RIVER COLLEGE INTERNSHIP YEAR
RELEASING LIFE-CHANGING LEADERSHIP
River College is a one-year internship programme for those who want to go deeper in their discipleship, grow in their leadership, and gain first hand experience of ministry.
Applications are open for River College 2026-27!
Apply now or click ‘find out more’ and chat to one of our team about the programme!
At River College we want to help release life-changing leadership in our interns. Over our one-year course, through a mixture of classroom teaching in theology and Biblical studies, training in Christian leadership, mentoring from our senior staff team, and practical experience on one of our internship streams, River College interns will discover and develop their God-given gifts, ready to transform our church, our town, our nation, and beyond.
Interns will also benefit from teaching from a wide variety of expert contributors, have opportunities to train and work as baristas at our award-winning coffee shop, Applaud Coffee, receive free books, and get team tickets to HTB Focus (our annual church festival) and other HTB Network events. River College is completely free because we are passionate about investing in young Christian leaders, and we’ll be able to cover some of your living costs, too.
River College starts on 21st September 2026!
CHOOSE YOUR STREAM
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COFFEE
Share your faith and serve the community through hospitality.
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KIDS
Help to raise up the next generation of world-changers for Jesus
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MEDIA
Develop your creative gifts to capture and share what God is doing.
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OPERATIONS
Hone your admin, finance, communications and media skills.
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SOCIAL JUSTICE
Transform our town for the better through our Love Ipswich ministries.
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SPORTS
Help to share Jesus through sport with River Active and Bridge the Gap Football.
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WORSHIP & PRODUCTION
Develop your gifts in music, worship leading, and production.
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YOUTH & STUDENTS
Help love and serve youth and young adults across Ipswich.
SUNDAY
Morning: Serving at our morning service (THE TEN)
Evening: Serving at our evening service (THE SIX)
MONDAY
Morning: Leadership teaching, church site visits, or assignment writing
TUESDAY
Morning: Prayer meeting, Staff Meeting, and Department Meetings
Evening: Theology teaching from St Mellitus College
WEDNESDAY
Evening: Serving at Alpha
THURSDAY TO SATURDAY
The rest of your week will comprise time serving in your ministry stream(s), a full day off each week, and shifts working at Applaud Coffee (subject to successful trial and availability) or other part-time work. Every River College student is different, and we work hard to create custom pathways which help everyone to flourish, so talk to us if you have specific needs.
A TYPICAL WEEK AT RIVER COLLEGE
River College FAQs
Do I have to write many essays?
There are two short book-review assignments each term. This isn’t marked formally, but you will receive feedback which helps inform your teaching and mentoring.
Can I work while I’m at River College?
Yes! We encourage you to find part-time work, either at Applaud Coffee or another local business, to help you cover your living costs.
Is accommodation available?
We can help interns to find affordable accommodation with one another, or with families from River Church. You are welcome to arrange your own accommodation if you prefer.
How much does the course cost?
River College is completely free because we want to invest in young Christian leaders.
What days is River College on?
You’ll need to be available on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and two other days, stream-dependent.
Who is River College for?
River College is for 18-35s who want to spend a year depending their faith, honing their leadership skills, serving God, or exploring a call to lay or ordained ministry.
Is financial support available?
A limited number of living cost bursaries are available, subject to eligibility. Part-time paid work at Applaud Coffee may also be available. Get in touch to find out more.
When is the deadline for applications?
The deadline for applications for River College 2026-27 is 13th August 2026, but please apply sooner if you can.
What do interns do after River College?
Past interns have gone on to work in education, defence, agriculture, to higher education, to full-time ministry jobs, and to ordination in the Church of England.
Where is River College based?
We are based at River Church Ipswich, Key Street (IP4 1BZ). You’ll need to live in Ipswich to make the most of the year.
What are the term dates?
Autumn: 21.09.26—13.12.26
Spring: 11.01.27—04.04.27
Summer: 19.04.27—26.07.27
Got more questions?
We’d love to hear from you! Click here to reach out to one of our team.
Our Story
500 years ago, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey had a dream of a college in Ipswich, which would raise up young Christian leaders to transform the church, our town, and our nation. The college would draw students from across Suffolk and further afield to study, pray, and do life together, and equip them to become influencers and leaders in the Church, and every other sphere and industry. This college in Ipswich would be up there with Oxford and Cambridge, and play a part in the seeing God’s kingdom come in this incredible community. Wolsey’s College once stood right here on the Waterfront, next to where River Church is based today, but sadly it was shut down by Henry VIII before it ever really began, and only the red brick gate remains.
Today we share Cardinal Wolsey’s passion, to release life-changing leadership. Our dream at River Church is to see Ipswich overflowing with life, and to do that we need to raise up, train, and send out leaders—new leaders, young leaders, diverse leaders—who love God, love Ipswich, and love life. We are so excited to have launched River College in September 2022. We believe that River College will build on Wolsey’s legacy, and pick up where he left off, in the same location 500 years on, by training 18-30s in theology, biblical studies, and Christian leadership, and sending them out to make a difference at River Church, in Ipswich, and beyond. Be part of this incredible, historic story, and spend a life-changing year at River College.