Human Resources 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.

I had a great experience with the AIP Asian Internship Program. The team was very helpful throughout the process, and the internship gave me a great opportunity to gain international work experience and learn about a new culture. I would definitely recommend AIP to anyone looking for an internship abroad.

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.

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!

Overall, it was a truly wonderful experience. However, considering the high cost of the program (around €6,000), there are a few aspects that should be improved to provide future participants with greater security and reassurance. The positives: I had an excellent time at work: I learned a lot, improved my english, and met wonderful people, including my managers. This is the most important aspect and the reason I am so happy with the overall experience. The organized trips included in the program were also beautiful. Areas for improvement: Clear rules before payment: we only found out after paying a very high first installment (€3,400) that we had only three chances to pass the job interviews. If we failed, we would be excluded from the program with no refund. This should be explained immediately; otherwise, participants feel forced to accept the first job offer to avoid losing their money. The agency's communication: the dates for the included trips were changed by the agency at the end of July without clear communication. When we asked for an explanation, the agency blamed us instead of admitting the misunderstanding. Fortunately, our University helped us restore the original dates, but the agency should show more courtesy and understanding. Better housing protection and support: the contract states that if a participant is dismissed from the internship, they must leave the residence immediately, even if the rent has already been paid in advance. This causes significant anxiety and sometimes makes the experience very stressful. Above all, it is concerning not to feel protected or defended by the agency in the event of a misunderstanding or an injustice in the workplace. In conclusion, I will always carry with me the beautiful friendships I made and everything I learned at work. However, I sincerely hope that in the future the agency will be more transparent and supportive, given the significant financial commitment required.

I spent two months participating in a global internship in Bogotá organized by Intern Colombia and had a FANTASTIC experience! Intern Colombia did a tremendous job matching me to an internship that complemented my career goals and values. Not only did they help ensure that my internship experience was a positive one, but I also got to meet many different people and have a wide range of new experiences through the program activities offered that introduced me to the rich cultures in Colombia. This was surely an experience I will never forget!

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.

For my second co-op, I completed my internship through a program called the Asia Internship Program (AIP). I shared my goals and interests with the program, and they helped match me with a host company in Seoul, South Korea. During my stay in Korea, AIP assisted with arranging my housing accommodation, and the staff were responsive to any questions or concerns I had throughout my experience. I felt very supported and comfortable throughout the program, which meant a lot to me, especially since it was my first time in Asia. For my internship, I had the opportunity to contribute to projects related to brand management, marketing, and market research. Now that I have concluded my internship, I can confidently say that this experience was invaluable to me as I was included in real professional conversations which made me feel that my ideas and perspectives were valued. If you’re looking for a real internship experience with the support of a great program I would do it with AIP! ☺️

I spent 2 months living in Bogota, Colombia, interning with a non-profit organization that was organized through Intern Colombia. This program did not only place me in an internship but they also took us on various day trips, a weekend trip to La Guajira, tours, night excursions, and so much more. The directors of the program are amazing and super funny. I loved my time in Colombia and am so grateful to Intern Colombia for providing me with the opportunity to have had this experiences. I definitely recommend!

I had a great experience with AIP! They were very helpful, professional, and supportive throughout the whole process of finding my company placement in Asia and after as well. The communication was smooth, and they made the process much easier and less stressful. Thanks to AIP, I was able to find an amazing opportunity that matched what I was looking for. It definitely depends on the company you get but they found a great one for me with many other interns which made my stay a lot more fun. I would definitely recommend AIP to anyone looking for an international internship or professional experience abroad!

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.

I underwent a two month Internship as a software development intern at a Startup in Osaka, Japan. I really liked the company as I was able to do my part of the project independently, while also coordinating the overall progress with the other interns. My boss was very open to the ideas and opinions of all interns. He had a vague vision of what he wanted at the end, but the process of getting there was entirely left to us interns and I was also able to add some of my own ideas to the project. I also had a lot of time to explore Japan on the weekends, I traveld around in the Kansai region and even went to Tokio. I enjoyed getting to know Japans culture and food, while also gaining work experience.

My 10 weeks in Bangkok were an amazing experience. I met so many great people, discovered a new culture, and made memories I’ll never forget. Truly grateful for the opportunity! My 10 weeks in Bangkok were truly unforgettable. I loved the work environment, gained valuable experience and exposure, and met so many amazing people. I’m leaving with great memories and a new perspective on other cultures.

Being an Intern in Bogotá, Colombia, was truly an invaluable experience. Every aspect, from going into the office to the social life, was a great time; it was a beautiful, immersive experience. I was able to meet a lot of incredible people. I would fully recommend studying abroad!

I chose Cape Town for my internship abroad because I wanted the opportunity to experience a part of Africa and immerse myself somewhere completely new. What I loved most was how much the city has to offer. There is music everywhere, incredible food, endless outdoor activities, and so much creativity. Whether exploring the city, heading into the mountains, or spending time at the beach, everything felt within reach. Even after ten weeks, I still felt like there was so much more I wanted to discover. Living so far from home also taught me a lot about myself. Over time, I became much more comfortable with the unknown and learned to adapt to a different way of life, from local slang and culture to the everyday rhythms of Cape Town. I will especially miss the music, the creativity of the city, and all the people I met along the way. The VAC team was incredibly friendly and welcoming throughout my stay. One of the things I am most grateful for is the community the program created. Many of the friendships and connections that shaped my time in Cape Town came through VAC, and the people I met and experiences we shared are something I will always remember.

This program changed my life for the better! I was so sad to leave but will be eternally grateful to this program for the experiences and connections I made. Whether you are looking to build your resume, meet new people, or just explore a new country, Intern Colombia is the program to go with. The internship placement process is incredibly easy, every person I interacted with as part of the program was incredibly kind, and there are so many activities planned out for the cohorts. I got to see and experience so much of Colombia and it is all thanks to this program. I made friendships that will last a lifetime and every single moment was filled with joy. Take the leap and join!

My experience in Cape Town has been one of the most rewarding and memorable parts of my university journey. Coming from Zambia and studying in the UK, interning in South Africa gave me the opportunity to experience a different professional and cultural environment while still being somewhere that felt familiar in certain ways. During my internship with a business advisory organization, I gained valuable exposure to areas such as business valuations, market research, sales processes, and international expansion. I especially enjoyed mapping out the company’s sales process, as it challenged me to understand how the business operates and communicate that clearly from an outsider’s perspective. Beyond the technical skills, I learned how to adapt to a new professional culture, communicate with people from different backgrounds, and become more comfortable outside of my usual environment. Living independently also helped me become more confident, adaptable, and responsible. Through VAC, I met people from around the world, formed new friendships, and experienced so much of Cape Town, from hiking and exploring the city to jet skiing, ATV riding, and abseiling. Looking back, the greatest value of my time in Cape Town was the combination of professional development and personal growth. The experience pushed me outside my comfort zone, broadened my perspective on international work, and gave me a clearer understanding of the kind of professional environment I want to build my career in. I’m leaving Cape Town with new skills, new connections, incredible memories, and a much broader perspective on both work and life.