Sustainable Development Internships Abroad

I had a good time here. The VAC staff were so welcoming and friendly and definitely one of the best parts. My internship was fulfilling, the doctors were patient and friendly, and I got to do a lot of things as well!! During my internship, I pushed myself to be a bit more confident and not afraid to try new things at the hospital. My advice for future interns is to be open and friendly, learn some isiXhosa, and don’t hold yourself back. I stayed for four weeks and definitely see how staying longer would be even more beneficial educationally. Outside of the internship, there were some fun things to do in Cape Town and lots of places to try. The pre-arrival information had so much detail and made me feel reassured, and the airport pickup was very friendly and reassuring. I also really appreciated the internship placement and the weekly activities.

I chose Cape Town because I wanted to understand how youth programs work here because I’m interested in working for a youth program back in the States. During my internship, I was able to learn more about different political issues here in Cape Town. I also really appreciated the weekly activities, the support and knowing I could call VAC staff if I needed anything. I really love the VAC staff <3

My internship gave me the opportunity to grow both creatively and personally. It was an incredibly open-minded and creative environment, with a strong sense of belonging and community. There were so many opportunities to get involved, build meaningful relationships with the students, and contribute to different creative projects. During my time there, I gained much more confidence in my creative process as an artist and developed a clearer sense of direction about what I want to pursue in the future. I was able to contribute to projects that supported the organization’s mission while also supporting students on their own creative journeys as artists. What stood out to me most was seeing how music and creativity can create opportunities for young people to express themselves, heal, and shape the direction of their lives. Being part of an environment driven by creativity and a genuine sense of community made my internship especially meaningful. I also really appreciated the support I received from VAC. The calls and communication before arriving made me feel much more confident about joining the program, and I especially appreciated how responsive my placement advisor was throughout the process. Once in Cape Town, I enjoyed the weekly check-ins, Friday meetups, and Monday culture series, which gave us opportunities to connect throughout the program. My advice to future interns is to really take advantage of the opportunities around you. Get involved, make connections with the people at your internship, and don’t be afraid to ask if there are projects you can help with. There is an abundance of opportunity if you’re willing to put yourself out there.

I have loved my time here in Cape Town. My internship was a perfect fit for me, and having the independence to drive myself to my internship was a nice bonus to my stay here. I gained a lot of experience in areas that weren’t familiar to me during my studies. I designed PCB boards on DipTrace, saw the ordering process, as well as the coding behind certain PCB boards. I also designed and purchased boards which will be used on their models and in their everyday testing. Having this kind of responsibility was really nice and ensured a good working standard. I felt useful in the company and not like I was just a temporary addition. The employees were lovely and welcoming, and it was a relaxed working environment where everyone was helpful and wanted to teach. My advice for future interns would be to get involved. It can seem like a lot at first, but ask your questions so that you make the most out of the experience. I also really enjoyed the housing during my time in Cape Town and feel like I have made friends for life. I appreciated knowing that I could call VAC staff if I needed anything, and Kus and Serena were always quick to respond. I want to personally thank them for being so welcoming and making my stay extra enjoyable.

My experience in Cape Town was truly amazing. I was able to learn so much about the history of South Africa and the way that apartheid is continuing to affect communities. I have loved the access to nature, with both the oceans and the mountains so close. During my internship, I was able to create a Climate Change manual for migrant women that describes what it is and how it disproportionately affects migrant women. I also went to visit several schools and was able to work with young learners on a walkway games and art project, which was super fun. The organization I worked with is directly involved in community work in many of Cape Town’s townships, contributing to social cohesion and human rights. Once I got adjusted, I loved the ability to go out into communities, work on really cool projects, and work with young people. I will never forget watching the sunrise on top of Lion’s Head and swimming during incredible sunsets at Llandudno. But most of all, I will miss the people that I met along my journey and the friends I made, both from South Africa and from all over the world. The VACtivities and Culture Series were so fun and a great way to experience all the different parts of Cape Town, from the food to music to hiking.

I enjoyed my time in Cape Town and at my internship. The people from VAC were kind to me and helped me and the other interns better integrate ourselves. They also organized fun and thoughtful activities each week for our great pleasure. The people at my internship were also welcoming, especially the engineering team, who helped me learn more and become a better engineer. During my internship, I was able to do more lab testing and 3D CAD designs. The organization is working on medical implants, and I helped with lab tests and designing tools and apparatus for the tests. My advice for future interns is to communicate early on what you want to learn, and communicate it every week. Overall, I enjoyed my time in Cape Town and would definitely recommend it to someone else.

I chose Cape Town as my place for an internship because I wanted to explore the world and get job experience. I had heard so many great things about Cape Town that when I saw this program, I just had to do it. During my internship, I reaffirmed my decision that engineering is the right path for me and that I will be going back to school to finish my degree. The organization I worked with is developing green-energy aviation technology that can be used for purposes such as ground scanning and cargo delivery. The technology provides a cheaper and more eco-friendly alternative to using satellite or airplane imagery. My advice for future interns is not to be shy about asking questions. Everyone was very friendly, and if you’re interested in engineering and computer science, there is a lot to learn. My favorite thing about my time in Cape Town was the social interactions with all the friends I made. I am so grateful to have experienced this with them. I am very sad to be leaving, as I will miss the daily activities with friends and the weekend expeditions. If I could, I would definitely stay longer!

I had a really positive experience with Beyond Academy. I think you get out of the program what you put into it, so having an open mind, being willing to meet different people, and taking initiative makes a real difference. The coordinators were fantastic: approachable, supportive, and genuinely lovely people who made it easy to ask for help and advice whenever needed. I really appreciated how personal and welcoming they made the experience feel. Overall, the program was a great opportunity to gain professional experience abroad, expand my knowledge, and step outside my comfort zone. My biggest advice to anyone considering it would be to stay curious, be proactive, and make the most of the opportunities and connections around you. Your attitude really shapes the experience you have.

Working with AIP was a great experience! AIP helped me locate an internship in Tainan, Taiwan. On the weekdays I received hands-on experience with my company, and on the weekends I adventured. My accommodations were right in the heart of the city, which made sampling Tainan’s cafe and food scene very convenient! I also had the opportunity to partake in mid-autumn festival. Enjoying mooncakes and pomelos under a bright night sky was unforgettable memory. I made so many meaningful experiences and connections from this trip, and I really appreciate AIP’s dedicated team for helping me along the way.

I had just graduated college two years early, and as proud as I was, I was also scared. So much was changing, and I worried about whether I knew enough to go out into the real world. Looking back, the opportunity to intern abroad came at exactly the right time. My time abroad taught me so much. It challenged me to live on my own, work in a new place, and step out of my comfort zone. I was the first in my family to have an opportunity like this, which made it especially meaningful, even when I didn’t know what to expect. The support of the Absolute Program Coordinators gave me peace of mind. I could connect with them about anything, from questions throughout my internship to advice on local coffee spots. Having someone to turn to made a new city feel a little more familiar. I was also grateful to have a very supportive boss on La Guilde’s communications team. He gave me the opportunity to help with big projects and marketing deliverables I didn’t think I would get to work on as an intern. Being trusted with that work helped me build confidence at a time when I was still questioning how ready I was. Beyond my internship, I always looked forward to the day and weekend trips our Program Coordinators put together. They were a chance to get outside the city, explore more of France, and take a break without breaking my budget. I’m grateful for this experience and for the people who helped me feel at ease along the way. I went abroad worried about whether I knew enough for what came next. I came home with more confidence in my ability to figure things out.

I chose to come to Cape Town because I had a brief visit last year and fell in love with the city and the people I met. I felt really uncertain about how I wanted to go about it, but I’m so thankful that I had my South Africa experience through VAC. My internship gave me a lot of opportunities for field experience and individual learning, which I really enjoyed. I learned a lot, especially about advocating for myself as well as just how an NGO functions. I planned an event which required a lot of correspondence. I think my communication skills, especially surrounding fundraising and donations, really improved. I also think my general understanding of the functioning of nonprofit organizations improved. The organization focuses a lot on local people and communities and contributes towards long-term change within the city of Cape Town in terms of human rights education and development. The VAC employees are so helpful and kind, and I genuinely looked forward to seeing them every week. The weekly meetups were always so fun and engaging and were a great way to get to know our peers and see the city. VAC also made integration into my internship really easy, which I appreciated. Even though there were some moments that challenged me, I feel like I grew a lot. I always knew I could reach someone at any time of day, and I think the personal WhatsApp communication makes everything super easy. Orientation was SO MUCH FUN! I think orientation week provides the perfect opportunity to make friends and see the city.

My time with VAC allowed me to have an experience that not only immersed me in South African culture, but also taught me to always keep learning, push my comfort zone, and promote positive and meaningful change in communities! I learned all this while creating life-long friendships and enjoying the beauty of Cape Town! During my internship, I loved the research I got to do. I was able to write and complete a 3,000-word research article to be published in the organization’s article review. The organization does incredible research, litigation, and community outreach for Cape Town and South Africa as a whole. I played a small role in bolstering their publications. I also loved the highly personalized VAC experience. Orientation was amazing, and the Culture Series activities were so unique and fun! I appreciated the support and knowing I could call VAC staff if I needed anything. Overall, my time in Cape Town taught me to keep learning, push my comfort zone, and promote positive and meaningful change in communities, all while creating life-long friendships.

I spent 2 months living in London completing an internship in London for Business/Marketing, and I had the most amazing time! I had never really travelled much before with my family or anything growing up, but in 2025 I went to Europe for 3 weeks fresh out of high school with just my best friend. We started and ended the trip in London, and I knew straight away that London is a definitely a place I want to experience living in one day. I was super lucky I had such an amazing flatmate who I became super close with, and I also made another close friend at a lunch I went to on my 2nd day in London to meet some of the other interns. We all ended up hanging out together in London heaps, I went to Barcelona with one of them which was so much fun! I also got to see some friends from home (Melbourne, Australia) while I was in London which was amazing too. Towards the end of my time there, I even went to Munich, Germany for Oktoberfest with some friends from home which was incredible!! I stayed in Sheffield with my flatmate at her uni for my last weekend before going back to Australia, and got to go to Manchester with her too! Everyone at my internship was always super lovely and helpful throughout my time there, and I really learnt a lot which was amazing. Overall, I had an amazing time, and feel so much more independent and confident having to figure things out and adapt on my own. I'm really glad I did it, I had the best time and it really showed me I'm truly capable of anything I put my mind to!

Beyond Academy responded to this reviewOctober 15, 2026

Thank you for sharing your experience, Jaeda! It’s so lovely to hear how your first visit to London inspired you to come back and experience life in the city with us. From meeting a close friend at your welcome lunch to travelling with your flatmate, it sounds like you’ve left with friendships and memories that will stay with you for years to come. We’re also delighted that your internship team made you feel so welcome and helped you learn along the way. Hearing that you’ve returned home feeling more independent, confident and sure of what you’re capable of is wonderful. Thank you for being part of our London community—we can’t wait to see where you go next! Once a Beyonder, always a Beyonder!

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 had a great experience with the program. From the beginning, they were always attentive and available whenever I had any questions or problems. My advisor, Nisha, was especially helpful and always made sure I had the information and support I needed throughout the process. Overall, the program was well organized and I felt supported throughout my experience. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an internship abroad.

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.

Beyond Academy responded to this reviewOctober 14, 2026

Thank you for sharing your experience, Casper! We’re so happy to hear that your two months in London were some of the best of your life. It was lovely having you in our community, and we’re delighted that your placement went so well and that you’ve left with new friendships, valuable experience and plenty of photos to look back on! Your advice about researching the city is a great tip for future Beyonders—London always has something new to discover. We wish you all the best with your next chapter. Once a Beyonder, always a Beyonder! Thank you also for your honest feedback about the accommodation. We know those issues affected your stay, and we’re glad our team could help resolve them and get the missing bedding to you. Although the property is managed by an external provider, supporting you throughout your stay is an important part of our role, and your feedback helps us identify where improvements are needed.

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.

My experience in the Galápagos was definitely one of the best of my life for several reasons. I lived with a family, which allowed me to share in their daily life and learn about their eating habits. By working on farms, I was able to understand the challenges the archipelago faces with its agriculture (especially the lack of fresh water) and see how they are addressing them! I also spent a lot of time exploring Santa Cruz and other islands with their magnificent landscapes and unique wildlife. it was incredible for me to move around the island and randomly encounter a giant tortoise or groups of marine iguanas. I am grateful to everyone I met there for being so welcoming; it’s an experience I highly recommend!

My experience interning with Intern México was one of the best experiences I have ever had. Having previously interned abroad through a few different agencies, I can confidently say that none compared to how easy and seamless Intern México made the entire process or to the kindness and support of their staff. I was placed with an amazing international architecture firm where I had the opportunity to grow professionally, gain hands-on experience, and learn things that simply cannot be taught in a university classroom. Beyond my professional development, the experience also allowed me to grow personally while living and working in one of the most incredible cities in the world. I am extremely grateful for the experience, the people I met, and everything I learned during my time in México City.