As Spain’s third largest city, after Barcelona and Madrid, Valencia is a regional center of commerce and culture. Set in a beautiful Mediterranean backdrop on Spain’s eastern Iberian Peninsula and strewn with a distinctive blend of historical and modern architecture, interns from all over the world will find themselves in a thriving urban environment while interning abroad in Valencia. If you want to gain valuable international work experience while perfecting your Spanish, then an internship abroad in Valencia is beckoning you.
Internships in Valencia
Valencia is one of the busiest port cities on the Mediterranean Sea, and has achieved global city status because of its international connectivity. With a population of nearly two million people and a wide variety of businesses maintaining a foothold in the city, the internship opportunities in Valencia are diverse and plentiful.
Students of disciplines such as communications, marketing, architecture, law, and international business will find internships in Valencia working with both Spanish and international companies. Ideally, candidates will be conversational or fluent in the Spanish language, as this is the language of business and commerce throughout the country. But if Spanish is not your specialty just yet, then completing an internship in Valencia will be your chance to improve your Spanish skills (after all it is the third most commonly spoken language in the world).
A variety of other internship placements can be found with non profit organizations, in the tourism and hospitality industries, or in the arts. Internships in Valencia are most common during the summer term and tend to last for an average of three months. Long-term internship opportunities are also available in the fall and spring, lasting up to six months and also occasionally leading to full time employment.
Life in Valencia
The Spanish culture and way of life is a wonderful thing to experience, and interns from across the globe will come to cherish their time spent living and interning in Valencia. While some aspects of the Spanish lifestyle can be challenging to adjust to upon arrival (such as siestas, late dinners, and an overall slower pace of city life), soon you will fall in love with your new home on the Mediterranean.
Valencia has its earliest roots during the era of the Roman empire nearly two thousand years ago, and today boasts one of the largest and most well preserved historic city centers in the country. From ancient buildings, such as the Llotja de la Seda, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to modern architectural wonders, such as Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciencies, the city’s iconic cultural and entertainment complex, to sprawling beaches along the Iberian Peninsula, there is never a shortage of fascinating territory to be explored in Valencia.
Transport throughout the city is fast and efficient. A combination of rail and bus systems can take you where you need to go nearly anywhere in the city. Valencia is also connected to other top Spanish destinations, such as Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville, via a high speed railway. The city boasts a bicycle sharing program, with thousands of bikes spread across the city, which is a great way to get around while enjoying the unbeatable Mediterranean climate!
Salary & Costs
Interning in Valencia is cheaper than Barcelona and Madrid, making it an attractive alternative destination for internships in Spain. Still, the costs of living can add up if you are not careful, so take the time to plan out a budget before you embark and monitor your expenses during your internship in Valencia. Like in many other countries, internships in Valencia can be paid or unpaid, depending on the position and the company or organization. Most internships will offer you at least some form of compensation, such as prearranged housing and/or a stipend to help support you financially.
Accommodation & Visas
Many internship program providers in Valencia will help you locate housing, or at least point you in the right direction. Popular neighborhoods for interns include Canovas and Ruzafa, while many also decide to live on the outskirts of the city where rent is considerably cheaper. If your internship placement in Valencia does not include housing, then looking online to sublet a single room in a flat might be a good place to begin.
You will also need a visa if you plan on interning abroad in Valencia for more than three months. This is an area where you will need the help of your host employer or placement provider to sponsor your application. The specifics of Spain’s visa policy varies based on your country of origin, so consult GoAbroad’s Embassy Directory for more information from the Spanish Embassy nearest to you.
GoAbroad Insider Tips
An internship abroad in Valencia can be the beginning of something great. Not only will you have the time of your life living as an expat in this Iberian metropolis, but you will gain contacts from around the world, improve your Spanish speaking abilities, and earn something truly impressive to put down on your resume. It will certainly be a challenge leaving home and entering the workforce in a foreign country, but the decision is bound to pay itself off and be one of the best decisions of your early professional career.
