USIT is offering a scholarship on its Internship USA student exchange programme. The programme enables students and recent graduates to spend up to 18 months working in the States.

Run in co-operation with the Council on International Educational Exchange, the programme aims to give students international work experience relevant to their studies. The scholarship award is jointly sponsored by Aer Lingus and USIT to assist a student who might have financial difficulty in participating in the programme otherwise. Students will be assessed on their application and a reference from a college adviser. However, interested students still have to secure their placements in advance of applying for the programme.

The deadline for applying for the scholarship is May 1st - just 10 days away. So if you've been thinking of checking out that long lost cousin in management in the States, this week might be the time to do it.

Those who don't succeed in getting a scholarship will have to pay between £185 and £250 to participate in the course, depending on the length of time they intend to stay in the States. Students of all disciplines and people who have graduated in the last 12 months are entitled to apply.

While the advertising bumph says the programme offers the chance to "see some action on the dealing floors in Wall Street, to develop a new semiconductor in Silicon Valley or work in an architect's office in downtown San Francisco", it is entirely up to the participants to find their own work placements.

For your money, you will get an orientation programme on living and working in the States, and information on taxes, accommodation and employee rights - as well as access to a 24hour emergency support hotline.