BUNAC

I am currently on the Intern in Britain program and from the beginning, the UK team seemed disorganized. For example, when I was in the United States, I had to wait for my Certificate of Sponsorship after «interviewing» my employer. They didn’t call my employer thus I contacted the US team who let the UK team know, they sent an email to my employer to call (he called a lot of times in which they never picked up). The «interview» took about two minutes. As for when I arrived to the UK, they were absolutely awful considering I asked for paid information like the brochure about the Intern in Britain program which I had asked the US team to give but they said I would only receive when arriving to the UK. BUNAC, is unhelpful but I am enjoying my program because I know people who live in the UK. However, if you are going alone and know no one… good luck in getting BUNAC to help you.

UK’s BUNAC is very very disorganised to the point you have to wonder who in the world they have staffed there. I was interning at Edinburgh from January to May, and me and most of the interns actually missed and forgot the orientation.
The first week I actually called them and asked what I needed. I was told to fill out a postal orientation and after 2 emails they finally sent me the postal orientation needed. I filled out the postal orientation via email, and well they lost my email 3 times… so I had to send the postal orientation multiple times. They never responded or gave me any orientation directions afterwards, and kept on spamming me with more orientation emails. I called a week later and was told that I didn’t need to do anything, and that they would send me the postal orientation information.
In March, I met up with a BUNAC representative, Ms King and told her about this situation. Although she told me I did not have to attend the orientation and would get the orientation emails sorted out. Nothing was ever sorted out.
Fast forward to 2 months after the internship… I’m still getting orientation emails, and am convinced that UK BUNAC does not respond to emails, and does not do anything productive.

I had an amazing time through Bunac… worked at LSBU. I went through the program in late 2003, early 2004. The cost back then was ~$ 275 and allowed you to actually work for pay. The rate has gone up to $ 785 now and only permits an internship. My understanding is that this is due to the US denying equal opportunity to Brits. Still, an incredible opportunity for students, provided the entry barrier isn’t too high now… London is expensive as it is… of course I was living there during a 2:1 exchange rate.

I went to the UK through BUNAC beginning in November 2007. I took advantage of this opportunity to its fullest, as I had a British boyfriend of one year that I actually moved over to the UK for. (Note — now husband!) BUNAC was the only way I could possibly move and work in the UK at that time.
I got myself a ‘proper’ job and started to work at a PR agency. For those looking for casual or fun jobs, I know BUNAC’s job finding services were great. A lot of people I met during my time there found jobs through the job posting boards, etc.
One of my favourite things about BUNAC was the pub meets; it’s where I ended up meeting some of my friend — who I still keep in touch with now, nearly 4 years later. They were truly the best! It was great to visit little pubs that you might not otherwise visit, and to meet others abroad who are in the same situation as you.
BUNAC has great programs and I highly recommend them for working abroad… (I know the requirements have since changed, and the exact program I went on is sadly, no longer available) — but do look into them if you’d like to go to the UK, Ireland, Australia, etc…

Even though I still recommend BUNAC to all my friends, I was less than thrilled with them during my experience. I had already lived in the UK while getting my Masters degree and therefore already had a flat and job lined up. I was told that I still had to come to orientation (which I understand), but when I take off work and show up 15 minutes until orientation starts, I’m told its full and turned away. Its one thing if I come in late but to show up early and be turned away seems a bit rough considering that there is a time limit for attending orientation.
I called later that afternoon after talking to my boss to see if there was another day that I could take off work (again) to go to the orientation and there wasn’t one for a few weeks, past the deadline for attending orientation. He offered to call them and explain and he was told that there was nothing they could do and I should quit to attend orientation. I thought that was a bit harsh! He found someone to cover for me (thankfully) and the next week, I went back.
They handed out all the paper work and then asked who already had a place to live (I raised my hand) and who already had a job (I raised my had) and then I was told I could go. All that for 5 minutes of orientation before being told I could leave. Seems a bit wasteful to me and there has got to be a better way of coordinating the intake of students, especially if they already have an employer who is willing to vouch for them.

I second the comments below, I participated in BUNAC post-​undergrad (you have to apply while you’re still a student though!), and I had a great experience. There are tons of activities and trips that are organized (all optional) that make it easy to meet other students from America and other countries (lots of Aussies and Kiwis!). The office is extremely helpful and overall this is a very worthwhile program and experience. More American students should participate in a work or study abroad program.

It was my last year of college and I had dreamt about backpacking in Europe ²⁴⁄₇. I was able to find a way to work in the UK for 6 months and in Ireland for 4 months through the BUNAC program. I also travelled to Italy, France, Holland (Amsterdam!!), and Switzerland on a regular US tourist visa (no pre-​approval needed if its less than 90 days).
One of their eligibility requirements is that you are a current full-​time college student or a recent graduate. It’s not a difficult process — all you have to do is apply, pay a fee and have a professor or employer write a brief recommendation about you.
I’m glad that such a program exists. The staff are very helpful and you’ll meet lots of other students in the same shoes. so it’s easy making friends. Eventually, you’ll get the hang of working and living independently in a foreign country. An opportunity not to be missed!

BUNAC is a wonderful agency that provides reciprocal work visas to young adults & students from the United States, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, NZ & maybe South Africa too?
For a fee of a few hundred dollars ($ 300 in 2004, appears to be $ 400 now), BUNAC secures a work visa which allows Americans 6 months of unrestricted work in the UK, and provides assistance with setting up bank accounts (shockingly difficult compared to the American system!), finding flats and jobs, etc.
I found the office employees to be tremendously helpful, and I’ve recommended the Bunac visa program to dozens. Go forth, and work abroad, Americans. The minimum wage in London is way higher than ours and you get VACATION TIME!