9 Best Psychology Internships Abroad

You want psychology opportunities abroad—and we got ‘em. If you’re a psychology student, you probably already have a passion for helping others. If you also have a passion for travel, then why not combine the two and do a psychology internship abroad? There are tons of opportunities all around the world to practice your psychology knowledge, and to help others while doing so! 

Ready to add some serious international experience to your resume?

A psychology internship abroad allows you to practice your skills and study human behavior in a totally different culture and environment Opportunities are broad and varied; you can work in public health,, social services, or non profit organizations. You can even work in statistical or data analysis, research, or marketing! There is the opportunity to take part in research and educating, or work directly with at risk people in your host community - whatever you end up doing, one thing is for sure. You will make an impact! 

Here’s a sneak peek of our list of the best international psychology internships abroad:

• Connect-123
• International Medical Aid
• VAC Internships Cape Town
• Adelante Abroad
• Beyond Academy
• The Intern Group
• Intern Abroad HQ
• Roots Interns
• Cerca Abroad

The best psychology internships abroad for this year

Editor’s note: This information was accurate at the time of publishing. Please refer to each individual program for current data.

1. Connect-123

“I joined Connect-123 because I wanted to experience healthcare abroad; I spent four incredible months in Buenos Aires as an intern with Connect123. During this time I had the opportunity to study Spanish, intern at a public hospital in Buenos Aires, and travel to different regions of Argentina.” — Read more Connect-123 reviews here

• Where? Argentina, Australia, China, Ireland, South Africa, or Spain
• When? Year round
• Why? Connect-123 offers psychology-focused work experience placements abroad. They truly believe in the value of hands-on experience, especially the value of learning these skills in a different culture. Their main goal is to improve the overall mental health of every individual they work with—and they want you to help! 
• More program info

2. International Medical Aid: Cross-Cultural Care Mental Health Internships

“I got a chance to further my medical knowledge all while making a lasting impact within the local community... Following my volunteer experience, I can truly say I have a greater appreciation for medicine. The IMA staff were really friendly and ensured everything I needed was taken care of. I have done multiple volunteer trips in East Africa and I can say without hesitation that IMA is top tier when it comes to providing students a seamless experience. In the future, I would strongly consider doing an elective with IMA again.” — Read more International Medical Aid reviews here

• Where? Various locations in East Africa, South America, and the Caribbean
• When? 2 weeks minimum duration, May - September 
• Why? IMA is a not-for-profit organization, and they contribute at least five percent of their profits back into the communities they work with. They look for once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for intern placements, and offer plenty of shadowing experience so you can learn first-hand what it is like working as a psychologist. 
• More program info

3. VAC: Counseling & Psychology Internships in South Africa

“I chose to come to Cape Town because I had heard positive things from friends at home about the city. As someone who had never travelled before, I took a leap and travelled to the other side of the world, and I was not disappointed. I chose to travel and do an internship so that I could also get the experience of living and working in South Africa. My favorite parts about living in Cape Town were the beautiful views and scenery that I got to see every day, and all the different markets that I went to on the weekends. I also really enjoyed the weekly activities, which gave me a chance to do things I may not have tried otherwise, like surfing. The VAC staff were always very friendly and willing to help with any problems or questions. Interning in Cape Town has been a great experience, and I would definitely recommend it!” — Read more VAC Internships Cape Town reviews here

• Where? Cape Town, South Africa 
• When? Duration varies depending on preference
• Why? VAC only runs their internship programs in the city of Cape Town. This means their internship placements are well-vetted and well-connected, so you will get the best possible experience out of the city! Their psychology internship will expose you to the complexities for the mental health care system in South Africa, and you will have plenty of opportunity to help those who need it most. 
• More program info

4. Adelante Abroad: Psychology Placements in Scotland

“It was really fun, Dr. Knowles was very informative and supportive. Edinburgh is beautiful; however, it rains a lot, so bring a rain jacket. There is so much to do, so take advantage of seeing Scotland by train. There is no need for super fancy clothes; at university, everyone is very casual. The apartment felt safe, and so did the city. Public transportation is excellent, and getting around is easy. Make sure to visit the local markets and try some traditional Scottish food. The university facilities are top-notch, and there are plenty of resources available for research and study.” — Chantal Read more Adelante Abroad reviews here

• Where? Edinburgh, Scotland
• When? 1 - 6 months duration, year round
• Why? Adelante Abroad’s range of psychology internships abroad is as wide as their range of locations. You can end up shadowing a professional psychologist in their private practice, work with a women’s rights group, or work in a hospital. No matter where you end up, you will be learning how to help those in need!
• More program info 

5. Beyond Academy: Bangkok Internships

“I was really happy with my experience at Beyond. When my initial internship didn't turn out the way I expected, I was able to work with the team at Beyond and my intern company to find a solution that satisfied everyone. I was happy that the Beyond staff worked so hard to make sure I was satisfied with my internship experience.” — Read more Beyond Academy reviews here

• Where? Various locations worldwide
• When? Duration depends on location, year round programs 
• Why? When applying through Beyond Academy, they guarantee an unpaid internship placement in your field of interest. This is perfect because you know it will be catered to your specific interests. You can even earn university credits during your internship! Their human resources internships usually involve working with career coaches, reviewing resumes, and helping create new training curriculums. 
• More program info

6. The Intern Group: Internship Programs in Colombia

“I absolutely loved my time with the intern group. Everything was well organised, from placement to outings to any queries we had, was well taken care of. If I get another opportunity I would definitely link up again with the Intern Group. Highly recommend it!” — Read more Intern Group reviews here

• Where? Colombia
• When? Duration varies by location
• Why? The intern group wants to do more than just help you travel; they want to help you build employable skills through your internship abroad. They psychology internships are intended to maximise your professional development while abroad. Their internship placements vary from NGOs and nonprofits focused on mental health, to business and marketing analysis.
• More program info

7. Intern Abroad HQ: Affordable Psychology Internships

“My experience working with the Intern Abroad HQ team was nothing but positive. Every question I had pre-departure, and on site, was always given 100% attention. If any detail was better answered by the local team, Dallas always made sure to keep me updated and find the information as soon as possible. I was able to [...] meet incredible lifelong friends, and gain valuable work experience that I'd be able to use in my future career!” — Read more Intern Abroad HQ reviews here

• Where? Greece, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Zanzibar, and Tanzania 
• When? 2 weeks minimum duration, year round 
• Why? Intern Abroad HQ is an affordable internship provider. Their fees includes everything you need for a smooth trip such as 24/7 support, airport pickup, orientation, accomodation, and meals - the only thing you will have to worry about is how to make the most of your trip! Depending on the location, different fields of work within the psychological field are available, but most positions work directly with the community. 
• More program info

8. Roots Interns: Psychology and Therapy Internship in Peru

"The organisation was extremely well run and looked after me well, catering to all of my needs. I built incredible relationships with all of the kids along with all the staff. I have so many happy memories from all aspects of the experience including my accommodation, my work, day trips, social life and so much more.” — Read more Roots Interns reviews here

• Where? Peru
• When? Year round
• Why? Roots Interns caters their placements to meet your goals of personal and professional growth. They see interning abroad as an investment, and they want to help you make the most of it! Their psychology placements abroad will put you in a position where you can best help others, while learning yourself.
• More program info

9. Cerca Abroad: Psychology & Social Work Internship in Greece

“I chose this program because I wanted to learn and have a little bit of experience in psychology. The staff, I highly recommend them. The coordinators are good. I highly, really recommend this place for anybody who would want to do psychology or anything related to the field. Here in Athens, you can visit many beautiful places. I really enjoyed my time over here and I will hopefully come back next year." — Jordan Read more Cerca Abroad reviews here

• Where? Greece
• When? Year round, 2-12 weeks
• Why? Cerca Abroad's psychology and social work internship lets you shadow trained therapists during real consultations and therapy sessions, working alongside a team trained internationally in the US and UK. Interns also join workshops and research projects, giving a hands-on look at Greek mental health practices alongside more academic experience.
• More program info

[Browse ALL Psychology Internships Abroad]

Which of these international psychology internships will YOU choose?

Get hands on experience with unpaid—and paid—psychology internships abroad.

Psychology internships abroad allow you to learn new skills in an environment very different from home. Learning about people in another culture, and in all different walks of life, will make you a more experienced and compassionate psychologist. 

The need for psychologists is world-wide. You can find promising and interesting opportunities in all corners of the world. There are even opportunities to participate in paid psychology internships abroad! But the best part of international psychology internships is that you can bring your knowledge to another part of the world to help others. Whether you are helping with groundbreaking research, breaking down mental health stigmas, or improving lives patient by patient, you will have the opportunity to make an impact, while learning more about your field!

Jasmine Harding

GoAbroad Contributor

Jasmine recently graduated from Western University with a degree in Media, Information and Technoculture. She lived in 5 different countries before she turned 7 years old, but she claims that none of them "count" since she doesn't remember them. She can't wait to actually live in 5 different countries. In her spare time, you can find her playing with cats or watching food documentaries on Netflix. 

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