The IPA is a highly respected Irish organization that focuses exclusively on civil and public sector development through part-time and distance education, training, and research. Although it offers bachelor's and master's degrees, the IPA is not a traditional college campus. It is located in an attractive, tree-lined suburb of Dublin within easy reach of the Parliament and city center. Students enrolled in the Dublin Parliamentary Internship are housed in fully furnished flats in Dublin or with Irish host families.

Your fieldwork, which awards six semester hours of credit, will be unpaid and require at least two full days each week. Responsibilities may include conducting surveys, researching and reporting on issues related to public welfare, and preparing for press briefings. Your individual initiative, skills and past experience will largely determine the type of work you are assigned.

Along with your fieldwork, you'll spend two days each week taking courses with other North American interns in the program. The themes of the courses are carefully designed to relate closely to the students' parliamentary internships. These courses, along with an extensive orientation, are designed to provide you with the necessary background to work effectively in your new environment.