International Field Study (10 units)

Contact: Ashley Bayman at globallearning@ucsc.edu or Psych Field Study Director at psyfield@ucsc.edu

How to Apply

Department Deadline to apply: January 17, 2023

Global Learning Deadline to apply: February 1, 2023

Applying to the Psychology and Cognitive Science Global Internship program is a two-step process. You must first apply with the Psych Field Study Director. If your application is accepted, you will then receive a link to apply through UCSC Global Learning. See additional application instructions below:

  1. Attend one of the following required virtual info sessions to receive the Psychology and Cognitive Science Global Field Study department application. Once you complete the session registration form linked below you will receive the link to the zoom meeting.
  2. Complete the Psychology and Cognitive Science Global Field Study Application, which is only provided to students who attend one of the required info sessions listed above. If approved, you will be provided instructions on how to complete the Global Learning Application. 

After you have been accepted into the program, you will begin working with our internships partner Connect123 on your placement.

Quick Facts

Locations: Dublin, Ireland or Barcelona, Spain 

Minimum GPA - 2.5 Cumulative GPA or higher

Prerequisites and eligibility requirements 

  • Declared Psychology or Cognitive Science Major
  • Good Academic Standing
  • Junior or Senior Standing
  • Completion of PSYC 100 with a C or better by the end of the Fall 22 quarter. If you have not completed the course by the end of fall 22, you are not eligible to apply.
  • Approval from Psychology and Cognitive Science Department.

Please note: A passport valid for at least six months after the program’s end date is required to apply.

Highlights

Global Internship Highlights:

  • Gain valuable intercultural communication skills while working with an international team and workplace.
  • Engage with your host community and culture through activities and networking opportunities.
  • Fine-tune your professional skills that are useful for a career related to Psychology and/or Cognitive Science.
  • Add an internship to your resume, and prepare to talk about it in interviews - future employers will be intrigued.

Dublin, Ireland Excursions 

  • EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum tour
  • Celtic Boyne Valley tour, including Hill of Tara, Trim Castle, Hill of Uisneach, Loughcrew passage tomb, Fore Abbey
  • Experience Gaelic Games
  • Abbey Theatre
  • Galway, Cliffs of Moher, and Connemara tour
  • Glasnevin Cemetery
  • Howth Cliff Walk

Barcelona, Spain Excursions

  • Sagrada Familia
  • Freixenet Cava Tour
  • Tango show
  • Spanish guitar concert
  • Barcelona cycling tour
  • Catalan cooking class
  • Abbey of Montserrat hike

Cost

To get a financial aid estimate on how much aid you can expect for the summer ‘23 global internship program, review instructions here.

*Students become liable for the Global Learning Program Fee after the withdrawal deadline of March 1, 2023. To withdraw, you must email globallearning@ucsc.edu with your full name, UCSC student ID, name of program, and reason for withdrawal. More information about withdrawal penalties can be found in the program budget.

Application Fee

  • There is a Non-Refundable $200 UCSC Global Learning Application Fee. It is charged to your UCSC account after March 1, 2023.

Scholarships

There are many scholarships available to help fund your global learning experience. For example, the Gilman Scholarship provides awards of up to $5,000 for pell grant recipients. See our scholarships page to see which ones you qualify for.

Location

Dublin

Dublin is a vibrant and welcoming city known for its captivating architecture, rich history, non-stop entertainment, thriving arts scene, lively cultural events, green spaces, and friendly residents. It is both the largest city in Ireland as well as the capital, founded as a Viking settlement during medieval times. Dublin is a global city with a vibrant youth culture making it an exciting place to intern. Read more about the city at Lonely Planet Dublin.

Barcelona

Barcelona is the second most populated city in Spain, and is located in the northeast, near the Mediterranean Sea. It is also the capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia. It is recognized as being one of Europe’s hottest startup capitals. The city is vibrant and international, making it an exciting location to intern. Barcelona consistently ranks high on the list of the world’s most liveable cities. Read more about the city at Lonely Planet Barcelona.

Currency in Dublin: Euro

Currency in Barcelona: Euro

Official Language(s) in Dublin: English and Irish (Gaeilge)

Official Language(s) in Barcelona: Spanish and Catalan

Accommodations

In Dublin, students will tentatively stay at UCD Summer Residence. Students will be provided single rooms, sharing the space with 4-6 other students in an apartment. For sample photos, please follow this link. Each apartment will have shared bathrooms, Wi-Fi, fully equipped kitchens, linens, desks, and in-building laundry. Before departure, students can provide roommate preferences and will receive official details about housing accommodations 4 to 8 weeks prior to arrival. On-site staff will support students with any housing-related issues, including room change and repair requests. Via bus, the commute time to central Dublin is 20 minutes. 

In Barcelona, students will tentatively stay in Vanguard Student Housing. At Vanguard, students will be provided single rooms in centrally located, premium-quality apartments, sharing with 4-6 other students. For sample photos, please follow this link. Each apartment will have shared bathrooms, Wi-Fi, fully equipped kitchens, linens, desks, and in-building laundry. Before departure, students can provide roommate preferences and will receive official details about housing accommodations 4 to 8 weeks prior to arrival. On-site staff will support students with any housing-related issues, including room change and repair requests. 

Meals

Meals are not provided outside of some planned activities, like the welcome dinner. Students will have access to fully-equipped kitchens.

Weather and Climate

To research the weather and climate in Dublin, visit here.

To research the weather and climate in Barcelona, visit here.

Research Your Destination

Lonely Planet Dublin, Ireland

Lonely Planet Barcelona, Spain

Travel Documents Required for US Citizens

Passport required for US citizens. If you are not a US citizen please email globallearning@ucsc.edu to learn about additional travel documents you may need to pursue this program.

Students with Disabilities

If you need support services abroad, request an accommodation letter from your UCSC Disability Resource Center (DRC) Coordinator and share it with your UCDC Global Learning Coordinator, Ashley Bayman. 

Identities Abroad and Away

UC Santa Cruz Global Learning is committed to inclusion and equity in our various program options as well as striving to make everyone’s experiences abroad enriching, positive, and safe.

Learn more on our Identities Abroad and Away webpage.

Academics

Course Description

Psychology 193I International Field Study (10 units)

  • Designed to provide advanced psychology undergraduates the opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom to direct experience in a community agency abroad. Students earn academic credit by working as interns at a variety of psychological settings where they are trained and supervised by a professional within the agency. A UCSC faculty member also supervises the students' academic work by providing guidance and helping them integrate psychological theories with their hands-on intern experience. Applications are due two quarters in advance to the Psychology Field Study Office. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100. Enrollment is restricted to junior and senior psychology majors.

The course will satisfy:

  • 1 upper-division elective for Psychology and Cognitive Science majors
  •  Advanced requirement for Intensive Psychology majors
  • The Psychology Field Study program

Internship

Internship Hours: 25 hours/week

Internship Partner

Global Learning has partnered with Connect123 to facilitate career-related internships for the Psych & Cog Sci global internship program. Their mission is to facilitate experiences that create equal value for students and for the local organizations where they work. Since 2006, thousands of students from over 600 universities and over 85 countries have participated in Connect123 programs. For more information, you can visit their website and read their reviews.

Once your application has been processed and approved by UCSC Global Learning, you will be working with the Connect123 team on your customized internship placement.

Internship Placement Process

  1. After you have been accepted into this program, Connect123 will schedule a Zoom call to learn about your interests and goals for the internship experience. Prior to the interview, you must send Connect123 your resume and cover letter/statement of purpose, describing your goals, skills, and interests. 
  2. During the Zoom call, so that you have an idea about what to expect, Connect123 will provide examples of past projects that Connect-123 interns with similar interests have completed. They will also discuss which destination is the best fit related to your top career field choices and language skills. Connect123 will work with each of you to help you define an ideal, customized internship experience which then informs the placement process and ensures positive outcomes. Placements are guaranteed for all students.
  3. During the placement process, you may receive one best offer or multiple offers. Offers are contingent on successful interviews with your supervisor and Connect123 helps you with interview preparation. If you receive more than one offer, Connect123 can provide advice and put you in touch with Connect-123 alumni. Since placements are customized, uniquely around your interests, the process can take up to a few months.
  4. Connect123 puts substantial effort into the placement process to help ensure positive outcomes for both you and the local organization. That said, if after starting, you aren’t happy with a placement, Connect123’s first step is to discuss options for resolution with you, as finding solutions can be an important part of the learning experience. However, if it’s not possible to fix, Connect123 can suggest other internship options.

Example psychology / cognitive science-related internship projects include:

  • Helping to develop therapeutic programs for drug users at a rehabilitation center
  • Assisting a product design lab with human factors-related projects, improving UX/UI and the human relationship with technology
  • Evaluating program outcomes for a non-profit that assists mentally ill patients and their families
  • Assisting with supervision, play, and afterschool classes at a community childcare center and helping to plan summer programs
  • Helping with social media campaigns and creating awareness for a STEM-focused youth training center
  • Assisting with program development and supervision at a summer camp for marginalized children

Example psychology / cognitive science-related partners include:

The SAOL Project is an NGO supporting women and children in Dublin’s North Inner City

community through their drug rehabilitation, education, advocacy, and childcare programs. 

Ozanam House is a community resource center offering skill-development programs to youth groups as well as adults. Modules include learning to manage emotions, empowerment and self-belief, managing your inner critical voice, building self-compassion, and developing life skills related to nutrition and physical activity.

Bridge21 is a Dublin-based education program offering a new model of learning that can be adapted for use in Irish secondary schools, changing how students learn and engage with education, focusing on teamwork, technology, and developing leadership skills.

Fundació Germina is a Barcelona-based NGO supporting marginalized children, youth, and their families through their education and skills-development programs, including after-school homework groups, nutrition workshops, summer camps, and learning activities that include the performing arts, dancing, painting, and urban gardening.

The Association for Rehabilitation of Persons with Mental Illness (AREP) began in 1979 in response to the lack of services in Barcelona to treat people suffering from schizophrenia. Since then, AREP has focused on improving the quality of life of the mentally ill and their families, including providing advice about mental health services, job search training, at-home support, and transitional housing placement.