Public Administration & Government Internships in Germany

What started off as a desire for change turned out to be the most unforgettable time of my life. I sent in an application expecting the usual response delays I had experienced through the many intern abroad programs I had combed through but was happily surprised when Nicole was patient and kind, communicating often how available she was be it through video calls or email to sooth my anxieties. She helped me sort through my options and even when I had settled on an internship in Scotland, she kept searching and found me one most suitable for me: London. I sound like a broken record but it was truly life-changing. I had support throughout; Nicole with her check-ins to make sure I was settling in, my manager Ammu who was my rock and the best boss I have had the pleasure of working with and interns from another program who made my experience what it was. Walking to my train every morning felt purposeful and fun: I felt like a mini adult carving out a life for myself in this big city. I was excited to pop into my local Tesco and learn more about my roommates who invited me out every weekend; from window-shopping in the streets of Westminster to intimate dinners in a Fitzrovia neighborhood. At work, I was challenged! I learned how to interview, I was given responsibility over the intern team (again, the best people) and there wasn't a moment I felt afraid to be inquisitive or express my insecurities about the job. Every week was a new adventure and a new way to grow. I remember our manager had an idea for a viral tiktok and all 8 interns stood outside the work building searching for incoming buses, lingering close to where they'd park with a straight face, then burst into fits of laughter because of how unpredictable our work was! The train rides were honestly one of my highlights. The place I moved into after a month in London was 5 minutes from Canary Wharf so a quick 9 minute walk from my apartment to the train station looked like putting my headphones on while I admired the scenic waters of Canning Town before starting the day. London has an awesome transportation system so if you missed one train, best believe another one was coming a minute or two later (5 at most!). I travelled to Nottingham on the weekend and had a blast, and was surrounded by a great group of people. My landlord was the nicest and so was my housemate from both of my living situations, I had a wonderful time getting to know full-time staff through a get-together my manager organized and to this day, most of those people I am still in contact with. Shoutout Tina, Alicia, Stuart, Kate, Krystal, Nicholas, Catherine, Gayathri, Kamini, Shelby, Claire and Nate! Another to Nicole, Ammu, Ben, John and Georgeena for their continued support. I was lucky in that the issues I faced weren't program related, but I'll admit a travel kit of sites to see would have been nice! I was given housing recommendations as well though a person of support to regularly communicate with on residence issues I faced would be of great help as well. If the thought of study/intern abroad even occurs, run with it. The job experience was invaluable, the beautiful cultures I interacted with - from India to USA - have stayed with me and the memories linger in the "I miss you" messages shared amongst the intern group. Living away from home can be daunting, but you won't regret it for a second. I miss it and appreciate the opportunity beyond comprehension.

I never thought that studying abroad was going to be for me. As a student on scholarship and graduating a year early, studying abroad for a whole semester was out of the question. Yet, I also didn't want to sacrifice possible internship opportunities during the summer that would have helped me get a job. This program was perfect for me as I got all of the benefits of studying abroad without having to sacrifice anything. Additionally, the program was super flexible with their excursions, which was perfect for a busy student like me. I got to have the support of their team while also getting to feel like I was an adult professional in a foreign country. I couldn't have asked for a better group and a better time abroad and thank you AIFS Berlin for making it all happen.

Living: The living situation was excellent and I think is a rare find compared to most study/intern abroad programs, especially because in other programs they'd probably charge you for a private studio. I'm currently studying abroad in Barcelona and I live in a dorm with a roommate, and I still think back to how good my living situation was in Berlin. I remember there being ample cooking utensils, stove, microwave,toaster, coffee maker, not to mention it cam e with a flatscreen TV. I had queen bed and the bedroom was separate from the kitchen area. My current living space doesn't compare at all with my place in Berlin.. Like the if i wanted an apartment they wouldve charged me a large amount adn even then you share the apartment with 4 other people lol. So the berlin program had a top tier living situation. Work: This was my first internship, and I'm extremely grateful to this company for giving me the opportunity to work with them. My boss was extremely helpful and wanted to make sure we we're doing work that interests us, if we wanted to do more entreprenurial work or corporate finance/ accounting. I was impressed by the immense global reach of the company. I worked mainly in finance/accounting and most of the people I communicated with were based in the Netherlands or South Africa. A lot of the finance infrastructure was in Dutch, but using the translating tool, it was always easy to navigate.. towards the end I stopped using the translation tool and I really ended up learning a lot of Dutch finance terms. I always enjoyed socializing/ networking with other people in the office. They were very helpful and communicative, especially at the very beginning. I learned so much from them and my supervisors and working in an international environment. Now I feel more confident in the professional space and working in a team. The only complaint I have is that a clear work schedule was not specified with me and the other finance interns at the beginning, however, we soon found out and apologized for the misunderstanding. We understood to be there at 10am, we just didnt have communication or anything in writing, as to when the work day ended at first. Activities: I enjoyed the tours and group trips, great way to get to know better the city and rest of the country. I really enjoyed the Warnemunde trip. I wish I had gone on the Poland or Czechia trips. But I really enjoyed how accessible the nature was in and around Berlin. One of my favorite things to do was go hang out by a lake, which Berlin has many of and is great to do on a hot summer day. If I were to suggest another activity.. maybe a bike tour around Berlin. Or a group tour of some of the DDR sites- I loved visiting the DDR museum and all the remnants of that era. I really enjoyed my time. Hope to visit again.

My time in Berlin was amazing, I got exposed to new cultures and ideas as well as getting valuable and relevant work experience. AIFS connected me with incredible mentors who helped me grow personally and professionally as well as organized cultural outings to show me the unique experiences Berlin has to offer.

I had a great time in Berlin! I got to experience living on my own for the first time in a brand new city. Learn how to use public transportation, save money, take care of myself, and learn new things from my internship.

Beyond Academy responded to this reviewAugust 21, 2026

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Madison! We’re so glad to hear that your time in Berlin gave you the opportunity to develop both professionally and personally while gaining practical experience in marketing and analytics. We loved having you as part of our Berlin community and hope the skills, lessons and experiences from your summer abroad continue to support you throughout your studies and future career. Wishing you all the best with whatever comes next!

Berlin is an amazing city. The Base, where we lived, was very comfortable. Beyond was great at having activities and initiating meet ups with the other interns. I loved the atmosphere of Berlin. I felt that it had a very gritty, artistic vibe to it which I really enjoyed.

Beyond Academy responded to this reviewAugust 21, 2026

Thank you so much for the lovely review, Britton! We’re so glad to hear that you had such an amazing summer in Berlin and that we were able to connect you with an internship that aligned well with your studies and gave you the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the Berlin real estate market. It’s also great to hear that you enjoyed your accommodation and made the most of everything Berlin has to offer outside of your internship. It really is such a fun and unique city to spend a summer in! We loved having you as part of our Berlin community and hope you’re taking home plenty of new skills, memories and experiences from your time abroad. Wishing you all the best with your studies and whatever comes next!

One of the most fulfilling experiences I have ever had. The placement was immaculate, and the excursions were wonderful. I thought AIFS staff did a great job of planning events while balancing letting students have their own time independently. The staff were all super kind.

My internship in Berlin was a very positive and meaningful experience. I gained practical skills related to my field and learned what it is like to work in an international and professional environment. The team was supportive, and I was given real tasks that helped me grow and gain confidence in my abilities. Living in Berlin was also a great experience. The city is diverse, creative, and full of history, which made my time outside of work enjoyable and memorable. Meeting people from different backgrounds and adapting to a new culture helped me become more independent and open-minded. Overall, this internship helped me grow both personally and professionally, and I am very grateful for the opportunity.

Beyond Academy responded to this reviewJanuary 23, 2026

Hey Andrew, thanks so much for sharing your experience! We’re so happy to hear your Berlin internship was such a great mix of hands-on work and city adventures. It sounds like you got to really dive in, gain confidence, and soak up everything Berlin has to offer,exactly what we hope for every intern! We’re thrilled it was such a valuable experience for you.

As someone who has never travelled alone before, this was one of the scariest things I've done but it was absolutely worth it! Beyond were really helpful in finding an internship that fit my goals and preparing me for my time abroad. I always had someone around for support if I needed it, the community events that were planned were so fun and weren't typical tourist things but instead were places and activities I might not have thought of. I didn't need to worry about finding somewhere to live, it was all taken care of and now that I'm back I wish had stayed longer.

From the people I met, to the places I visited, I had a beautiful time and feel I gained insight into how big the world is. This was my first time traveling without my family, and though I was not worried to travel, I could not have expected to feel at home thousands of miles from Philadelphia (my home). The AIFS staff was more than helpful and always looking to engage interns in immersive experiences. It was worth it 10x over.

The support for achieving your internship is really good, they give you interview advice and coaching which is not only helpful for getting the internship but also in future job searching. The accommodation was great, loved that I didn’t have to sort it myself. The internship and social activities were really fun :)

Beyond Academy responded to this reviewOctober 10, 2025

Hi Alice, thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear that the support from the very start from interview coaching to accommodation helped make your time in Berlin smooth and enjoyable. It’s wonderful that you were able to make the most of both the work experience and the activities, and that you developed skills that will serve you well in the future. We’re so glad Beyond Academy could help provide a genuine, well-rounded experience Berlin misses you already! 🇩🇪✨

I worked at an art workshop non-profit called For Everyone as a marketing intern, where I researched and implemented key performance indicators to measure the company's success. I spent 2 months living in a new environment, speaking a different language, and bearing real work responsibilities. It filled me with motivation, inspiration, anxiety (the good kind!), and hope for my future. I explored a lot more of the city than I was expecting thanks to the outings offered by the program, which I highly encourage future attendees to take part in. Spending time with and getting to know fellow interns, new coworkers, and strangers made me feel very welcome there. Don't be afraid to talk to new people! Expect a lot of work and a lot of free time (use it wisely though, my biggest regret is spending as much time as I did watching TV). I loved my time spent in Berlin and it made me realize that I want to go back and live there again permanently in the future. Also, the people working behind the scenes want nothing but the best for you, and they'll work hard to make your time the best it can be. I hope this program will be as fulfilling for you as it was for me!

My internship was with a restaurant/bar business called Orangerie in Neukölln. There I did data analysis for the company's finances. The internship itself was everything I could have hoped for; my coworkers were so friendly and inviting, and the work itself aligned exactly with my interests and strengths. The location was also absolutely beautiful and convenient to transport to from my apartment. If I get a chance to go to Berlin again, I will absolutely visit my friends at the Orangerie. Otherwise, I met many other people through my various hobbies I continued in Berlin (bouldering and running) as well as through the city's night life. I learned tons about Berlin culture, European culture, and about myself as I gained a broader perspective on my place in the world.

I enjoyed my time with beyond, they did much of the dirty work like matching with a well-fitting host company and finding a safe and pleasant place to stay. That allowed me to focus on the fun and work, which was aided by the social events every week.

Beyond Academy responded to this reviewSeptember 01, 2025

Hi Sam, structure and support is so important to our team, and we are glad to hear you found this so useful. We wish you all the best with your future adventures. All the best - The Beyond Academy Team

I am a recent graduate in Nutrition and Dietetics and currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health. Although I haven’t completed an internship yet, I am eager to gain hands-on experience in the field of nutrition and public health through an international opportunity. My academic background has given me a solid foundation in clinical nutrition, public health strategies, and dietary planning. I am passionate about applying this knowledge in real-world settings, especially in communities where access to proper nutrition and health education is limited. I am particularly interested in areas related to malnutrition, food security, and preventive health. An internship abroad would allow me to grow professionally, improve my practical skills, and better understand the cultural and social factors that influence health and nutrition globally. I am excited to contribute to meaningful projects, collaborate with experts in the field, and make a positive impact while learning from new experiences. This opportunity would be an important step in my career as I work toward becoming a public health nutritionist. I am committed, hardworking, and ready to learn and support the mission of any organization focused on improving health through nutrition.

Beyond Academy responded to this reviewSeptember 01, 2025

Hi Samantha, thank you for expressing interest in the Berlin program. We hope to see an application from you soon! All the best Beyond Academy

The best thing you need to know about Linguistic Horizons is the great support system. I often communicated with Nicole from the start of my application, my departure and all the way to the end of my internship, and she was absolutely fantastic. So nice, friendly and helpful and willing to hear you out always! I had some issues with finances and my placement and she sorted it out like nothing. I would recommend this experience not only because of the the prospects of being abroad and immersion, but for the cultural and work life that awaits you. Loved everything about my experience and I'm sure you will too!

Linguistic Horizons responded to this reviewDecember 20, 2024

Thank you, Angellah! I'm so glad you joined us in London!

It was a great experience, however I do think it is geared towards people with little to no work experience and did not meet all my expectations of learning something new in a new work environment. The best part was being able to practice my Spanish with my host family.

CIEE provided me with a great internship site, a clean and nice apartment in a good neighborhood, and gave me roommates who shared similar interests. The staff was extremely kind and helped me whenever I needed, and were good about checking in with me about my experiences

I throughly enjoyed my time in Berlin! My host company was phenomenal! AIFS also took us on many excursions and explored some of Berlin and outside the city. I learned a lot from my internship and loved living in such a interesting city for the summer

My experience with the IES Freiburg study abroad program was nothing short of exceptional. The academic quality, cultural immersion, and support were top-notch. Professors engaged us in the city and made learning in German a joy. Cultural excursions enriched my understanding of Germany. Living in an apartment with other German students was invaluable for language practice and cultural integration, and was the highlight of my semester abroad. The program's staff were always there to help, making the transition smooth. But what truly made it unforgettable were the lifelong friendships formed with fellow students. This program is a life-changing opportunity to explore Germany and Europe while growing academically and personally. Highly recommended!