Question 1

intro

Accepted Answer

Internships abroad are becoming the new favorite in the world of international education. Being an intern abroad means gaining practical, hands-on experience at an international company or organization while still having all the fun adventures—and not to mention college credit—afforded during a study abroad program. Yes, college students are beginning to weigh the benefits of overseas internships against traditional study abroad experiences, so how do you make the choice for yourself? Well, if your career goals are already in razor-sharp focus, or if you’re trying to make career moves after graduation, then it might just be time to start browsing international internships!

Question 2

How to get an internship abroad

Accepted Answer

If you want to know how to get an international internship, it’s actually quite similar to finding a study abroad program. Ask yourself some key questions:

What are your career goals? Finding internships abroad largely depends on narrowing down your career goals. Once you know what it is that you want to do or which skills you want to improve, you’ll be that much closer to finding the right internship abroad for you.
Do you need college credit? Are you a college student seeking credit towards your degree, or are you a post grad or even mid-career professional? If you don’t require college credit for your international internship, it will actually greatly widen your options, since some university degree programs can be strict about what they accept for credit. If you don’t need college credit, your program options are basically limitless—meaning your dream internship is practically guaranteed. Intern abroad organizations have connections all over the world, so if you’re willing to pay the program fee, you’ll get unrivaled experience to add to your resume or CV.
Where do you want to go? If you’re looking for internships overseas rather than in your home city or country, then we can guess you have an affinity for travel. If you have a specific type of internship abroad in mind, it might make the destination obvious. However, if you simply want professional experience in a certain destination in order to perfect your language skills or learn the cultural norms, then you should let that guide your program search.
How will you pay for it? Interning abroad through a program can be pricey, but worth it. Your internship provider will find you a killer placement in your chosen field, while taking care of details like accommodation and meals. Some even offer post-internship job finding assistance! All of these benefits come at a price, but it pays off (sometimes literally). Plus, it’s not impossible to find a paid internship abroad (although you’ll have to do a bit more digging). Many students and young professionals opt to fundraise for their international internships, but scholarships and grants for interning abroad also exist!

Question 3

Can I intern abroad for free?

Accepted Answer

You can absolutely intern abroad for free (though there are other ways to intern abroad worth considering as well). However, it’s a lot more complicated than interning abroad through a provider. Here’s how to intern abroad for free:

Research online for internships abroad in your chosen field. This can include checking jobs boards put together by expats or jobs boards at specific companies. Most international companies advertise all of their open positions on their websites, including internships.
Find and apply for the right visa. This can vary depending on your chosen destination. Sometimes, being granted a visa to intern abroad can involve submitting a copy of a job offer, so you’ll need to secure your internship opportunity first.
Find somewhere to live. If you’re interning abroad for a short time, staying in a hostel is an affordable way to live abroad. However, again, you will be responsible for finding a safe, central place so that you can make it to work on time. Be sure to ask your company if they provide housing assistance!
Book your flight. Once you’ve secured your internship abroad and you have a valid visa and passport, you can book your flight. During the interview process, it’ll be worth asking whether or not your flight is paid for by the company—especially if it’s an unpaid internship.

It’s worth noting that internship providers will cover all of these logistics for you. By paying a fee to intern abroad with a reputable organization, they will help you find the perfect internship opportunity for you, while securing safe accommodation and assisting you throughout the visa process.

Question 4

Why intern abroad?

Accepted Answer

Is it worth doing an internship abroad? Yes! Internships abroad are useful, practical additions to your resume, especially if you’re in the early stages of your career. (But that’s not to say they aren’t useful for people who want to make a career change!)

Reasons to intern abroad include the real world experience gained in an international workforce, global networking opportunities, and endless personal growth opportunities. The benefits of interning abroad will be obvious when you’re clocking in for your dream job some day, right?

Question 5

Where to find an international internship

Accepted Answer

International internships exist everywhere in the world! But if you want to know where to start looking, start with where you want to go. It can also be helpful to either look for international internships at your companies of interest, or to ask your program advisor where the best internships in your career field are located. When looking for the best places to intern abroad, it helps to think about your career goals first.