Students enrolled in the Master's program in International Relations and Diplomacy at AGS have the opportunity to do an internship in Mauritius, off the East Coast of the African continent. This internship program is specifically geared toward the humanitarian sector. It allows AGS students to gain hands-on experience working in an NGO or other international organization while living in one of the most multi-cultural countries in the world.

Each internship in this program can be counted as an elective toward the Master's degree at AGS, similarly to the regular AGS internship program which takes place in Paris or other places of France.

This International Humanitarian Internship Program is offered through a partnership with the Rushmore Business School (RBS), an international private higher education institution considered a top business school in Mauritius and fully accredited in Mauritius as well as in the United Kingdom.

Contents of the Program

Internship placements are in NGOs, governmental or intergovernmental organizations in the humanitarian sector. Examples of possible internship placements are: Amnesty International (field work), Human Rights Commission (office work), American Embassy (office work), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Red Cross, United National Association of Mauritius (Mauritius branch of the World Federation of United Nations), Mauritius Council of Social Service (MACOSS - umbrella organizations of several NGOs), and others.

Internships may take place anywhere on the island of Mauritius. However, most internship take place in the area of Port-Louis (capital city of Mauritius, in the Center-West part of the island) or Quatre Bornes where the Rushmore Business School is located, 10 miles - or a 15-minute bus ride - to the South of Port-Louis.

Parallel to the internship work, students follow a bi-weekly internship seminar class on the Rushmore Business School campus in Quatre Bornes.

Each student is assigned by the RBS a dedicated internship advisor, who is responsible for the placement, monitoring and evaluation of the internship.

Dates and Duration

Internships are typically ten weeks long. They take place from mid-June to the end of August (specific dates to be determined). This allows AGS students not to have to block off a whole semester of coursework in their curriculum. Students arrive one week prior to the start of the internship in order to start the monitoring process with the internship advisor, and do some visits and tours of Mauritius.

Location and Accommodation

On-campus accommodation is provided at a cost of 250 Euros per month. This includes an individual studio apartment in a newly built student residence featuring wifi, a student cafeteria, a fitness room and washing machines.

Fees

The internship fee charged to AGS students is 2,080 Euros (special rate representing a 20% discount on the regular price of the International Humanitarian Internship Program at the RBS). Internships are typically unpaid.

This internship fee includes the following:

• Internship placement, monitoring and evaluation

• Internship seminar class (compulsory)

• On-site orientation

• Excursions/cultural activities

• Visa assistance

The internship fee does NOT include the following:

• Travel to and from Mauritius

• Housing on- or off-campus

• On-site transportation

• Food

• International Health insurance

• Mobile phone, PC...

In some cases, students may receive a weekly stipend from the internship organization in the form of lunch and travel allowance to get to the internship location.

Note: as a school located outside the U.S., AGS is not eligible to extend Federal Student Aid for this internship abroad

Admissions

Admission pre-requisites

AGS students having met AGS's admissions requirements de facto meet most of the admission requirements for this program. Additionally, in order to be eligible for this program, students must be in good academic standing at AGS. Note that AGS may only admit into this program students who are already enrolled in its Master's or Ph.D. program, and may not admit students who are only interested in pursuing this internship program.

How to Apply

Students are required to provide a completed application form, a CV (in English and if possible also in French), and a wishlist of three acceptable internships out of a list of possible placements that will be provided to those who are interested.

Admissions are done on a rolling bass. If you would like to express interest in this program, please contact AGS's Special Programs Coordinator Jennifer Wright: jennifer.wright@ags.edu.