1 Year Art & Fine Arts Internships Abroad

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.

I have had such an amazing journey with beyond academy. The staff were wonderful and accommodating, my placement program could not have gone better, and overall I had the best two months of my life. If I had to complain it would be about some aspects of my accomodations, which were not through beyond academy. They helped me find a place and booked it for me, but were not the owners of the building and thus were also confused by some of the occurrences that happened there. Beyond academy helped me to resolve those issues and even brought bedding when the accomodations forgot to provide any. This team is very good at what they do.

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!

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.

I had such an amazing experience in Barcelona. The internship itself was wonderful, I learnt so much about the industry and working abroad with such a diverse group of people was brilliant. Isabel was an amazing rep, all of the events were so much well planned and took us all around the city. We had the chance to try food and see sights that I wouldn’t have found otherwise, and it was a great way to get to know the other interns on the programme! Barcelona is a lovely city and it felt like home in no time.

Beyond Academy responded to this reviewSeptember 24, 2026

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Alice! We’re thrilled to hear how much you learned from your internship and that working alongside such a diverse group made your time abroad even more rewarding. We’re also so happy that Barcelona quickly felt like home and that the community events helped you discover new food, explore different parts of the city, and build friendships with the other interns. We’ll be sure to pass your lovely feedback on to Isabel—it was wonderful having you on the program! P.S Izza and Lule say hi!

At the beginning I HATED my internship and i thought i hated the job. But I think the most important learing curve was to give yourself the grace and the patience of being uncomfortbale and to learn something new. because i only hated the fact that it was something different so i felt uncomfrotable, but once i was able to sit with that and allow myself to become familiar with it i really enjoyed it.

I joined the program as a recent business graduate from Rotterdam, hoping to gain international exposure before starting my career. GAC placed me with a consulting firm in Shanghai, where I worked on market research and helped prepare client presentations for companies expanding into Asia. My mentor was supportive and always made time to explain how business is done in China — from relationship-building to negotiation styles. The team arranged my visa, accommodation, and even helped me settle into the city during my first week. I came home with practical experience, a wider perspective, and a job offer within two months.

This internship experience was truly incredible! Even though it got off to a rocky start, the Beyond Academy team and I managed to navigate it quickly and adjust. The internship itself allowed me to put practical skills I learned in college to use and my team pushed me to learn more! Aside from the internship, the community was incredible! I made so many friends and went to almost all of the community events to experience the culture and get to know the other interns. Overall, I am so glad that I chose to do Beyond Academy and it is truly an experience I will never forget!

Beyond Academy responded to this reviewSeptember 08, 2026

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Meleah! While we’re sorry that your internship got off to a rocky start, we’re glad our team could support you in navigating those initial challenges and making the necessary adjustments. It’s wonderful to hear that you were able to put your college skills into practice, continue learning from your host company, and make the most of the Seoul community and cultural events. We also loved the vlog you created about your first week! We loved having you on the program and are so happy it became an experience you’ll never forget!

Applying for this program was completely spontaneous. I randomly submitted my application without thinking too much of it, and I was genuinely surprised when I got accepted. Choosing between Seoul and Japan was a tricky decision, but Korea snuck up on me—and taking the risk to travel halfway across the world turned out to be worth every single cent. I feel like doing an internship abroad is something every freshman and student should try to do. Gaining real-world experience is incredibly powerful. I loved learning hands-on within my host company, picking up practical tools, and mastering skills that will directly shape my future career. While internships can be challenging and step out of your comfort zone, pushing through taught me to be bold, brave, and just give things a go. Beyond the work, surrounding myself with so many different people from around the world was deeply enriching. I fell in love with Korean culture even more than I expected—from quiet, peaceful moments in traditional tea rooms to wearing hanboks, walking around taking photos, and trying not to trip or slip while exploring the city! I feel incredibly privileged and deeply thankful to the program for accepting me to study, work, and learn what’s across the world. It’s a transformative experience that I will cherish forever!

Beyond Academy responded to this reviewSeptember 08, 2026

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Rose! We’re thrilled that taking that leap of faith led to such a meaningful experience in Seoul and gave you the opportunity to immerse yourself in Korean culture, connect with people from around the world, and build memories you’ll always cherish. We also really appreciate your honesty about the internship being challenging at times. While international work experiences can come with difficult moments, we’re glad our team was there to support you through those challenges and that you came away feeling more confident, courageous, and equipped with practical skills for your future. It was wonderful having you on the program, and we wish you all the best with everything that comes next!

I spent eight weeks in Seoul, South Korea on an internship arranged for me by Beyond Academy. The Beyond staff on site welcomed me and other fellow “Beyonders” starting their internships within the same week as me with open arms. They were very supportive, friendly, and always available to help us. Thanks to the weekly events scheduled regularly every Thursday and Sunday, I was able to meet and get to know the other Beyonders better, and make memories for a lifetime. I interned for a company and in a field I was quite unfamiliar with, which represented the biggest hurdle I had to overcome during my time in Seoul. Everyone at my host company was incredibly nice, kind, and helpful, though—as a previous Beyonder has already said in their review—I would recommend starting the Beyond Academy placement process months in advance so as to avoid last minute mishaps (to make sure you’re assigned a role in the field that best fits you), and looking into multiple options before saying yes to anything. Overall, it was a great experience that I would definitely highly recommend. I would once again like to thank everyone at Beyond Academy who made it possible!

My internship in Tokyo was an amazing experience, both professionally and personally. I had the opportunity to work in an international environment with French and Japanese colleagues, which helped me improve my communication skills and learn how to adapt to different cultures and ways of working. During my internship, I worked mainly on business development and marketing activities, including market and competitor research and supporting projects related to potential clients and business opportunities. This allowed me to develop my critical thinking, research and professional communication skills while gaining practical experience in an international business environment. Living in Tokyo for two months was also an incredible opportunity. I was able to discover Japanese culture, travel around Japan and become much more independent and confident. It was sometimes challenging to adapt to such a different environment, but that was also one of the most valuable parts of the experience. Overall, I am very grateful for this opportunity and I would definitely recommend an internship abroad in Tokyo to anyone who wants to grow professionally, experience a completely different culture and step outside their comfort zone.

I have definitely learned an improved sense of work-life balance, improved my writing skills, coding skills (learned Lua and LaTeX) as well as my work-ethic in a different sort of role than I am used to. It helped to be detail-oriented and self-motivated, which are skills I already had but developed in this role. I really loved this whole experience, from Aotearoa itself to the workplace. Everyone was so warm and welcoming, and the workplace environment was relaxed but productive. The country is beautiful, and Wellington was a wonderful home base. The people had to be my favorite part, but I also got to do meaningful work and will hopefully have a publication out of it.

I was in Seoul for about 8 weeks on an internship and it was an incredible experience that I definitely won’t be forgetting. My personal experience with my placement was great, the work I had to do was in a field I was interested in, my coworkers in the company were very nice and supportive and the overall work environment was great. There were multiple social events planned by Beyond every week and so these events as well as the free time I had on the weekends made it very easy to make the most of my time in South Korea. Overall this experience was fantastic and I would definitely recommend it.

As an economics graduate from Athens, I wanted to gain international experience before starting my career. GAC placed me with a business consultancy in Beijing, where I contributed to live market research projects for European clients looking to expand into Asia. My mentor guided me through every step — from data gathering to presenting findings to senior stakeholders. The GAC team made the entire process smooth: visa support, airport pickup, and a comfortable apartment in a central location. Weekly Mandarin lessons helped me navigate daily life with ease. After three months, I returned to Greece more confident, globally aware, and with a strong addition to my CV. I highly recommend this program to any young professional ready to grow.

Absolute Internship gave me an incredible opportunity this summer. For the first time, I was able to visit China and complete an eight week internship abroad in Shanghai. It was an incredible time where I was able to put past skills to use, all while gaining new ones. Additionally, Absolute had structured a great program with a strong balance of planned activities and free weekends to explore the city on one's own. Absolute hosted several day trips and two weekend trips, all with chaperones and busses that drove us to our locations. They planned activities for us, got our train tickets, and essentially made sure all we had to do was show up. It was amazing not to have to worry about details all while getting to see new places. One thing I absolutely loved was the housing Absolute chose to put my program in - we were in an apartment with our own rooms. Being able to come home to an empty room after a long day at work was incredible. I don't know if I would have been able to finish the program as happy as I did if I had to share a room the entire time, knowing I would've been incredibly burnt-out the entire time. It definitely wasn't the 'best' part of the internship, but it made it much better.

As a management graduate from Poland, I wanted to see how business works in Asia. GAC placed me with a consulting firm in Beijing, where I worked on real market entry strategies for international clients. I was involved in client meetings, data analysis, and presentation preparation. My mentor was incredibly supportive and explained the nuances of Chinese business culture. The team handled my visa, accommodation, and even organized weekend trips to the Great Wall. I returned home with confidence, new skills, and a job offer. Highly recommend!

Beyond Academy were absolutely brilliant from start to finish, every step is well thought out with sufficient support throughout not only from the programme leaders in the city taking us to events, shows, dinners, and hotspots, but also from those behind the scenes making the internship happen in the first place!

Beyond Academy responded to this reviewSeptember 08, 2026

Thank you so much for your lovely review, Isabelle! We’re thrilled to hear that you felt supported throughout your time in New York and had such a positive experience with your host company, accommodation, and the wider program. It was wonderful having you with us, and we can’t wait to see where this experience takes you next!

My internship as a market and financial analyst was an excellent opportunity for me to gain professional experience dealing with real business needs and personnel. The submersion taught me many technical skills and built my confidence, which I am sure have helped prepare me for my future positions.

My experience in Thailand has been so fun! I got to see a lot of the major temples and sites that are a must visit. I made many friends with the other interns here. The staff were very welcoming and accommodating. They helped me with any questions I had or anything in general. Overall my experience was amazing, 10/10 would recommend to anyone on the fence about it! I would even come back if I could!

As a business student from Amsterdam, I wanted to understand how global companies operate in Asia. GAC placed me with a consulting firm in Beijing, where I worked on real strategy projects for international clients. My mentor gave me hands-on exposure to market entry plans and client presentations. The team handled everything — visa, housing, and even helped me set up a local bank account. Three months later, I returned to the Netherlands with practical skills and a clear career direction. Highly recommend this program.