How to find internships in Europe
Traipsing about Europe may seem like a cliché way to travel abroad and get your fill of vitamin C (for culture, of course). But, instead of strapping on your backpack and partying studying your way from country to country, break out of the mainstream and intern abroad in Europe! Interning in Europe is a meaningful experience that provides you with important things to do, places to go, and people to see, while leaving you with something much more significant than passport stamps and Instagram likes.
So, instead of aimlessly floating down the lazy river transporting you from college life to adulting, check out our roundup of top internships, broken down by region, but also including summer and paid internships in Europe:
Internships in Western Europe
1. Rock the catwalk in Paris with Fashion Week Internships
Internships in Paris will have you living la vie en rose.
Get hands-on, behind the scenes fashion experience interning in Paris—one of the fashion capitals of the world. This internship will teach you the ropes while encouraging you to draw inspiration from up-and-coming designers and the OG fashion icons. It’s even possible that some of their greatness is miraculously transferred unto you when you brush up against the hems of their garments.
Pros: Vous ne parlez pas français? Pas de problème! You don’t need to be able to speak a lick of French to qualify for one of these internships in Europe.
Cons: Actual fashion week in Paris is cray and internship spots fly away as fast as a model in a strong breeze. So, if you want to get in on the action, you need to apply suuuper early. However, programs begin every month and run throughout the year, because if Lauren Conrad taught us anything—it’s always a fashion show.
[Browse all fashion internships in France]
2. Get down to business in Madrid with The Intern Group
Being bored in Berlin isn’t an option. There will be so much to see and do during your internship.
Gain highly sought after work experience in one the world's business powerhouses. Choose from a range of top companies and organizations for your internship in Madrid, all of which will help boost your professional development in your specific area of interest.
Pros: Improve your Spanish language skills while boosting your career prospects AND enjoying Spanish cuisine daily. You'll be able to take advantage of Madrileños lifestyle motto, which is "work hard and play harder."
Cons: If you don't know Spanish at all, you may struggle a bit to immerse in the local culture and work environment.
[Browse all business internships in Spain]
3. Make strides in your field of choice in Barcelona with CISabroad
Recreate all your favorite Cheetah Girls 2 moments in Barcelona.
Innovation is the name of the game in Barcelona. As one of the biggest and best tech hubs to find internships in Europe, you might consider a meaningful tech work placement, which will provide you with more than just a new bullet point on your resume. Or maybe you want to score that Finance internship—or intern anywhere so long as you can use your super-advanced-and-workplace-friendly Spanish skills...
Pros: Barcelona is known for it’s sunny climate, world-class beaches, and vibrant social scene. Interning here will allow you to enjoy a lifestyle few cities in the world can match.
Cons: If you took Spanish in high school, you probably know that Spanish in Spain is a little different than what your profesor was teaching. The Barcelona dialect and accent might throw you at first, but you’ll get the hang of it in no time.
[Browse all internships in Spain]
Internships in Eastern Europe
4. History buffs unite in Krakow with ELI Abroad
You’ll get a Krakow-tta life as an intern in Poland.
The Jewish Museum in Krakow showcases and runs exhibits that present past and present Jewish culture through lectures, exhibitions, concerts, classes, and publications. Interning at the museum is an extraordinary opportunity for anyone pursuing a career in history and museum studies.
Pros: Poland is a great place to intern abroad due to its tolerant and hospitable culture. Coworkers will welcome you with open arms and make sure you don’t feel like a fish out of water.
Cons: Accommodation and meals are not included in the program fees for this internship. However, a program advisor will help you organize a reasonably priced room that matches your needs.
[Browse all history internships in Poland]
5. Pre-Med shadowing in Budapest with the Atlantis Project
Even as an unpaid intern, you’ll never go Hungary during an internship in Budapest.
Intensive shadowing for pre-med students in the U.S. is difficult to arrange and simultaneously essential. If med school application due dates are looming, hopping over the pond to shadow doctors during internships in Europe is what will make your application shine.
Pros: Pre-med students need to understand health care in a global context to expand their perspective as a physician. This internship runs during university breaks, so pre-med students can this global experience without missing a beat and kill two birds with one stone.
Cons: Taking the road less-traveled is no easy feat, and interning in Hungary is definitely a road less traveled. But, at the end of the day, the benefits far outweigh the challenges.
[Browse all medical internships in Hungary]
6. Save the dolphins in Funtana with GoEco
Diving off a boat into the Adriatic Sea
Work closely with bottlenose dolphins in effort to help conserve the declining species. Interns will not only gain extensive knowledge on the species, but also participate in conducting research, observations, and data analysis, as well as educating locals on the dolphins and their role in the marine ecosystem.
Pros: Live and work on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Go ahead and Google image search “Funtana.” You’re welcome.
Cons: While it would be great if your internship could seamlessly turn into the fabulous expat life abroad, it’s more than likely that you’ll have to return home at some point.
[Browse all marine biology internships in Croatia]
Internships in Northern Europe
7. Break a leg in London with Performing Arts Abroad
Pick up some sick slang and a taste for beans on toast during an internship in London.
Pop over and intern in London’s musical theater scene with some of the most accomplished actors, dancers, and directors in the world. This internship includes classes, workshops, backstage tours, and attendance to all the hottest shows in London’s most famous studios.
Pros: Cross-cultural collaboration is invaluable for performing artists. Also, working side-by-side with the Brits will be like a free language course in British slang and leave you dead chuffed.
Cons: The inflated tourist prices coupled with an overall more expensive currency make London a bit pricier than what an unpaid intern might can live off of— start saving those pounds!
[Browse all fine arts internships in England]
8. Find your rhythm in Amsterdam with Music Industry Internships
Wander the canals by day, rock out by night with your music internship in Amsterdam.
Ambitious interns can get a taste of the music industry behind-the-scenes with some of the best-known labels, studios, festivals, radio stations, and management agencies in Amsterdam. These internships in Europe will get your creative juices flowing and help you focus on developing skills specific to the music industry.
Pros: Two words: Backstage. Passes.
Cons: Musicians have a reputation for being pretty lax, but if you’re hoping to work in a place running on the same agenda, Amsterdam might not be the place for you. The Dutch place a great deal of importance on sticking to schedule and tardiness is considered very rude.
[Browse all music internships in the Netherlands]
Paid internships in Europe
9. Get your journalism juices flowing in Kiev with NovaMova
Breaking news: this internship in Kiev is hella cool.
If Lois Lane is your alter ego, Kiev is looking for interns like you to work as editors, copywriters, and researchers. Hone your journalism skills at top communication companies, such as the Institute of World Policy, Internews Ukraine, the Independent Association of Broadcasters, and many other well-respected organizations.
Pros: Pack stretchy pants because Eastern Europeans don’t mess around when it comes to food. Subbing your usual stale break-room donut for an array of homemade pick-me-ups, such as cookies, strudels, pancakes, and dumplings will get your over that mid-morning hump.
Cons: Russian is required for this internship in Europe. You don’t have to be 100% fluent, but having a solid grasp on the basics is necessary.
[Browse all journalism internships in Ukraine]
10. Be awed by architecture in Prague with World Endeavors
It’s Prague. C’mon. What more do you need us to say?
Known for its stunning Gothic architecture and picturesque setting, Prague has become a top destination for interns with an eye for design. Interns in Prague will have the opportunity to be dazzled by this enchanting city while gaining hands-on experience in the field of architecture.
Pros: The buildings may be old, but they are filled with new life. Prague knows how to have a good time and will keep you well entertained when you’re not working.
Cons: Prague thrives on a great deal of tourism, which unfortunately breeds a lot of petty theft. Just remember to pack your common sense and all will be well.
[Browse all architecture internships in Czech Republic]
11. Be the hostess with the mostess in Istanbul with USEH International Inc.
Torn between internships in Europe and Asia? Hello Istanbul!
The best place to intern in tourism and hospitality in Europe is in a city that has prospered on coattails of tourism. Various placements in hotels, restaurants, etc. during this internship in Europe will teach you the true meaning of hospitality.
Pros: The Turkish are very friendly people, and once they meet foreigners, their interest piques, and your circle of friends grows.
Cons: Hospitality is all about being able to connect with and comfort those despite your differences. While it may be difficult or downright awkward, learning how to connect with people from all over the world is a skill that you can only learn when you intern abroad.
[Browse all hospitality internships in Turkey]
Summer internships in Europe
12. Marketing in Stockholm with Global Experiences
You’ll never want to leave Stockholm.
Living and interning in Stockholm will be a hugely rewarding and memorable experience. With some of the world’s most recognized brands like Ikea, H&M, and Volvo, the innovation and entrepreneurship that abounds in this dynamic country is like no other.
Pros: Stockholm is an awesome place to do summer internships in Europe because summer festivals are everywhere, all the time. Even more so than white converse shoes.
Cons: When there’s so much fun to be had and the weather is b-e-a-uuutiful it’s hard to focus and FOMO will work hard to distract you. But, remember the sun shines nearly 18 hours a day in Stockholm in the summer— there’s time!
[Browse all marketing internships in the Sweden]
13. Gain the artist’s eye in Rome with IES Abroad
This is what dreams are made of in Rome.
Italy is believed to behold about 70 percent of the world’s recognized art, making it a prime location for interns to gain international experience in the home of Da Vinci and Michelangelo. Art interns will assist with exhibitions and press releases, or lead museum tours in one of the many museums located in and around Rome.
Pros: Fulfill your dreams of driving to work on a Vespa and eating a lifetime’s supply of handmade noodles lathered with Nonna’s love-infused tomato sauce. You will be living la dolce vita as you live and work in Rome as an intern in Europe.
Cons: Italians don’t have the greatest reputation for their fluency in other languages. If you really want to commit to Italian immersion, pick up as much of the language as you can before starting your internship in Europe.
[Browse all art internships in the Italy]
14. Cultivate agriculture skills in Edinburgh with Adelante Abroad
Internships in Scotland will have you counting your lucky stars (and more than a few sheep).
The surreal natural landscapes formed 10,000 years ago will keep interns interested in agriculture memorized by the deep lochs and rugged coastal areas of Scotland. With more sheep than people, interns will find good opportunities to intern in agriculture in Edinburgh.
Pros: You will get to work outside, on a beautiful summer day, every day.
Cons: Manual labor is hard, full-time, and full on, but incredibly satisfying. Working overtime is the norm, but you will gain new muscles you didn’t even know you had and you won’t need to count sheep to help you sleep at the end of the day.
[Browse all agriculture internships in the Scotland]
Finding internships in Europe will be 100% worth it—trust us!
There are a million reasons why interning in Europe is an incredible opportunity with boundless benefits, but perhaps the most profound is that it will introduce you to the importance of the career you’re pursuing. Seeing the significance of your possible career abroad firsthand, in a different realm and from a new perspective, will undoubtedly make you even more passionate about your future.
When it’s all said and done, and your resume sparkles with international street cred, you will be able to walk out of your first job interview donning a John Hughes fist pump of victory all because of your internship in Europe.
Now is the time to find a program that matches your career goals and truly enjoy the benefits of an internship in Europe. Before you ride off into the sunset, be sure to read reviews, reach out to program alumni, and save and really do your research to find the best fit for you.
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