Austin Internship Program
Working in Austin
As a PPIP intern, you can count on acquiring a set of transferable skills in the dynamic work environment of Texas policymaking. Interning in our state capitol or a state agency is sure to be an exciting semester that will change your life, focus your career goals, and build your professional network.
You will gain an understanding of how policy affects absolutely everything, which can be a benefit in your future career. Every day in Austin is a learning experience and a chance to help shape the direction of Texas. From day to day, week to week, your role can fluctuate with the changing demands of office staff and legislative objectives. But no matter what office you’re in, you are bound to have a work experience unlike any you have had before!
Because PPIP interns are placed in a variety of internships, no single description is available to define the work an intern does on a daily basis. However, you can anticipate doing a variety of things that may include (but are not limited to):
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Attend hearings and briefings.
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Track and assist with current legislation.
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Work with legislative committees.
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Research public policy issues.
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Draft policy briefs and issue memos for office staff.
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Sit in on meetings with special interest groups, constituents, and legislators.
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Give weekly updates on public policy issues to supervisors
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Receive and reply to public inquiries.
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Interact with and serve office visitors.
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Compile and distribute important office documents/briefings.
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Work with individual staff members on projects.
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Track and respond to constituent phone calls, emails, and office visits.
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Assist in editing correspondence and press releases.
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Draft and send issue letters to constituents.
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Complete other basic administrative duties.
Living in Austin
Austin PPIP interns not only benefit from gaining professional work experience but also have the unique opportunity to live in our state capital! An exciting and unique city, Austin is known for its rich culture, originality, and innovative spirit. Scroll down to learn more about the Live Music Capital of the World!
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Downtown: Visit the 2nd Street District for a laid-back and chic Austin experience or check out Austin’s famous 6th Street for a night of mingling and dancing after a long week at work!
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South Austin: South Congress (SoCo), a unique and trendy area of town, is packed with history, shopping, and a variety of delicious and interesting restaurants. Also, enjoy the monthly “First Thursdays” event.
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North Austin: Check out Arboretum, a newer and bustling area of Austin for shopping, eating, and numerous essential services.
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East Austin: The Riverside/Oltorf area offers a plethora of housing (apartment) opportunities as well as parks and other outdoor activities!
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West Austin: Westlake Hills is mostly comprised of beautiful houses and cozy families, but check out this area to get an excellent view of the Hill Country!
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The Capitol 10K is usually held in late March or early April. Grab a friend and enjoy the Austin tradition of running and walking all in the name of charity!
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Another Austin tradition is the South by Southwest music and film festival. Get your tickets early and enjoy several days of music, food, culture, and fun!
- On Orange and Maroon Legislative Day, Longhorns and Aggies come together to help make their universities better for the next generation of college students.
For those with an appreciation for art and an interest in Texas history, check out the museums sprinkled throughout Austin. The city also offers a wide variety of events for those with an artistic side, such as symphony, ballet, and theatre performances.
Austin was named the Live Music Capital of the World for a reason! Music in Austin sustains the economy and feeds the souls of thousands of families and individuals who value this important tradition. Take time during your semester in our state capital to enjoy a surplus of music and events.
Need a day of relaxation and fun? Don’t worry! Austin has much to offer for outdoor enthusiasts. Check out the many hiking and bike trails in and around the city. Or grab your boots and check out some of the popular dance halls around town.
I would recommend this internship to other students if they are interested in politics or try to follow state news and to students who are unsure of just how many ways their future job can connect to the government. As a pre-med student, I was unaware of the connection medicine had with the government. Now, I better understand the impact of this and attempt to draw from that knowledge in my public health classes. It's very rare that students get this opportunity, so you might as well capitalize on it inside and outside the classroom.
Eligibility
As a premier professional internship experience, the Public Policy Internship Program (PPIP) establishes high standards for our interns. Please review the eligibility requirements for our Austin, TX program below.
Note: U.S. Citizenship is required for all PPIP locations, due to the requirements of our hosting offices. If you are not a U.S. Citizen but would like to explore opportunities similar to what PPIP offers, please email program staff at ppip@ag.tamu.edu for a list of options you may be eligible for.
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria for a PPIP internship in Austin, TX:
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The student must be a United States citizen and at least 18 years old; permanent residents are not eligible for this program.
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The student must be classified as a degree-seeking undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral student at Texas A&M University, including the College Station, Galveston, McAllen, Law School, Washington, D.C., and Health Science Center campuses.
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The student must have a cumulative collegiate GPR of 2.5. First-semester freshmen are not eligible to apply.
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The student must be in good standing with Texas A&M University, pursuant to the university's Academic and Student Life rules.
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The student must obtain valid health insurance for the duration of the internship.
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The student must be able to attend all pre-departure events.
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Applicants for the Austin, Texas program must be able to serve the entire 140-day Texas Legislative session (mid January through early June), which exceeds the university's spring semester.
Seniors at Texas A&M University who graduate in December are allowed to participate in the Austin, Texas, program the following spring. Affected students will be classified as U5 "postbaccalaureate undergraduate" during the internship semester. Graduate and/or professional students cannot intern with PPIP after graduation.
I would recommend this internship to other students because, frankly, serving during a legislative session here in Texas has been incredibly illuminating in regards to the inner working of state-level government.
Application & Placement Process
A completed Public Policy Internship Program Austin application must include the following:
- Completed Austin application (typed)
- Professional cover letter
- Professional resume
- Policy essay
- Official college transcript
- 1-3 Letters of recommendation
Candidates will be assigned a 15-minute interview slot with a panel of university faculty, staff, and program supporters. After interviews are complete, the panel will then select who will advance to the next step in the process.*
*Interviews will occur in-person on the College Station campus. For students not located in the College Station area, interviews will be scheduled virtually.
If selected, participants will work closely with program staff in securing an internship for the semester. The program cannot guarantee selection into the internship of your choice as this is entirely up to the hosting office.
You will be required to participate in several mandatory training meetings before your departure. These will address what is expected from you during your time in the program, as well as what is expected from your hosting offices/organizations.
Things to Consider
Keep an activity log of leadership positions, community service, awards, employment, and both college and non-college related activities. Include the time commitment and duration of involvement in each activity. Undergraduates are limited to one page and graduate students to two. Do not include high-school information. (Eagle Scout or Gold Awards may be included).
Program staff highly recommends utilizing the Career Center on campus for assistance with your professional resume and cover letter.
All applicants are required to provide a writing sample in the form of an essay that addresses a policy issue of their choosing. Work to include multiple references for a stronger argument. While the policy should be something you are passionate about or interested in, you must be sure to address the prompt listed on the application, as it may vary between semesters and locations.
Program staff recommends visiting or scheduling an appointment with the University Writing Center for assistance with your policy essay.
Submit your application as early as possible to ensure your application is received by the deadline. Turn in your application via email to the Policy Internship Programs Office (ppip@ag.tamu.edu). Once you have submitted your completed application, you will be contacted with additional instructions.
Many of your documents should be submitted together when turning in your application; however, at times, your letters of recommendation and transcript(s) may be turned in at different times.
For documents that must be sent via postal mail, please use the address listed below:
Public Policy Internship Program
600 John Kimbrough Blvd, Suite 515
2402 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843
Logistics to Consider
Before applying to the Public Policy Internship Program's Austin, Texas location, please review and take the information below into consideration. If you have any further questions or concerns, contact the program staff at ppip@ag.tamu.edu.
The table below provides estimated costs for students to consider during their internship semester in Austin. Students should be advised that these are approximate and that costs may vary depending on each intern’s individual experiences.
Tuition is calculated based on the number of credit hours a student is enrolled in and will be billed by the student’s home institution. Students are strongly encouraged to contact their academic advisor to discuss enrolled credits during the internship semester. Texas A&M University students may utilize the Tuition Calculator to estimate tuition costs.
Students are encouraged to visit Texas A&M's Money Management page, or an equivalent resource at their home institution, for tips on budgeting for their internship semester.
Estimated Costs
| Housing & Utilities | $1500 monthly |
| Tuition & Fees | $75 co-op fee + tuition, if applicable |
| Flight | n/a |
| Groceries | $60 weekly |
| Local Transportation | $50 monthly |
| Recreation | $60 weekly |
| Required Health Insurance | Varies |
Participants in the Austin, Texas program are expected to serve the entire 140-day Texas Legislative session (mid-January through early June), which exceeds the university's spring semester.
Stay on track for graduation! Prospective PPIP interns are strongly encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to discuss how participating in PPIP could impact their degree plan prior to submitting a PPIP application. Please talk to your academic advisor about receiving course credit while interning with the Public Policy Internship Program.
PPIP interns are required to enroll in UGST 492: Co-op in Public Policy during the internship semester and complete the course assignments via Canvas. UGST 492 is a university-approved co-op that allows for variable credit (0-6 hours). Students should consult their academic departments to determine the appropriate number of credit hours for their individual degree plans.
Undergraduates participating in the Washington, D.C. program after graduation are required to enroll in UGST 492 but may do so for zero (0) hours during the internship semester.
UGST 492 is a graded course that will impact a student's GPR and transcript, even if enrolled for zero (0) credit hours. Enrollment in UGST 492 will classify the student as full-time with the Registrar's office as long as they enroll for at least one (1) credit hour. Please note that this is not the same as being considered full-time for financial aid purposes.
In addition to the UGST 492 course, some PPIP interns may earn additional hours that count towards graduation by enrolling in online coursework during the internship semester. However, because PPIP interns work full-time (40+ hours per week), the PPIP staff does not recommend enrolling in more than six (6) credit hours.
Financial aid eligibility varies among students. It is ultimately the responsibility of each prospective intern to meet with an advisor from Aggie One Stop to discuss how participation in the Public Policy Internship Program will affect the student's financial aid eligibility.
Please note that while PPIP interns enrolled in the program’s UGST course for at least one (1) credit hour are classified as full-time with the Registrar's Office, this does not mean that they are considered full-time for scholarship and financial aid purposes.
The Public Policy Internship Program is not able to provide housing for interns participating in the Austin, Texas program. As an Austin intern, the student is responsible for securing their own housing accommodations for the duration of the internship. Please note that the student will need to secure housing for the full duration of the legislative session, and potentially for a longer period.
Starting a new job, moving to a new city, and learning the ropes can be daunting, but the Public Policy Internship Program helps its interns navigate the road to success!
Students accepted into PPIP must attend all training sessions and pre-departure events in College Station. There are typically 3-4 required weeknight events covering different topics to prepare students for an internship in Austin. Each PPIP intern will also have an individual meeting with program staff to discuss internship placement options. Additionally, PPIP hosts an optional intern social, which allows interns to network and socialize in an informal setting.
Students may use their current health insurance plan or may purchase insurance through Texas A&M University's University Health Services (UHS). Please visit the UHS website for details and eligibility.
Affected students will be flagged as "U5-continuing" (post-baccalaureate undergraduate) through the registrar's office by program staff in conjunction with the registrar's office, which allows the student to participate in PPIP. The U5 classification does not impact the student's graduation; therefore, students may still walk and receive their diplomas!
Students participating in PPIP after graduation must still adhere to all Texas A&M University student rules, as well as PPIP rules and expectations. This includes enrollment and full participation in the grade-bearing, university-approved co-op course: UGST 492.
*Interning with PPIP after graduation is not an option for graduate students.
One day you might be exploring all that Austin has to offer and the next you might be writing a bill that changes lives. Juggling multiple lives as a capitol intern is an honor that is literally history in the making.