Short Term Internships Abroad

Hi, my name is Greta and I am from Minnesota, USA. I am currently applying to a PA school position in the U.S. and I decided to come here so that I can get some experience shadowing doctors and other medical professionals to kind of engage with what interests me the most. I’ve had a really great experience not only at the hospital but in Athens too. I really loved Athens and being able to travel to the islands has been also great. Overall, in my experience I found Greece supportive not only by the program but by the medical professionals here. I have learned so much and definitely I have a better understanding of the cultural differences as well as of myself and what I want to do in the future.

Hello, my name is Jeremy, I am from Wisconsin, America, I went to the University of Wisconsin- Parkside and it is my hope that one day- hopefully- I will become a physician. I chose this program because, one, I wanted to get experience in the healthcare field in a different or foreign country and, second of all, Greece has always been one of my dream destinations to visit. So, the answer is simple, I came to Greece. Athens has been wonderful so far, actually when I first came here I was very surprised as it was different from what I thought it would be, but it was absolutely wonderful. I also had some chances to visit some of the islands, which are absolutely gorgeous. I loved my time sightseeing here, having fun. I absolutely enjoyed all the surgeries and clinics I was able to follow and watch. It has been so insightful. I sometimes go home and write some summaries for myself about the day, my feelings and experience and I think that I genuinely learned a lot. When I first got here Cerca Abroad was so helpful and very informative and I was very welcomed. I appreciate everything that I have been going through. Like I said, I absolutely loved it.

Hello, I am Faidra, I am a medical student, I am in the first year of my studies. I study in Malta but I am half Greek- half Latin American. I decided to come to this program to see how hospitals here in Greece work, how surgeries are performed, because I am interested in plastic surgery. I also saw a lot of surgeries. Plastic surgeries like laparoscopic ones with robotic machines. I saw spine surgeries, reconstructive ones, a lot of things, and also clinical experience. We saw how doctors go and see patients, how they talk to them and how they make them feel here. I am very grateful to have been here; it was a very good experience. Athens is also beautiful. Coming here, home again, was a great idea. All the team behind the program are very good people and they can answer all your questions. Thank you.

Hello there, my name is Ashley, I am from Ontario, Canada. I recently graduated from my Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at McMaster University. I decided to join this program with Cerca for dental shadowing to get more familiarized with the procedures and what is done in the dental profession here in Athens. I recently got a broad knowledge in Canada for dental shadowing but I wanted to get more familiarized and get more hands-on here in Europe. So, what I’ve been doing here in the last couple of weeks is shadowing Dr Costas and watched a diverse run of procedures, from tooth extractions to crumpled crown treatments as well as dental fittings, to name a few. Overall, it’s been a really great experience. From the team here with Cerca Abroad as well as the Athens area this is a very good opportunity to gain experience both in the medical field as well as get outside and learn about the cultural history that Athens has to offer. So, everything went smoothly transitioning our travels from Canada to here and I would really recommend this program to anyone who wishes to gain experience in a medical setting.

Through ArtBound I got paired with Is+At, a branding and marketing company based in New York. ArtBound helped to prepare me for my internship by giving courses and clear direction in how to succeed in an internship/workplace no matter the atmosphere. They have continued to give me support leading up to, during, and after my internship. ArtBound goes above and beyond to give everyone the best chance in professional settings and increase their chance of success in the creative industry.

I was excited by the opportunity to expand my horizons through an internship abroad and chose Cape Town for its vibrant culture and incredible natural landscapes. From the ocean and mountains to the greenery surrounding the city, the natural beauty was easily one of my favorite parts of the experience. Whether exploring botanical gardens, visiting the coastline, or simply taking in scenery unlike anything back home, Cape Town constantly gave me something new to appreciate. As my first experience traveling abroad, my eight weeks here challenged me in ways I didn’t expect. I left with a greater sense of gratitude, cultural awareness, and a broader perspective on the world. During my internship with a local environmental conservation organization, I researched and wrote about threatened wildlife species and environmental awareness. One of my favorite projects challenged my own assumptions about an animal I had previously been wary of and gave me the chance to learn about its importance within the ecosystem. I also joined colleagues on an overnight conservation trip to a nature reserve, which became one of the highlights of my time in South Africa. My internship also helped me better understand what I value in a future workplace and the kind of environment I hope to work in. Although two months gave me plenty of time to experience Cape Town, I still left feeling like there was more to discover. I’m especially grateful for the warmth and generosity of the VAC team and for the experiences they created throughout my stay.

I chose to come to Cape Town because one of my friends who had been here adored it, and I can see why! Between the beautiful landscapes, rich culture, and everybody I met, it’s hard to leave it behind. The weekly opportunities put together by VAC let me connect with people outside of my internship, but still with the shared experience of learning abroad. I really appreciated the internship placement, weekly activities, Culture Series, and knowing that I could call VAC staff if I needed anything. My internship gave me many opportunities to lead in different areas. I got to lead supporting stations like food prep and the cleaning station, while also leading stations working directly with the birds, like the rehabilitation pens. The organization works to rehabilitate marine birds and educate the public about the birds around them and their own impact on the environment. My role was to help provide the necessary care to the birds so that they could eventually be released. For future interns, most of the skills you learn on the job come with practice. Everybody on the team is rooting for you, so don’t be hard on yourself if you can’t get the hang of something the first few times.

I absolutely adored my time I spent with WorldStrides. I was placed in an amazing family of 9 people and everyone was so welcoming. The classes I took were all in spanish but none were too difficult to complete. The in program trips we took were amazing (Pucón, Zapallar y Horcón, Santiago) but the proximity to other locations really makes Valparaiso worth it. 10/10 would study here again!!!!

Go Elective is a great program! From the beginning, I had a lot of support with my visa application, and I was especially grateful that they were able to accommodate me when I had to change my dates. The staff were always friendly, patient, and available whenever I needed help. At the hospital, I really enjoyed joining the ward rounds because you never knew what cases you were going to see that day. Some were things I had studied before, while others were completely new to me. One thing I would tell future students is to be patient, but also be proactive and show that you’re interested. The doctors are busy and obviously have patients to take care of, so you sometimes have to ask questions and take the initiative to learn. I started carrying a small notebook with me to write down interesting cases or things I didn’t understand, then I would look them up later or ask about them the next day. That really helped me get more out of my placement. Overall, I had a great experience and the time went by much faster than I expected. I would definitely recommend Go Elective!

My Erasmus+ traineeship in Japan was an experience that changed the way I see both my professional and personal development. During my time at Peace Works, I had the opportunity to work in an international environment, take part in creative projects, and observe how communication and collaboration works. One of the most meaningful aspects of the traineeship was the opportunity to work on photography and social media content. I could use my background in photography while also learning more about content creation, visual communication, and working with a team. Every project gave me the chance to try something new and become more confident in sharing my ideas. Living in Tokyo was an important part of the experience as well. Being surrounded by a completely different culture encouraged me to become more independent and adaptable. I met people from many different backgrounds and learned to communicate with people whose experiences and perspectives were different from my own. I am grateful for the people I met, the opportunities I was given, and the challenges I faced along the way. This traineeship not only gave me professional experience, but also helped me understand myself better and become more confident about the direction I want to take in the future.

My experience with Atlantis in Athens, Greece was amazing and gave me an experience I couldn't replace. I was able to observe healthcare professionals in a different country and get a better understanding of how healthcare can be different in other countries. I would recommend Atlantis to students interested in healthcare who want to study abroad but also get this experience.

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.

Hello, my name is Allison. I am from Scottsdale, Arizona, I am twenty years old, and I am in my third year of undergraduate studies in California. I chose a medical internship because I am interested in pursuing a career in medicine in the future. I really wanted to get a taste of medicine and be involved in that environment. I was offered this opportunity through my school, and it seemed like a great way to go abroad and see a part of the world I had never seen before. Some of the most exciting things I’ve seen specifically in the hospital include patient interaction, which was super cool, as well as some incredible surgeries. My favorite experience was seeing an open-heart surgery, which was one of the craziest things I’ve ever witnessed. The doctors were amazing—they really explained everything. Coordination was smooth. I think, as much as it is well-coordinated, you also have to take initiative to see what you want to see. Athens is beautiful. The people are super nice and helpful if you need anything. The food was amazing—I had so much gyros! I also got to visit some of the islands and learn about the history of the region, which was very enriching.

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.

Hi, my name is Harika, I am twenty years old and I go to the University of Middlesex in London. So, the reason I chose this internship is because I am looking to become a cardiologist and I just wanted to get some insight and some internal experience of how it would be like to get a taste of the future. The coordination with Intern Abroad/Cerca Abroad was ten out of ten. Everything has worked perfectly for me from my apartment, communication, and assistance, I couldn’t have had any other way.

Hi, my name is Chloe and I am from California. I go to San Diego State University. I chose this program because I eventually want to become a doctor or a surgeon. My experience with Cerca Abroad was very good. I got to experience lots of surgeries I had never seen before, which is something we can’t really see in America—so it was definitely a good experience. Athens was very fun. We also got to visit some of the islands. Overall, it was a great experience and I gained a lot of clinical experience as well.

I was a little nervous about traveling to Africa by myself, especially since I didn’t know anyone before arriving. That feeling disappeared pretty quickly. I met students from different places, and within a few days we were going to the hospital together and exploring on the weekends. One of my favorite rotations was in the labour ward. I got to see babies being born, which was something I had never experienced before. Seeing a new life come into the world right in front of me was honestly amazing, and each delivery felt just as special as the first one. I learned a lot during my time abroad, but those moments in the labour ward are something I know I’ll always remember.

Hi, my name is Katie. I am from Columbus, Ohio, USA and I will be a junior this year at Harvard. I chose to do this internship because I wanted to explore the research industry and I am a bioengineer, so I thought that this was the best opportunity to do that. Some interesting things that I saw during my internship were that I was able to work with PCR tests, DNA extraction, which was super cool. I am very happy with the internship’s coordination by Cerca, the team was very attentive to any needs. I enjoyed my stay in Greece, the people are very welcoming and I love the Mediterranean diet, so the food was also great.

Hi, I am Jenny, I am from California, I go to San Diego State University. I chose this internship because I really wanted to immerse myself in another culture and get that new experience especially in the healthcare and medical field. It was very interesting to get a new perspective on how other countries work with patients and their techniques in medicine. I chose Greece specifically because I love the culture and the food. My first job was at a Greek restaurant and they’ve always made me feel like family and I really liked that. So I think coming here I wanted to experience more of that. Everyone here is so friendly. And the food, of course. And Cerca has been very helpful. They’ve been very good at communicating. If I’ve had a problem they would answer very quickly, so they’re responsive. I think everything was planned out very well. I didn’t have any issues with getting to work or anything like that. Everything was super smooth, especially picking me up from the airport was very helpful too. I think everything was really good.

I did a 5 month marketing internship in Bali through Island Internship and it was the best decision of my bachelors. I had previously done an internship in my home country and hands down I prefer the internship abroad. They hand-matched me to a company that fit my goals, sorted my housing and airport pickup, and checked in throughout. Having placement and accommodation handled meant I could focus on the work and actually enjoy Bali. The community events made it easy to meet other interns. Would recommend to any student wanting a internship abroad without the stress of arranging it alone.