Internships in Asia

I'll be completely honest — moving halfway across the world for an internship when you don't speak a word of the language is terrifying. The first week, I genuinely wondered if I had made a huge mistake. Navigating a new city, the sheer volume of people, the culture shock... it’s a lot. But the GAC team was the safety net I desperately needed. They didn't just dump me in an apartment and disappear. My local coordinator literally helped me set up my SIM card and showed me where to buy groceries on day one. My placement was at a fast-paced tech company. The work culture was intense and completely different from what I was used to back home — meetings were direct, and expectations were high. But my supervisor actually cared about my learning. By week three, I wasn't just fetching coffee; I was running data reports and sitting in on client strategy calls. The friends I made in the shared housing were the highlight of the whole thing. We were all in the same boat, so we became a little family, exploring night markets and surviving the language barrier together. Looking back, it was the hardest and most rewarding three months of my life. It forced me to grow up, adapt, and figure out what I actually want to do with my career. If you're on the fence because you're scared, I get it. But just go. You'll figure it out.

My experience in Japan was very memorable. I was able to meet people from all over world and exchange a connection like no other. I was able to learn how to be a financial analyst and benefit from Claude AI intelligence. Studying abroad with the Peaceworks KK help me gain independence and self cconfidence.

I lived in Madrid for 10 weeks and was astounded by the culture of Spain and its diversity! Sage Corps helped me get to experience the wonders of traveling abroad as a college student and be able to intern abroad! They were very supportive and led us in many group activities to interact with local experiences.

Working with AIP was a great experience! AIP helped me locate an internship in Tainan, Taiwan. On the weekdays I received hands-on experience with my company, and on the weekends I adventured. My accommodations were right in the heart of the city, which made sampling Tainan’s cafe and food scene very convenient! I also had the opportunity to partake in mid-autumn festival. Enjoying mooncakes and pomelos under a bright night sky was unforgettable memory. I made so many meaningful experiences and connections from this trip, and I really appreciate AIP’s dedicated team for helping me along the way.

I loved the laid back office environment and the opportunities to gain real hands on experience with invoices, bookkeeping, and financial record management as an operational finance and accounting intern. I gained useful experience that helped prepare me for future roles!

I'll be honest — the first week was rough. The language barrier hit me harder than I expected, and I remember standing in a supermarket in Shanghai completely lost, trying to figure out which bottle was shampoo. But that's exactly why I chose this. I wanted to be pushed out of my comfort zone, and GAC made sure I had support while I figured things out. My placement was with a business consulting firm, and my team was surprisingly patient with me. They'd slow down during meetings, write things out for me, and invite me to lunch even when I could barely keep up with the conversation. By week three, something clicked. I started understanding more, contributing more, and actually enjoying the chaos of it all. My manager even let me lead a small client presentation toward the end, which terrified me but ended up being the highlight of my time there. I left China with more than work experience — I left with a completely different mindset about what I'm capable of.

I had a really good experience completing my teacher internship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was a great opportunity to gain practical teaching experience while working with students from different countries and cultural backgrounds. The team was friendly and supportive, and I received guidance and training throughout my internship. I was able to improve my teaching, communication and classroom management skills, while also becoming more confident working in an international environment. Living in Kuala Lumpur was also one of the highlights of the experience. Malaysia is very multicultural, the food is amazing, and there are many interesting places to explore during weekends and free time.

My Erasmus+ traineeship in Japan was an experience that changed the way I see both my professional and personal development. During my time at Peace Works, I had the opportunity to work in an international environment, take part in creative projects, and observe how communication and collaboration works. One of the most meaningful aspects of the traineeship was the opportunity to work on photography and social media content. I could use my background in photography while also learning more about content creation, visual communication, and working with a team. Every project gave me the chance to try something new and become more confident in sharing my ideas. Living in Tokyo was an important part of the experience as well. Being surrounded by a completely different culture encouraged me to become more independent and adaptable. I met people from many different backgrounds and learned to communicate with people whose experiences and perspectives were different from my own. I am grateful for the people I met, the opportunities I was given, and the challenges I faced along the way. This traineeship not only gave me professional experience, but also helped me understand myself better and become more confident about the direction I want to take in the future.

Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect before going. I'd never been to Asia, and the idea of working in a Chinese company felt intimidating. But from the moment I landed, the GAC team was there — airport pickup, apartment sorted, everything. My placement was with a consulting firm in Shanghai, and within the first week I was already sitting in on client meetings and helping with research. My manager didn't treat me like "the intern" — she actually trusted me with real work. The office culture took some getting used to (meetings can be long!), but my colleagues were patient and always willing to explain things. I also took Mandarin classes twice a week, which helped more than I expected — by month two I could order lunch on my own. Three months flew by. I came home with actual experience on my CV and a lot more confidence.

Amazing program! You feel really immersed in the country's culture, and it was an amazing use of time between sophomore and freshman year! The workplace environment helped my spanish immensely. It is fantastic!

I did a 5 month marketing internship in Bali through Island Internship and it was the best decision of my bachelors. I had previously done an internship in my home country and hands down I prefer the internship abroad. They hand-matched me to a company that fit my goals, sorted my housing and airport pickup, and checked in throughout. Having placement and accommodation handled meant I could focus on the work and actually enjoy Bali. The community events made it easy to meet other interns. Would recommend to any student wanting a internship abroad without the stress of arranging it alone.

I had the opportunity to work as an intern in Japan for three months through the Asia Internship Program, and the entire experience was amazing from the very beginning. I would like to sincerely thank Ted Ko for his support throughout the company search process, as well as Kate for her continuous help and support during my stay in Japan. Their guidance made the whole experience much smoother and more enjoyable. The experience and knowledge I gained during this internship will be extremely valuable for my future. It gave me the opportunity to experience a professional environment firsthand and gain a better understanding of the real-world workplace. This opportunity helped me grow not only professionally, but also personally. I also really appreciated not having to worry about arranging accommodation. AIP did a great job finding a comfortable place to stay, and living in a sharehouse was an experience in itself. I had the chance to meet many new people, make new friends, and share memorable experiences. Overall, I am very grateful for this opportunity and for everything I learned and experienced during my time in Japan. It was an unforgettable experience that I will carry with me into my future career and personal life.

I was really nervous about how my first week was gonna turn out, but it's been really fun - I gained a lot of experience and knowledge. Really grateful I got to meet everyone; everyone is super friendly and I love the work environment too.

Being a part of the Sage Corps cohort on and after the trip has been such a valuable part of my personal and professional growth. With a diverse group of students from all around North America, you learn to navigate the challenges and successes of your job and develop cultural awareness. So grateful for my experience with Sage Corps.

Beyond Academy’s Tokyo Internship Program acts as a structured bridge between young professionals and Japan’s unique corporate culture. Combining guaranteed professional placements across roughly 18 industries—from tech startups to creative design and international business—the program packages real-world work experience with logistical scaffolding and community immersion. For students and early-career job seekers looking to test whether living and working in Japan is a viable long-term move, it serves as a low-friction entry point.

Beyond Academy responded to this reviewSeptember 24, 2026

Thank you for sharing your experience, Jonathan! We’re so pleased that the Tokyo program provided you with a structured and supported introduction to Japan’s unique working culture. Our goal is to help young professionals gain meaningful international experience while also giving them the opportunity to explore whether living and working abroad could be the right long-term path. We really appreciate your thoughtful feedback and loved having you on the program!

I joined the program as a final-year business student from Zagreb, eager to gain international experience before graduating. GAC placed me with a consulting company in Shanghai, where I assisted with market research, competitor analysis, and client presentation preparation. My mentor was patient and always willing to explain how business relationships work in China, which was completely new to me. The team arranged my visa, comfortable accommodation, and even helped me navigate the metro system during my first week. I returned home with practical skills, a global mindset, and a much clearer idea of the career I want to pursue. I would recommend this to anyone serious about working internationally.

I had such a great experience with Sage Corps this summer in Amsterdam. Going into the program, I was really excited about the opportunity to intern abroad, but I honestly ended up getting so much more out of the experience than I expected. I was able to work with a startup in Amsterdam and gain real experience in sales, business development, marketing, and working in an international environment. I learned a ton professionally, but I also grew a lot personally. Living in a new country for two months definitely pushed me outside of my comfort zone at times, and I feel like I came home much more confident, independent, and open-minded because of it. One of my favorite parts of Sage Corps was also the people. I met so many great people from different schools and backgrounds, made some really close friends, and loved having a group of people to experience Amsterdam with. The events Sage Corps put together were always fun, and it was also really nice having people from the program in Amsterdam who were there to support us throughout the summer. I’m extremely grateful that I had the opportunity to be a part of Sage Corps. It gave me an amazing internship experience, great friendships, and memories from Amsterdam that I’ll honestly never forget. I would definitely recommend the program to anyone who wants to gain meaningful work experience while also pushing themselves to try something new and experience living abroad.

I am a tourism management graduate from Morocco with practical experience in hotel reception, reservations, guest service, and event organization. I am organized, responsible, adaptable, and customer-oriented. I enjoy working with people and learning in international environments. I am currently looking for an internship where I can develop my hospitality and event management skills while gaining international experience.

After graduating in 2023 with a degree in International Relations, I knew I was passionate about working in the third sector. I did Operation Raleigh in 2024, where I spent 3 months in South Africa, I met many people who were on their gap year before university and many were planning to travel South East Asia in this time too. When I got back I wasn't satisfied with my life, struggling to find any opportunity for a role that I was passionate about. I then decided to work hard to save up to go traveling in 2026. I knew while I was traveling I wanted to do some kind of volunteering or internship, that's when I came across Roots Interns, who I had never heard of, but I found an NGO Management Internship based in Cambodia and was instantly set on making it my goal. In the months leading up to my departure I was busy planning my solo traveling, but Nakeshia from Root was always on hand to talk me through the logistics of my internship, along with answering any stupid questions I had. My expectations of this internship were beyond exceeded, I was welcomed with open hearts, and the team were amazing! I learnt many things during my time, spending time with each department of the NGO and learning my strengths and my weaknesses. I was sad to leave in November but I had more travel plans to continue. Except this wasn't where it ended. I stayed in contact with Volunteer Building Cambodia's (VBC) Founder Mr Sinn. He always mentioned if I wanted to come back there would always be a place for me here (like I said, open heart). So when I found myself at a bit of a crossroads, do I go back to England or do I fly back to Cambodia with the little money I have left. A year ago if you had put this decision infront of me I would've stayed in my comfort zone and gone back to England, but I chose to take a risk and head back to Siem Reap. Two days after I arrived back, I met with Mr Sinn and he offered me a role in VBC as Marketing & Communications, the following day I was moving in to my apartment, and the following week I was back in the office where I was sat 4 months ago. I cannot recommend Roots Interns enough, they provided me the opportunity which has led to where I am today. Working in the third sector can be extremely competitive, but because of this Internship I have been able to jump into a role where I am learning the ropes, whilst gaining experience of working in a grassroots NGO in Cambodia. For anyone who has graduated and is struggling for an 'in', this is genuinely the perfect opportunity.

Honestly probably one of my favourite summers so far - even despite having a job! I remember reading reviews, wondering if the reviews were legit, if I'd find a company that was a good fit for me, and if it was even worth the amount of money if I wasn't going to be making any. It's true, you probably won't earn any money due to the traveler's visa, but I assure you it's 100% worth it. I think this experience is perfect for people trying to grow their CV. I didn't have much experience on mine before coming, but even despite that, I was given two companies to choose from! If you're nervous about the whole "be flexible with your choices" thing, I can understand that. I was the same. I was nervous that my choices wouldn't be interesting enough to warrant coming to Japan, but I've learnt so much through my company, and about work-life in general. I would do it all over again! Beyond Academy coordinators are super good at making sure you're settling in with your company and with the events that are set up for you. If you have any issues while you're in your chosen country, at no point are you stranded and alone. You will always have someone to talk to about changing something at work, and if it absolutely necessary, they will reach out for you. Most events are covered by BA while you're there, and the ones that aren't are usually spontaneous lunches or shopping. You get to go to all the must-go places, like in Japan we went to see Fuji, teamlabs and several other tourist places you'd have to wait ages to get a ticket for. You can even request events! Given that its within the time frame and budget, BA will try their hardest to get it done! As for other interns, I've met people i never would have met without doing this experience, and even some of my flat mates who aren't part of the program will be life-long friends when I go back. There is at minimum, one event per week and most weeks have two or more, so you can socialize as much and as little as you want! However I highly recommend going to all the events you can as they often run longer than planned as we have so much fun :D I'm honestly so sad my two months are ending, as I will miss all the people I've met here, the great food and great experiences! This program is perfect for people trying to breach the working world, make some memories and practice japanese! You get a lot of support, a lot of events set up for you and compared to other programs, it is a lot more cost-effective - especially if you opt for having accommodation included. Seriously, take the leap of faith, you won't regret it!

Beyond Academy responded to this reviewSeptember 24, 2026

Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and honest review, Lara! We know that choosing an international internship can feel like a huge leap, so we’re thrilled that your two months in Tokyo became an experience you’ll be talking about for years to come. It’s wonderful to hear that you found an internship with such a lovely team, gained valuable professional experience, and grew in both your confidence and understanding of work-life balance. We’re also so happy that the accommodation, community events, and friendships you made helped you feel supported and gave you the confidence to explore even more of Japan. Our team is always here to help interns navigate any challenges and make the most of their time abroad, so your kind words about the Tokyo coordinators mean so much to us. Olivia, Mizu, Sarah, Natalia, Sidney, and Anika will all be so happy to hear your feedback! We absolutely loved having you on the program and hope you can return to Japan again soon.