Business Internships in Western Europe

I had such a great experience with Sage Corps this summer in Amsterdam. Going into the program, I was really excited about the opportunity to intern abroad, but I honestly ended up getting so much more out of the experience than I expected. I was able to work with a startup in Amsterdam and gain real experience in sales, business development, marketing, and working in an international environment. I learned a ton professionally, but I also grew a lot personally. Living in a new country for two months definitely pushed me outside of my comfort zone at times, and I feel like I came home much more confident, independent, and open-minded because of it. One of my favorite parts of Sage Corps was also the people. I met so many great people from different schools and backgrounds, made some really close friends, and loved having a group of people to experience Amsterdam with. The events Sage Corps put together were always fun, and it was also really nice having people from the program in Amsterdam who were there to support us throughout the summer. I’m extremely grateful that I had the opportunity to be a part of Sage Corps. It gave me an amazing internship experience, great friendships, and memories from Amsterdam that I’ll honestly never forget. I would definitely recommend the program to anyone who wants to gain meaningful work experience while also pushing themselves to try something new and experience living abroad.

I had such an amazing experience in Barcelona. The internship itself was wonderful, I learnt so much about the industry and working abroad with such a diverse group of people was brilliant. Isabel was an amazing rep, all of the events were so much well planned and took us all around the city. We had the chance to try food and see sights that I wouldn’t have found otherwise, and it was a great way to get to know the other interns on the programme! Barcelona is a lovely city and it felt like home in no time.

At the beginning I HATED my internship and i thought i hated the job. But I think the most important learing curve was to give yourself the grace and the patience of being uncomfortbale and to learn something new. because i only hated the fact that it was something different so i felt uncomfrotable, but once i was able to sit with that and allow myself to become familiar with it i really enjoyed it.

My summer in Spain with SageCorps was truly a dream come true. Getting to live in Europe for a summer (my dream) and gain valuable professional experience with a local travel company, I never imagined it would be possible. I got the opportunity to work for a travel company in their partner experience and brand design department while soaking up summer in Barcelona. Throughout the entire summer, the SageCorps team made sure we felt supported and got the most out of our time abroad. They planned several group activities that allowed our cohort to explore Barcelona and experience all the excitement the city has to offer. My favorite was our day trip to Sitges, a beautiful beach town just outside the city. I will forever be grateful for this experience!

My Sage Corps experience in Barcelona was one of the most meaningful experiences of my college career. The program gave me the opportunity to live and work abroad while gaining hands-on experience at a startup, where I worked on sales, business development, outreach, research, content creation, and marketing projects. I appreciated that I was given real responsibilities and the opportunity to explore different areas of the company, which helped me better understand my professional strengths and interests. Sage Corps also did a great job creating opportunities for us to experience Barcelona beyond our internships. Our City Managers, Pamela and Mikel, were incredibly kind, welcoming, and helpful throughout the program. They gave us great recommendations, made the scheduled events fun, and most importantly made me feel safe while living abroad. They organized a variety of activities and excursions for our cohort throughout the program, including visits to Mirador Torre Glòries, Park Güell, and a day trip to Sitges, just to name a few. These experiences gave us the chance to explore more of Barcelona, learn about the culture, and make memories together outside of work. Living abroad challenged me to become more independent, adaptable, and confident. I returned home with new professional skills, meaningful friendships, unforgettable memories, and a clearer sense of what I want from my future career. I would absolutely recommend Sage Corps to students who want international work experience while also immersing themselves in a new culture.

My experience with Sage Corps was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had in college. I interned in Madrid, Spain, as a Business Development and Sales Intern, where I worked on customer outreach, sales, market research, social media, and client relationships. One of the biggest things I gained was learning how to adapt to a new culture. At first, I struggled with the different communication styles in Spain, but over time I became more comfortable and learned how important it is to be open-minded and adaptable. I also loved the experiences outside of my internship, especially the Toledo trip, group dinners, and Bernabeu Tour. Getting to explore Spain while meeting other students made the experience even more memorable. I would highly recommend Sage Corps because it gives you the chance to gain real professional experience while immersing yourself in another culture. It pushed me outside of my comfort zone and helped me grow both personally and professionally.

I had an absolutely transformative experience in Barcelona that I wouldn't trade for the world. I built such a large amount of skillsets from my host company that I will take with me in the future. This program made interning in a completely foreign environment feel safe, supported, and so much fun! The close friendships I made from the program are also some that will last a lifetime and I was so lucky to be grouped with such amazing people. Housing accommodations were very nice, allowing for close access to larger parts of the city and a large amount of wonderful amenities. Overall I loved my time with Absolute, my host company, and my new friends in beautiful Barcelona.

i had the time of my life interning abroad in barcelona! the process leading up to my departure was great in making sure i was prepared and ready for this experience. i met a ton of amazing people both in the program and people who lived there! my host company was great also, and i had the chillest supervisor ever who would always make sure we were learning new things at a pace that was prime for my partner and i. he would also take us out for a coffee every morning when we got to the office which was super kind of him to do! i loved immersing myself in a completely new environment and culture halfway across the world from where i'd been my entire life and i'm so grateful to have been able to experience this. i made tons of beautiful friendships which im sure will last a lifetime. i'd gladly recommend this program to other students!

Spending 12 weeks in Spain through Absolute Internship was one of the most impactful experiences of my life. I gained meaningful professional experience, learned from professionals who became role models to me, and discovered new areas of business that I want to pursue in my career. Beyond work, living in Spain exposed me to a different culture and way of life, and pushed me outside of my comfort zone. I left with a clearer sense of what I want professionally, a greater appreciation for experiences outside of my familiar environment, and a much broader understanding of what is possible for my future.

My business development internship in Lisbon, Portugal, with Absolute Internship was an incredible experience that let me apply everything I'd learned in university to real business settings, from client outreach to strategy discussions. Beyond the professional growth, I fell in love with exploring Lisbon and traveling to other parts of Portugal, all alongside the amazing friends I made through the program. Absolute Internship did a great job balancing meaningful work experience with the chance to genuinely live and explore a new country. I came back with more confidence, real work experience, and friendships I'll carry with me long after the program ended. I'd highly recommend this program to anyone considering an internship abroad.

Best time EVER! Would highly reccomend this program to everyone. I met some of my best friends for life. It was so nice to have a whole team of worldstrides staff onsite to support me in any way I needed!

Spending two months in Stockholm with Absolute Internship turned out to be one of the best decisions I've made for my career. What stood out immediately was how carefully the placement team listened to what I actually wanted — not just any internship, but one that genuinely matched my skills and goals. And they delivered: the company I ended up working with was the perfect fit, giving me real responsibilities and hands-on experience from day one. I owe a huge thank you to my coordinators, Moa, Anna, and Kofi. Whatever I needed, whenever I needed it, they were there quick to respond, genuinely invested in making sure things went smoothly, and always willing to go the extra mile. That kind of support made settling into a new city and a new job so much less stressful than I expected. Beyond the work itself, Stockholm as a city gave me so much: a new culture, a new way of life, and a chance to build friendships with interns from completely different backgrounds through the events and activities the program put together. Looking back, this internship didn't just add a line to my resume — it gave me real skills, real confidence, and a real taste of what working internationally feels like. If you're considering doing something similar, I highly recommend Absolute Internship and an international experience like mine.

My two-month experience with Absolute Internship in Stockholm was truly transformative. From the very beginning, the placement team took the time to understand my background and career goals, matching me with a company where I could gain meaningful, hands-on professional experience rather than just routine tasks. Living and working in Stockholm was an incredible opportunity. The on-site support was excellent, ensuring a smooth transition into both the workplace and daily life in Sweden. Beyond the internship itself, the program organized great networking events and cultural activities that allowed me to connect with fellow interns from all over the world. This experience significantly boosted my resume, helped me develop key industry skills, and gave me firsthand insight into an international work culture. I highly recommend Absolute Internship to any student or young professional looking to accelerate their career abroad.

I absolutely loved my time in Florence, Italy through WorldStrides this past spring. I had a ton of support leading up to my arrival in Florence, and once I got there, the staff quickly welcomed me and made it feel like home. My only regret is doing the 15-week program and not the 18-week program! There is so much to do and see within Florence and all over Italy, let alone the rest of Europe! I didn't grasp how easy it was to travel by train and plane until I got there. My time in Florence taught me how to put myself out there and try every new thing that came my way, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

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.

1. Brief description of the host company/ organisation and supervisor(s) ERITAGE Studio Gallery is a vibrant contemporary art space in Lisbon that champions artistic plurality and uses art as a tool for human development and corporate engagement. It is a dynamic hub where international exhibitions foster intercultural dialogue. The gallery is led by its Founder and Creative Director, Joao Marcus Cavalcanti—a former finance professional from Rio de Janeiro who transitioned to gallerist in Portugal. He has built a remarkable cultural bridge between Brazil, Portugal, and Africa through artist residencies and shared productions. Committed to social dialogue and sustainability, Cavalcanti steers ERITAGE as a space where contemporary art intersects with social consciousness, making it an incredibly inspiring environment to learn from. 2. Your job duties, contributions and accomplishments My role as a Public Relations Intern was varied. My main responsibility was social media content creation and curation. I created and scheduled engaging visual content for Instagram including photography, reels and behind-the-scenes stories to promote current exhibitions and artists, greatly increasing the gallery's online engagement. I also carried out extensive research and reporting on galleries, visiting contemporary art spaces across Lisbon, looking at curatorial strategies and producing detailed reports that fed into our strategic programming. I provided direct support during the installation and de-installation of exhibitions, including handling artworks, setting lighting and display materials, and the safe packing and storage of works. These contributions have given me a holistic view of gallery operations from the public facing promotion to the physical logistics that take place behind the scenes. 3. Difficulties encountered during the internship (if any) The internship was not without its challenges. Professionally, I was initially daunted by the physicality of the role – in Hong Kong, gallery assistants rarely engage in manual construction, but here I was drilling into gallery walls to hang installations, meaning I had to learn proper techniques from scratch. Culturally, the language barrier was sometimes tough, as many locals do not speak fluent English outside of the tourism sector. I had to use hand gestures and basic Portuguese phrases. The city’s notorious topography, built on seven steep hills, was a real workout when commuting. This was personally my first experience living in an 8 bedroom flat with 7 other flat mates which really tested my patience and communication skills on a daily basis as well as bouts of homesickness over the holidays. 4. Knowledge/ skills/ benefits acquired from the internship I have learned a great deal professionally. I deepened my understanding of the artists' backgrounds, creative processes, and thematic concerns, which greatly enriched my appreciation for Portuguese art history and its cultural context. Translating these insights into words, I had the rewarding opportunity to write articles for the gallery's official Substack account—crafting engaging narratives that bridged the artists' visions with our audience, and sharpening my ability to communicate complex artistic ideas with clarity and warmth. On the practical side, I also gained hands-on technical skills in the safe installation and de-installation of artworks, from precise measuring and levelling to correct wrapping, safe transport, and meticulous inventory documentation—skills I never imagined I would learn but now value immensely. Most notably, I developed invaluable interpersonal and adaptability skills, learning to think quickly on my feet when my supervisor assigned last-minute work, and consistently delivering quality output under pressure without losing my composure. 5. Insights into the culture and people of the destination What impressed me most about Lisbon was not just its postcard beauty but its emotional depth, a kind of poetic melancholy that the Portuguese call saudade. This bittersweet longing is in the air all over the city, most distinctly in the plaintive guitar of Fado music drifting from dimly lit taverns, but it does not weigh down the culture. Instead it coexists with an extraordinary warmth and a deep sense of community. I loved the neighborhood life, like in Alfama, where old ladies gossip across clothes-lined balconies, and in the Santos Populares festivities, whole streets become open-air banquets, with neighbors grilling sardines together. The locals taught me desenrascanço — the uniquely Portuguese ability to improvise with charm and resourcefulness. They’re not on the clock, but on the clock of the golden descent of the sun over the Tagus River, valuing human connection over relentless efficiency. Whether it’s a long coffee in a quiet pastelaria or an informal greeting from shopkeepers, Lisboetas are quietly resilient and welcoming, making me feel less like a foreigner and more like a temporary piece of their lively, unhurried story.

My experience in Stockholm is hard to define in just one word, although I think I did a pretty good job with the title earlier. I can start precisely with how sweet the whole community was, and not just referring to the program environment, off course they were amazing. When I went, I was aware that I was going to face a lot of challenges, even more when I was thinking that I couldn't even imagine many of those challenges at that moment. It was exciting in a limited sense. Something I'm really grateful to this whole adventure for, is giving me the opportunity to prove to myself how agile, quick, and relaxed I can be when facing new places, people, and moments.

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!