Internships Abroad in China

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

The Organization helped me alot, I apreciate the step by step guidance, patience and dedication of the team, Their ability to coordinate to ensure seamless efficiency from start to finish is truly impressive. I apreciate all the help and support I got throughout before, during and even atfer the internship. Thank you.

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!

AIP provided excellent support throughout my internship experience in Hong Kong. From the beginning, the process was organized, clear, and much less stressful because the team was available to answer questions and provide guidance. Moving to another country for an internship can feel overwhelming, especially when you are balancing travel arrangements, housing, workplace expectations, and adapting to a new city, but AIP made the transition much easier. The communication was one of the strongest parts of the experience. I always felt that I had a clear point of contact if I needed help or had a question. The team was responsive, professional, and supportive throughout the program. They helped make sure I understood what to expect before arriving and continued to provide support while I was in Hong Kong. That gave me confidence and allowed me to focus more on learning from the internship itself. The placement gave me a valuable opportunity to experience a professional workplace in an international environment. I was able to develop practical skills, improve my confidence, and gain a better understanding of how professional work is done outside of the classroom. Living and working in Hong Kong was also a meaningful part of the experience. It pushed me to become more independent, adapt to a different environment, and learn how to navigate daily life in a fast-paced global city. I also appreciated that the program was not only about completing an internship. It gave me the chance to grow personally as well as professionally. I learned how to communicate in a workplace, manage responsibilities, work with different people, and become more comfortable in unfamiliar situations. Those are skills that will be useful in future internships, university, and my career. Overall, I am very grateful for the opportunity and for the support AIP provided throughout the process. The experience was well organized, worthwhile, and memorable. I would recommend AIP to students who are looking for an overseas internship and want the support of a team that is helpful, professional, and committed to making the experience run smoothly

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.

After finishing school in Ireland, I didn't want to just travel — I wanted to do something meaningful. GAC's gap year program in Shanghai was perfect. I interned at a marketing agency in the mornings and studied Mandarin at Fudan University in the afternoons. The team arranged everything — my internship, classes, shared apartment, and weekend trips. I came back with real work experience, improved Chinese, and a clear direction for my future. Highly recommend.

After studying Mandarin for ten years, moving to Shanghai felt like turning years of learning into real life. Suddenly, the language I had studied in classrooms became the language I used every day: to work, connect with people and truly experience China from within. My internship challenged me professionally, while living on the other side of the world pushed me to become more independent, adaptable and confident. Knowing Mandarin helped me overcome cultural barriers and made every interaction more meaningful, from the workplace to everyday life and travelling across China. I went to Shanghai looking for international experience in one of the countries I love most, but I came back with something much bigger: the feeling that ten years of studying had finally found their purpose. China was no longer something I had learned about—it became a part of my story. Choosing just one photo to represent this experience almost feels impossible—two months in China gave me far too many places, people and memories worth capturing in a single frame.

After studying Mandarin for ten years, moving to Shanghai felt like turning years of learning into real life. Suddenly, the language I had studied in classrooms became the language I used every day: to work, connect with people and truly experience China from within. My internship challenged me professionally, while living on the other side of the world pushed me to become more independent, adaptable and confident. Knowing Mandarin helped me overcome cultural barriers and made every interaction more meaningful, from the workplace to everyday life and travelling across China. I went to Shanghai looking for international experience in one of the countries I love most, but I came back with something much bigger: the feeling that ten years of studying had finally found their purpose. China was no longer something I had learned about—it became a part of my story. Choosing just one photo to represent this experience almost feels impossible—two months in China gave me far too many places, people and memories worth capturing in a single frame.

After studying Mandarin for ten years, moving to Shanghai felt like turning years of learning into real life. Suddenly, the language I had studied in classrooms became the language I used every day: to work, connect with people and truly experience China from within. My internship challenged me professionally, while living on the other side of the world pushed me to become more independent, adaptable and confident. Knowing Mandarin helped me overcome cultural barriers and made every interaction more meaningful, from the workplace to everyday life and travelling across China. I went to Shanghai looking for international experience in one of the countries I love most, but I came back with something much bigger: the feeling that ten years of studying had finally found their purpose. China was no longer something I had learned about—it became a part of my story. Choosing just one photo to represent this experience almost feels impossible—two months in China gave me far too many places, people and memories worth capturing in a single frame.

As a finance graduate from Zurich, I wanted hands-on experience in global markets. GAC placed me with an investment firm in Shanghai's financial district. I worked on real client portfolios, helped with market research, and sat in on strategy meetings. My mentor taught me how Chinese financial systems work — completely different from Europe. The team handled my visa, found me a great apartment near the office, and organized weekend trips. Three months later, I landed a job in international banking. Worth every franc.

Before going to Hong Kong, i thought all I was going to experience is the internship itself and nothing else. Until I realized the intern group provided other memorable experiences for us. I met a LOT of new people and got to know more about them and how we all ended up in Hong Kong. What an experience

After finishing school in Denmark, I wanted something meaningful before university. GAC's gap year program in Beijing was perfect. I interned at a consulting firm in the mornings and studied Mandarin at BLCU in the afternoons. The team arranged everything – my internship, classes, shared apartment, and even weekend trips to the Great Wall and Xi'an. I came back with real work experience, improved Chinese, and a clear direction for my future. Best decision I ever made. If I get to do it again, I will certainly go with GAC's program.