Environmental Studies Internships in Spain

I spent my Spring Break in Barcelona through the EPICS at ASU Global Intensive Experience, and it was easily one of the most valuable things I've done in college. The program brought 34 of us together to work on real community-based engineering projects alongside partners like Tarpuna SCCL, BIT Habitat, and CARNET, with additional connections to Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya and ESERP Business & Law School. This was not a sightseeing trip with a class attached. We were in intensive group work sessions applying what we'd learned in the classroom to actual problems facing a global city. The academic side was genuinely challenging in the best way. A Smart City tour with Guiding Architects showed us how urban architecture and engineering solutions come together at scale, and working directly with local organizations forced us to think about design in a cultural context we'd never encountered before. We also put sustainability into practice with a beach cleanup at Barceloneta, which grounded the whole experience in real action rather than just discussion. The cultural immersion was just as intentional as the coursework. We explored the Sagrada Família, took in the views from Montjuïc, visited Park Güell, learned Flamenco with a local dance studio, and ended one evening watching the sunset from a jazz catamaran. The tapas alone would have been worth the flight. The program leaders, including Dr. Tami Coronella, Jennifer Wong, Claire Lien Luong, and Bastien Kahn, were supportive and organized throughout. They struck a real balance between pushing us academically and making sure we experienced Catalonia beyond the classroom. If you're an engineering student considering a short-term global program, I can't recommend this one enough. You come home with more than photos. You come home understanding that engineering really is a universal language for change.

My internship as a market and financial analyst was an excellent opportunity for me to gain professional experience dealing with real business needs and personnel. The submersion taught me many technical skills and built my confidence, which I am sure have helped prepare me for my future positions.

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!

The entire internship abroad experience was great! The Beyond Academy coordinators did a great job organizing activities that allowed us to experience the must-see parts of Barcelona, while also providing great recommendations for places to eat, explore, and navigate the city. I also really appreciated the wide variety of internship fields available. Overall, it was a great way to gain international work experience while experiencing life in Barcelona!

Beyond Academy responded to this reviewAugust 21, 2026

Thank you so much for the lovely review, Kiera! We’re so glad to hear that you had such a positive experience in Barcelona and were able to combine gaining international work experience with making the most of everything the city has to offer. It’s especially great to hear how much you enjoyed the activities organized by our Barcelona Community Team, as well as all of their local recommendations along the way. We always want our interns to feel like they’re really experiencing life in their program city, rather than simply living and working there for a few weeks. We loved having you as part of our Barcelona community and hope you’re leaving with some amazing memories, new skills and experiences that you can take forward into your future career. Wishing you all the best with whatever comes next!

My experience with the Absolute Internship abroad program was incredibly valuable and memorable. Spending 6 weeks in Madrid, Spain, allowed me to gain professional experience while also experiencing a new culture, work environment, and a new sense of independence. One of the highlights of the program was the opportunity to work at Asesoria Debe Haber Asociaciones, where I was able to develop skills in establishing new nonprofit national or local organizations by working on founding their board or statutes. The internship gave me a better understanding of my career interests and allowed me to apply what I have learned in school to a real-world environment while also educating myself on how this country's system differs from that of mine and learning how this can help me build upon my current professional knowledge. Outside of work, living in Madrid allowed me to explore new places, meet people from different backgrounds, and experience the local culture. The program staff was extremely supportive and helpful, making the transition to living abroad much easier. Although there were some challenges, such as adjusting to a new environment and working for the first time at a location that aligns with my professional goals, along with a slight language barrier, these experiences helped me grow personally and professionally. Overall, I would highly recommend this program to other students considering an internship abroad. It provided me with meaningful professional experience, unforgettable memories, and a greater sense of confidence and independence.

What an amazing internship experience! It was an unforgettable month that pushed me out of my comfort zone, gave me experiences I’d never have at home, and allowed me to learn about conservation while meeting some amazing people. I learned a great deal and the entire experience definitely exceeded my expectations! I really enjoyed game drives. It was a good way to explore the reserve, learn lots about the environment and wildlife, get to know other participants and no drive was ever the same. Seeing all the animals, sunrise and sunsets on drives and getting to know new people made the experience truly unforgettable.

The time spent doing my GIS internship at the Gondwana Game Reserve exceeded my expectations in both the knowledge I received and the amazing views I was fortunate enough to see. I learned a great deal, saw a lot of amazing animals and it was extremely rewarding to learn so much about GIS and wildlife.

Throughout my 2 months living and working in Madrid, I absolutely fell in love with the city. The culture, food, social scene, and environment was unmatched. Thanks to Absolute, I met some of my best friends while abroad. I am so lucky to have found such an amazing group of people to share this experience with including our program coordinators who were the BEST. On top of my actual internship which gave me so many great connections, I truly built a life in Madrid during my time there. This summer has been the best of my life, I gained so many friendships, learned so much about myself, and experienced places and memories that will last a lifetime.

The internship experience in Barcelona was absolutely amazing both in the office and out of the office. Our local host Isabel was amazing when getting us acclimated to the city, as well as providing reccomendations and ensuring our safety. On top of that, her community events that she planned for our group were so much fun whether it was a day trip to the beach, going to dinner, or attractions like park guell. The internship on the other hand was a great work experience, and I learned so much about working abroad.

Beyond Academy responded to this reviewAugust 21, 2026

Thank you so much for the amazing review, Bryce! We’re so glad to hear that you had such a positive experience both inside and outside of your internship during your time in Barcelona. It’s especially lovely to hear how much you appreciated Isabel and all of the support, recommendations and activities she provided throughout your program. From beach days and dinners to exploring some of Barcelona’s must-see spots, it sounds like you really made the most of your time in the city! We’re also so happy to hear that your internship gave you valuable professional experience and the opportunity to learn more about working abroad. We loved having you as part of our Barcelona community and hope you’re leaving with plenty of new skills, friendships and amazing memories from your summer!

My time in Spain was surprising, to say the least. When I first got to my company, there were only two people on site. This was mainly because of the difference in starting times depending on the employee. My coworkers were very culturally diverse. Some coming from the Netherlands, some from various parts of Latin America, and a Filipina woman who was raised in Spain. All very lovely people. But the work culture surprised me as it was very lax and the coworkers were very kind. I was able to make friends with my absolute peers and go out around the city exploring the culture and practicing our Spanish. Barcelona was beautiful but surprising in the way of how the pride the people feel for their home reminds me of Puerto Rico.

I had an amazing experience with Absolute Internship! From the beginning, the program made the process of interning abroad feel organized and supported, which allowed me to really focus on making the most of my time in Barcelona. Through Absolute Internship, I was placed with Atlex Legal, where I gained hands-on experience in immigration law, worked directly with clients, participated in client calls, and contributed to meaningful projects, including developing an immigrant integration business plan. The internship gave me responsibilities that challenged me professionally and helped me become more confident, independent, and comfortable working in an international environment. What I appreciated most was that the experience went far beyond simply having an internship abroad. I was able to experience living and working in Barcelona, meet people from different backgrounds, and grow both personally and professionally. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity and would highly recommend Absolute Internship to students who want international work experience while also stepping outside of their comfort zone and experiencing life in a new country.

The program itself was amazing. I had a great placement. Work life is very fun and chill, but also enough work where I was learning a great amount. The program has a ton of opportunities to get together and do cool trips, but it also gives you the free freedom to travel. The two coordinators were awesome. Honestly made us feel so comfortable being in Barcelona.

Beyond Academy responded to this reviewAugust 21, 2026

Thank you so much for the lovely review, Campbell! We’re so glad to hear that you had such an amazing experience with both your internship and the wider Barcelona program. It’s especially great to hear how much you enjoyed the activities and the time spent with our Barcelona Community Team. We always try to plan a mix of experiences that help you discover parts of the city and local culture that you might not necessarily seek out on your own, so hearing that some of your best memories in Barcelona came from those experiences means a lot to us. We loved having you as part of our Barcelona community and are so happy that Beyond Academy helped make your summer abroad such a memorable one. Wishing you all the best with whatever comes next!

I couldn’t have asked for a better program to join. Everyone was so amazing and our program leaders were the absolute best and the events were extremely fun. I was placed in the best internship I could have asked for.

Beyond Academy responded to this reviewAugust 21, 2026

Thank you so much for the amazing review, Collin! We’re so glad to hear that you had such a positive experience in Barcelona and that your internship was such a great fit. Getting to work inside Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium alongside other international interns sounds like a pretty memorable way to spend a summer! We also love hearing how much you enjoyed being part of the smaller Barcelona community and, of course, your time with Isabel. Our events are all about giving everyone the opportunity to experience the city together and build genuine friendships, so it’s great to hear that they became something you looked forward to each week! We absolutely loved having you as part of our Barcelona community and hope you’re leaving with some amazing memories, friendships and professional experience to take forward with you. Wishing you all the best with whatever comes next!

My global internship experience in Madrid, Spain, with Absolute Internship made my summer unforgettable! Absolute provided an easy transition during the travel process and the start of my internship experience. The internship placement process was smooth and provided professional and cultural growth.

I had an amazing time doing the 8-week program with Absolute Internship. I had the opportunity to travel to three different countries during my program and got to explore all over Spain. I met amazing people and I am very grateful for the experience and memories made throughout this internship.

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!

My experience with Absolute Internship in Barcelona was truly unforgettable. I absolutely fell in love with Spain, from the culture and people to the lifestyle and beautiful city of Barcelona. Having Barcelona as my home base made the experience feel like I was truly living abroad rather than just visiting. I had a favorite supermarket where they knew and recognized me, and we would smile and wave everytime I passed by, a favorite pizza place, etc. Being able to go on weekend trips to other countries and come back to a home was amazing, rather than moving from hotel to hotel for 2 months. The public transportation made it so easy to explore the city and travel to other places throughout Barcelona, and we got a metro card so we didn't have to pay every time we wanted to move around. One of my favorite parts of the program was the people I met. I made some of my best friends through Absolute, and the memories we had are something I will never forget. I also loved my host company and coworkers, who made me feel welcomed, supported, and excited to go to work each day. The program coordinators were incredibly helpful and made the entire experience feel comfortable and enjoyable. I would definitely recommend it to anyone. I also made friends who are locals, and I'm planning to go back and visit them.

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.

Meeting the people in my flat really changed my experiences. They were so kind. I was lucky with my internship with having people supporting me and also wanting to get to know me. I highly recommend this to someone.

Karen and Kristal at Intern Abroad HQ were wonderful at assisting me and my study abroad counselor throughout the whole process (esp. with the academic credits). Thank you to them! What I enjoyed most about the Public Health internship in Cape Town was being able to work closely and connect with such qualified, educated, and passionate professionals in my field. Being exposed to the work that they do gave me a clearer idea of what I want to do in my own professional career and gave me insight into what it takes to get there. Furthermore, I enjoyed being mentored by my internship supervisor and being able to take charge of my own internship project.