Industrial & Manufacturing Internships Abroad

I joined an internship at a startup focused on sustainable fashion, creating bags and accessories with a mission to care for the planet. For every item sold, one is donated to a child in Africa. My role involved developing marketing, business, and expansion strategies, applying everything I learned in my Master’s and undergraduate studies. This experience taught me the importance of adapting to different corporate cultures and allowed me to contribute meaningfully to a company with a beautiful mission.

After graduating with a degree I wasn’t sure how to use, I found myself feeling lost. I knew I needed time to refocus and understand what I truly enjoy doing. That’s why I decided to take a gap year, to focus on myself and explore new opportunities. When I was first consulted by Korea Gap Year, I immediately felt understood. They guided me through every step of the process and made sure all of my questions were answered. Their support helped me feel at ease before and during my stay in South Korea. I came to Seoul for a one-month internship at Korea Gap Year, where I worked in marketing—my first time ever in this kind of role. I was both nervous and excited, and I truly wanted to do my best. Three years earlier, I had studied abroad in Seoul for six months, so I already had an idea of what to expect. I knew a month would be the perfect length for me this time both emotionally and financially. If I could have stayed longer, I absolutely would have, because I really enjoyed my time working at Korea Gap Year. At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a Korean work environment. When I arrived, Olivia kindly introduced me to everyone and gave me a tour of the office. I was asked to present myself and share my skills so they could assign tasks accordingly. One of the things I enjoyed most was translating past participants’ stories into English and Spanish. It turned out to be something I loved, and it made me realize that I want to pursue a career in this field. My schedule was Monday through Thursday, 9 AM to 6 PM. It was definitely an adjustment especially sitting for eight hours straight but I got used to it. One thing that surprised me was how quiet the office could be. In the U.S., people often greet each other with “good morning” or “have a good day,” whereas in Korea, people just quietly go about their work. At first, I felt a bit rude not saying anything, but eventually, the introvert in me appreciated the quiet too. My main goal during this internship was to become more confident and focused on my career. While I sometimes felt frustrated knowing I had to go back home, this experience gave me time to reflect. The job market in the U.S. has been tough, and I often felt uncertain about what was waiting for me. But living alone in Korea for a month was an eye-opener. It helped me learn so much about myself. I've always struggled to express how I feel, but being here helped me open up. Being a student in Korea three years ago was a completely different experience from working here. It’s much easier to make friends as a student. As a worker, it was more difficult, but I appreciated the little moments when locals would approach me during dinner just to speak English. Some even asked about my Mexican heritage and my Spanish, which made me happy and proud to share. It was a meaningful exchange of cultures. Korean culture was breathtaking to experience again. From packed subways during rush hour to cute themed cafes and late-night karaoke, everything felt surreal. I know I’ll truly miss this lifestyle when I return home. It's definitely true when they say Seoul never sleeps! Don’t be afraid to try new things! Try new foods, drinks, visit places, and step out of your comfort zone. You’re in a different country, don't be shy. If you feel discouraged or homesick just remember that you are working towards your goal and future. I also believe your accomodation should be around a loud neighborhood so it’s not totally quiet making you feel at ease being abroad alone. Thank you, Korea Gap Year, for welcoming me as an intern. I’m incredibly grateful for all that I learned and for the support you gave me. To future participants: - Don’t overpack, unless you don’t plan on spending money in Korea. Honestly, it's hard not to! Everything is more affordable compared to the U.S. or Europe, so bring two suitcases. - Research before you go! Watch videos about getting around Incheon Airport, SIM cards, and public transportation. It’s super helpful. - Be prepared for loneliness if you’re traveling for the first time. At home, eating alone is comforting, but in a new country, it can feel isolating. Thankfully, some coworkers invited me to eat together, which I truly appreciated. - Try new things! Whether it’s food, places, or stepping out of your comfort zone. You’re in a different country! Don’t be shy. If you ever feel homesick, remind yourself why you’re here and what you’re working toward. - Stay somewhere lively. If possible, choose accommodation in a busier area. The noise and energy can help ease feelings of loneliness. What to Bring: - Seoul has tons of stores. Daiso is a lifesaver for essentials and affordable finds. - Two things I had trouble with: finding foundation that matches my skin tone, and pants that fit (if you’re tall, they may run short). So pack those ahead of time! - Don’t forget an adapter for your electronic, but don’t worry if you forget something everything’s accessible here. My Gap Year Review! Environment ★★★★★ I was not used to such a quiet working environment but it was really nice getting to experience a different working culture. Language ★★★★★ It was nice being around the Korean language as it made me learn new vocabulary but if you don’t speak it that’s okay there so many things that are translated to English. Accommodation ★★★★★ I got an Airbnb near the company which was so convenient especially during working hours it gets super busy in the subway. So, if you can get an accommodation near the company I suggest that. Safety ★★★★★ Seoul is very safe in my opinion so I never had to worry about any dangerous parts or activities but it’s still an important thing to be safe wherever you are. Learning ★★★★★ Thank you Korea Gap Year for giving me this opportunity! I learned a lot of new skills and realized what tasks I really enjoy doing. I also learned more Korean than I thought!

I had a great time here in Taiwan with the internship from AIP. Everyone was very kind and the food was good here. I learned a lot from my host company and would highly recommend this program to my peers 10/10 experience for sure.

I will always be an advocate to intern or study abroad. No matter where you choose to go, you will leave with your life changed. The Intern Group is a reputable, reliable choice. Dublin is a great city to explore and work in, especially if you like more mid-size and communal cities. What you put into the program is what you get out, so explore and experience all you can. There’s a lot to do in Dublin, as you have both of best worlds, being by the city and sea. As an avid ocean lover, I was able to be in the ocean, but also get my city girl on which I loved. Adam and Laura were our ECs here in Dublin. They were great in coordinating social plans while getting accustomed to Dublin and if we had any questions, they were very supportive.

This internship abroad is the kind of experience that changes how you see yourself. Away from the usual routines and support systems back home, you’re forced to figure things out on your own, and that’s where the real growth happens. Navigating a new place, solving problems solo, building a routine from scratch: it teaches you more about independence than any classroom ever could. The program also gives you room to actually test out a career path instead of just guessing at it. You get to try the work firsthand and see what genuinely clicks. What stands out most is the community and the events. Everyone’s going through the same adjustment, which creates a natural closeness. People get it, and they show up for each other, which makes the hard parts a lot easier to handle. Overall, a genuinely worthwhile experience. Highly recommend.

This experience gave me so much. During my internship, I learned to see things from different perspectives and to try new things without fear also because the people I worked with were very kind, helpful and supportive. I'm very grateful for everything and experiences like this are very important because if you think that you have an open mind like this one helps to think outside the box and learn how to solve problems and new challenges without fear!

I had one of the best time of my life! The internship has helped me to grow both personally and professionally and I will be forever grateful to The Intern Group for the opportunity given. Not only the work environment was fantastic, but also the moments spent with my flatmates made a difference in this experience

I had such a wonderful experience working at a Whiskey Distillery in Dublin. The staff were all so genuinely nice and made me feel right at home. Rotating through the cafe, reception, and the back bar allowed me to understand all the different phases of a working distillery, and meeting the bosses was a great addition to the program. Dublin attracts so much tourism, I really enjoyed meeting so many different people from all over the world at my work. It felt like a true mix of diversity, which allowed me to learn so many unique things from everyone I encountered. I was also incredibly glad to use my Mandarin skills to help out. On my days off, I had the best time exploring Dublin, traveling around Ireland, and adventuring into other European countries. It was a beautiful journey both professionally and personally!

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.

interned at the a private hospital in the operating room, where I observed the anesthesiologists and surgeons. This experience helped me gain a lot of insight in the healthcare system is like in a different country. I spent two months in Buenos Aires and it was wonderful with weekly events on the weekends coordinated by Brenda and Maru. Thanks to Connect-123 I was able to strengthen education and gain real life experience that will help me with my future profession.

My experience with Asia Internship Program was amazing from start to finish. I had very specific requirements for my internship, including finding an unpaid position that was longer than 8 weeks and focused on nonprofit or legal work rather than English teaching. While the placement process took some time, Jeff Oo was incredibly professional and reassuring throughout the process. He was honest about updates, never gave false hope, and made sure he was finding opportunities that were truly the right fit for me rather than rushing the process. Once I arrived in Taiwan, Nisha Shahi and Roro Lee were also incredibly supportive. Nisha helped arrange my transportation to and from the airport, answered my questions quickly when I was settling into my accommodation, and regularly checked in to make sure I was doing well. Their support made moving to a new country feel much less overwhelming. The internship itself exceeded my expectations, and I felt welcomed and comfortable as a queer Black student. I’m incredibly grateful for the care, professionalism, and effort the AIP team put into making this experience successful. I would highly recommend Asia Internship Program to any student looking for an international internship experience!

This was an amazing experience to immerse myself in a new culture while also gaining work experience. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to both travel and work in a professional setting. Dublin has a great city life, and it is also easy to travel to other European countries

My time in Seoul was extremely memorable, from the people I met, to the adventures I had, it was quite literally the most exciting time of my life. The program had a lot of weekend trips, and opportunities to interact with the other interns, and chances to explore, so I really appreciated being able to see South Korea the way I was able to. From initially not knowing anyone in the program, to being able to recognize everyone by name, my time in Korea was not wasted !

I had a great experience with AIP Study Abroad Internships, especially because of how kind and helpful the staff was throughout the entire process. From the beginning, everyone I interacted with was incredibly friendly, responsive, and genuinely wanted to make sure I had a good experience abroad. Whenever I had a question or needed help with something, the AIP team was always easy to reach and willing to help. Moving abroad and starting an internship in another country can definitely be stressful at times, but having such a supportive staff made the whole experience much easier. They were welcoming, patient, and always made me feel like I had someone I could reach out to if I needed anything. Overall, I’m very grateful for everyone at AIP who helped me along the way and made my time abroad such a positive experience. I would definitely recommend AIP to anyone considering an internship abroad!

I graduated in international business from Lyon and wanted real experience in Asia. GAC placed me with a logistics company in Shanghai's Pudong district. I worked on real projects – analyzing supply chains, negotiating with suppliers, and presenting to clients. My mentor taught me how Chinese business culture works – fast, direct, and relationship-driven. The team handled my visa, found me a great apartment, and checked in regularly. Three months later, I returned to France with a job offer. Best decision I ever made.

My experience in Dublin was life changing. I had the best time exploring the city, making life long friends and my placement was fantastic. I was working with like minded people, that were passionate about what they did and wanted to share that passion with me. Outside of work the EC’s are the best people to talk to about where to go and what to see around the city, they really help bump the trip up to the next level.

I really enjoyed my time with The Intern Group! I got to meet amazing people and go on some pretty cool excursions. I loved my job placement and would definitely recommend the program to anyone looking for an opportunity abroad!

This program was a great experience and developed my work skills by making me more confident in a fast paced environment. Additionally, it helped my sociability by helping me connect with others. Would recommend to anyone and everyone!

I loved being able to experience a work culture so different from mine and also being able to travel around in the days off or after work. It was really nice to have the accommodation already prepared.

I had a great time in this program, the city was great and the events were a great way to get introduced to new aspects of the culture. I met some really great people as well that I am sure I will keep in touch with after the program, all in all a great experience.