What is your work schedule like?
The intern work week is a Monday-to-Friday, 9-to-5 position. While there is some flexibility to that time, weekends are the best time to explore the country and enjoy all that England has to offer. You can read more about that in our travel tips tag.
What should I pack?
The dress code for work is business/ business casual, so the majority of our wardrobes consist of that, with some jeans and other clothes for the weekends and side trips. While the weather here in Stratford is fairly temperate all year round, you really might (and probably will) experience all four seasons during your internship. Layers are the key, especially with highs reaching 80-90 degrees one day and in the 50s later that week in the summer, or much chillier weather (down to freezing) in the fall and winter. Regardless, you can expect rain several times a week no matter the season, so be sure to pack your rain gear. You will need it. (There are enough stores here in town, so if you forget something, chances are you can pick it up once you’re here.)
For winter interns, it rarely snows here, but temperatures do get cold and it still rains as much (if not more) in the winter as it does in the fall and summer, so make sure you are prepared for work and travel. Bring sweaters and jackets, or any other kind of professional warm attire, to wear at work, especially since the offices can sometimes be chilly as well.
When should I come?
The internship lasts for approximately three and a half months, from either January-April, May-August, or September-December. Each of these periods has its own benefits, some of which are not immediately obvious if you are not familiar with the Trust and its events. Here are some of the things that go on at the Trust, so that you can tailor your timing with any interests that you might have:
Winter (January-April): With a renewed sense of hope for the new year and with goals in mind, some great events happen during this time of year. The internship will lead up to the celebration of Shakespeare’s Birthday, which is held on April 23. This is the largest celebration held by the Trust, and it would be a pleasure to be involved with the preparations and carrying out of this event. They put on quite a show. Additionally, in March, the Trust also leads out in a national educational campaign called Shakespeare Week. As with Fall, the beginning of this period will not see as many visitors to the Trust properties as the Summer, which provides a more peaceful visit to the town.
Spring/Summer (May-August): Obviously, this is the time that the Trust has the most tourists come, which has its own positives and negatives. It is fun to be here during the busy season, but it is also more crowded. Summer is a great time to travel as well. As far as events go, our Poetry Festival is the longest running poetry festival in the UK. The Trust invites renown poets and others together to celebrate poetry, from Shakespeare to modern day. (During one poetry festival in the 70s, they hosted Seamus Heaney, Ted Hughes, and Derek Wallcott. You shouldn’t expect such large names nowadays, but it is still a fun celebration.) There is also usually an event during the Fourth of July.
Fall (September-December): Fall is a beautiful time to experience England as the trees are changing colors and the weather gets a bit chilly. The crowds generally have passed through, and things get a bit more quiet. September is still warm enough to get some good travel in as well. For events, the Trust holds its film festival during this time. This past year during the festival, they held workshops on animation and film-making, and held a competition for independent films relating to Shakespeare. It’s a fun celebration to be a part of. The Trust also has a Thanksgiving event. Towards the end of the internship, there are usually Christmas events to plan for and participate in.
Obviously, there are plenty of events that occur all of the time. It is not hard to find things to do. But these are some season-specific events that might affect your decision of when to come and what to be a part of.
Where will I live?
There is currently no established housing for the interns, so it will be up to you to work to help find the best housing for you once you have been accepted, with a little help from BYU and people here at the Trust. We would suggest trying to be as close to the town centre as possible, as there is not a lot of public transportation around town. Interns have been able to find very good housing, but make sure you start looking early, and consult BYU’s advisers and coordinators for where interns have stayed in the past for possible opportunities.
Where can I eat/shop?
Although Stratford is a small town, there are quite a few stores in town, and you can find pretty much anything you will need. There are some pharmacies, grocery, and department stores in town, as well as thrift shops and other miscellaneous stores. There are also some full sized superstores a short walk out of town, so all of your basic necessities should be covered. You can read more about our favourite places to shop here.
There are also all kinds of different restaurants and other great places to eat in town. From British classics to Indian, Thai, or Italian food, you can find something delicious no matter what you are craving. We have written about some of our favourite places to eat, and you can read all about it here.
Where do we go to church?
Being a BYU internship, we get this question quite often. The nearest LDS branch is the Warwick Branch and they have Sacrament meeting at 10 am on Sundays. To get there, you will want to take the X18 bus from Stratford (By NatWest Bank) to Warwick that leaves at 8:30 am (side note: Learn from our mistakes, and be sure to get to the bus stop early.) Sometimes there is a train that leaves early enough from the Stratford-Upon-Avon station, and it gets you there quicker with less stops, but make sure you check the timetables beforehand because it does not run every week. From either the bus station or the train station, it is a short walk to the chapel. Make sure you have directions to and from the station to church before you leave if you do not have data. There is a bus back to Stratford around 2:00. There is one that leaves around 1:00, but since church gets out at one, it is not easy to make. There is also a train from Warwick to Stratford that is not too expensive (£3-£5 depending on if you have a rail card) that will get you home a lot sooner. That being said, Warwick is a nice town and there is a lot to do and see on a Sunday afternoon. There might be a better way to get there from where you are staying, so be sure to talk to the branch members about the easiest way to get to and from church.
Make sure that you look up the bus and train timetables during your stay, as these times may be subject to change.
How do I apply?
The partnership between the SBT and BYU started in 2016, and you can read more about the internship and the positions here. This internship is typically reserved for students in their junior or senior year, whose future career and educational goals align with those of the Trust. If you are a younger student who is interested, it would be a great opportunity to plan for closer to graduation. For more information, check out the Kennedy Center’s internship page or our contact page. We would also suggest becoming familiar with the SBT’s website, and familiarizing yourself with their aims, missions, and projects.
Do I have to be an English or Theater major to apply?
Absolutely not! This is an opportunity that would be great to a wide variety of majors. The Trust is a wide-reaching non-profit organization, so there are many aspects of the work that would be just as great for business minded or marketing individuals. The advantage you would have as an English or Theater major is previous exposure to Shakespeare and his works, and while a passion for Shakespeare is an important component of this internship, the technical skills you can bring to the position are what is important. This is a professional development program, so you need to be able to show something more than just a love of Shakespeare in your application. The best thing you could do would be to look over the different internship positions the Trust provides, and see if any of them are a good fit for you. Check out our Digital intern post and our Education intern post to see the kind of work that previous interns have done. Also, read more about the internship requirements in the About the Internship Page.
How much does the internship cost?
Students pay BYU undergraduate tuition for 12 credit hours. (If you are here for Spring and Summer terms, you will be expected to do 6 credit hours each term.) Visas and international health insurance coverage are automatically included in this amount. There are plenty of doctors and hospitals in the area, should you need one. Some of the other costs you can expect include flights (anywhere from $900 – $1,400 depending on when you fly, and where you book. You can read some of our tips for travelling cheaply here), living expenses and housing. Since there is no established intern housing, this will change based on the accommodations you find, but keep in mind that housing will usually be substantially more expensive than student housing in Provo. Keep in mind that during peak tourist seasons, housing will be more expensive, and probably harder to find if you wait. The sooner the better. Any other travel and personal expenses will be your own responsibility as well.
Although living abroad can seem pricey, do not let the cost become too intimidating. Professors and advisers at BYU can help you find funding sources that might be available, including scholarships and grants. With some effort on your end, the internship can usually be done for a fairly reasonable rate. As I was told before my internship: if money is the only thing stopping you from going, don’t let it. I can’t say this is true for all circumstances, but I do think that it’s an important point to consider. For more tips and tricks on how to enjoy England on an intern’s budget, check out our Travel Tips tag here.
Here is a very rudimentary cost break down based off of our experience here during Summer 2017. You can expects costs to change and vary depending on when you come, and how you choose to spend your time:
- Tuition: $2650 (Combined Spring and Summer tuition rate)
- Housing: ~$650–$900 per month
- Food and personal costs: ~$1,000 – $1,500
- Travel: $1,000