Program Overview

Every UNH and UNHM student is required to meet with the UNH Liaison to The Washington Center, prior to applying and after acceptance.  Additionally, every applicant is assigned a TWC Pre-Arrival Advisor, who can answer specific questions about the application process, internship matching, housing, and other topics.

Academic departments may allow students to count part of the TWC experience as major or minor requirements.  Students are encouraged to work directly with their academic advisor in those departments to determine if this is possible.

• Students pay their usual UNH tuition and fees (a few fees are dropped)
• Housing is billed from and paid directly to The Washington Center, for those who choose to live in their housing, which we strongly recommend.
• Financial aid is applied for and received from UNH.
• Some financial assistance may be awarded by TWC, in the form of awards to defray part of the cost of TWC housing.
• Other internship scholarships may be available to qualifying students through UNH Career & Professional Success.  
• Paul College students are eligible to apply for the Shaughnessy Family Fund or the Internship Opportunity Fund stipends.
• The New Hampshire State Society offers a Washington DC Stipend
• Other State Societies such as that of Rhode Island may also offer scholarships or stipends for state residents interning in Washington DC. 
• National Collegiate Honors Society
• Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honors Scholarship.
• Outside sources of funding may be available for qualifying students
• Students may also utilize NHEAF loans and other educational resources to pay for TWC.

• Students remain enrolled at, and receives academic credit from UNH.
• Grades are awarded based on an evaluation performed by The Washington Center staff, the internship site supervisor, TWC faculty, and UNH campus liaison.
• All TWC courses are for letter grades and are calculated into your UNH GPA.
• Fall or spring semester provide a total of 16 credits (8 for the internship, 4 for the seminar, 4 for the evening class). Summer session, which is just 10 weeks long, is 12 credits (4 for the internship, 4 for LEAD seminar, 4 for the evening class). For a great comparison of summer to the academic year experience, visit this page.

• The Washington Center guarantees housing for any intern who wishes to live in their apartments, and meets all deadlines and requirements.
• TWC owns a Residential & Academic Facility ("the RAF"), a luxury apartment complex right in the trendy NoMa neighborhood of Washington DC, and within walking distance to Union Station and Capitol Hill.
  
• You'll share your apartment with other TWC interns from all over the US and the world. You'll have access to Washington's Metro subway system, Capital Bikeshare, shops, restaurants, museums, and grocery stores.
• Most students live in the RAF, however in times of high enrollment, students may be placed in nearby units.  Although there are differences among the various housing units, all of them offer the following amenities:
•   Fully-furnished 4-person apartments, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
  •   Fully-equipped kitchens with granite countertops and full-sized appliances, including dishwashers and microwave ovens, as well as all cooking and eating utensils
  •   Individually controlled heating and air conditioning units
  •   Washer and dryer unit in the apartment
  •   Vacuum cleaner, plunger, ironing board and iron provided as well
  •   Mounted TV on wall, high speed wireless internet access