Intern Abroad in Galway, Ireland with AIFS Abroad

I interned abroad in Galway, Ireland in the summer of 2024. I chose AIFS because I enjoyed all the services they provided me with. They contacted companies to get interviews for my internship, they arranged housing, and they provided lots of advising before and during my program. Before my program, they really helped me prepare for my interviews. I learned about my top five strengths and how I use them in the workplace. I also received lots of support during my program. AIFS provided us with a location coordinator. It was so helpful to have someone to answer any questions and help in any way possible. My housing was arranged by AIFS, which really took a lot of stress off my shoulders. I had my own room and bathroom and shared a kitchen/living area with two of the other interns in my program. AIFS also provided me with a few excursions. We had welcome and exit events, a trip to Inishmore, an Irish dance class, a trip to Connemara, and a chance to watch professional Irish dancers. In my program, there were about 20 interns. Having other interns provided me with a great community. We explored the city together, traveled together, and created great friendships. I absolutely loved my program!

Galway was such a fun time that I believed to be an enriching experience. The interns that I met on the trip were all lovely individuals and we got along great! Being able to be an intern in Galway was a new experience that I would recommend to everyone. We got to go to explore other countries as well such as France and we explored other parts of Ireland! Galway is a nice sized city and the access we had to the beach made things so fun!

I don't even know where to begin! This summer has been nothing short of amazing. Prior to this experience, I have never travelled abroad, let alone solo travelled abroad. I can firmly attest that this experience has made me find myself in the best way possible. Now I'll get into more specifics. For starters, Galway is the best city you could go to, hands down. It's not crazy & chaotic like Dublin or London, but it's still so lively, beautiful, and exciting to be in. There is always something to do here. People are performing music all up and down the streets every hour of the day, which gives it a perfectly authentic vibe. There's so many cute shops & pubs to wander into. Not to mention, the people here are some of the nicest people I have ever met! I never had one bad experience with the locals. Everyone is friendly and welcoming, which really helped with me already being nervous to be abroad. Second, the Galway location advisor for AIFS, Karen, is AMAZING. She is the most caring woman ever! Anytime I had an issue (which was rare, but still), she was extremely responsive & made sure to check in on me to make sure I was doing better. One of the things I'll miss most about Galway is her. I also had the opportunity to do some traveling on the weekends! Between the day trips Karen had planned for us to Inishmore & Connemara, I also solo travelled to London and the Cliffs of Moher! Furthermore, me and some of the best friends I made in this program also took a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland & Nantes, France. This definitely added to the already incredible experience. In summary, if you're undecided on where to be abroad in AIFS, choose Galway. You will get the true Irish experience being here, meet the kindest people, eat the best food, and have the opportunity to do more traveling on weekends. Because of this summer, I truly intend to come back upon my graduation & turn Galway into my home. Best summer of my life. :)

Wondering if you should take the leap of faith to spend a few months exploring the emerald island while gaining valuable international work experience? Take the leap of faith!! I recently completed an internship in Galway through AIFS, and it is a decision I'll never regret. My time abroad was incredibly enriching and professionally rewarding. The Galway location coordinator, Karen, made the experience even better, she was always there to help and quick to respond to any inquiries. For me, this program was a great way to gain work experience abroad while having a wonderful support system in AIFS - I am beyond glad I decided to do it. One of the highlights of my international internship experience was the friendships I formed with fellow interns and coworkers. My fellow interns and I explored the local culture together and we supported each other both professionally and personally. They became my home in Galway: the ones I came home to after a long day in the office, the ones I went grocery shopping with on a Sunday morning, watched movies with on a Friday night, and the ones who never failed to check in and ask about my day to day. The camaraderie extended into the workplace, where my coworkers were equally friendly and inclusive, creating a collaborative and enjoyable work environment. These relationships made my internship experience truly special, providing a network of friends and professional contacts that I will cherish for years to come. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to gain international work experience while enjoying the charm and beauty of Ireland.

Sometimes when traveling abroad, you expect to have to overcome some challenges along the way whether it be transportation, accommodation, social life, homesickness, etc. I was preparing for all of these things coming to Galway, but truly never had a single problem, and I have AIFS Abroad, our wonderful program manager and friend Karen, and Galway to thank for it. The warm hospitality and lively culture of this coastal Irish town will always have a special place in my heart along with the many people I met during my journey. I came to Ireland for the first time when I was 12, and since then its been at the forefront of my mind to go back. Upon arrival, our program manager Karen organized some incredible welcoming events that brought us all together very quickly. She also did an amazing job of planning events around Galway and day trips to unique places on the west coast of Ireland including the Aran Islands, Cliffs of Moher, and the Burren. As for my internship, I worked for a digital media company and got some great experience with graphic design, social media management, and editing professional videos and podcasts. My internship was very flexible with letting me have a balance between work and Irish adventures which I was super grateful for. I came to Galway in search of cultural integration, professional development, and building strong social connections, and I ended up discovering a home away from home. So thank you to AIFS abroad for making this the best summer yet.

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Interning in Galway may have been the best decision I have made! The AIFS program made it very easy to set up interviews with host companies and land an internship that would most benefit my knowledge of my major and career outlooks, in my case, chemistry. Even in a more niche area of study the team can work with your needs and give you the best possible experience. The program team was always ahead of the game, making sure travel paperwork and coaching calls were maintained in the months leading up to departure. The program was very helpful and friendly in my needs and what I wanted to accomplish whilst on the trip. On top of internship placement, the program has plenty more to offer. Housing was very nice and centrally located in Galway to get around easily. I was lucky enough to have 11 other interns with me during the experience as my roommates, making the experience 10x better. The program also planned trips across Ireland to visit monuments and other historic sites. Whether I was working, traveling, or experiencing life in Galway, the AIFS program made my dreams come true!! Thank you!! PS: I was able to get very close to even my bosses and colleagues during my 10 week stay to the point where I now have connections in my field across the globe!! (pictured below)

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Galway is such an absolutely stunning city, and I had such an amazing time abroad! The internship AIFS found for me genuinely changed my life, it’s probably the best job I’ve ever worked and I’ve made friends I still talk to frequently. Karen, the advisor abroad in Galway is absolutely amazing and so helpful. The trips scheduled through AIFS are so interesting, and you get to see a lot of the interesting sites in the country.On the weekends, my roommates and I traveled around the country, and we were really able to see so much and make the most of the trip! I could not recommend this experience enough!

Choosing Galway to study abroad in was the best decision I could have made. The city itself is a gorgeous coastal spot with lots of activities to do and things to see. The people are endlessly welcoming and always want to chat and help if you have any questions. The atmosphere is lively and so welcoming. Additionally, the internship I was placed into was such a good experience and was able to learn so much from my supervisor and make connections around the world. The events that are planned as a part of your trip immerse you in the local culture and let you see the beautiful country that is Ireland. Additionally, the location coordinator, Karen was the best to work with. I never felt like I was on my own while abroad because I knew Karen was always in my corner. This program helped me grow and develop not only professionally but also personally and I will forever be glad I decided to study in Galway Ireland.

I had the most amazing time in Galway, it is truly such an amazing city to intern abroad in. Everything about it was so special and I cant imagine going anywhere else! I highly recommend going! My internship placement was also matched so well with what I wanted and met every expectation I had!

I cannot imagine doing this program in a different city, I had such an amazing time here. At first I was very nervous about my internship placement but this is the best internship I have ever had. The people are so kind and the city is so charming, I would go back right now if I could. Karen is so awesome, she will help you with anything you need! I highly recommend going to Galway!

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The thought of going abroad was extremely overwhelming, but Global Experiences made me feel at ease every step of the way. Any time I had a question, I never had to wait long before someone got back to me. Each email for the next phase of my admission process was clear and precise with the information that I needed to know to feel the most prepared going forward. Jake, my admission advisor, and Karen, my location coordinator, were a steady sounding board for any questions and concerns I had. The internship itself was a life-changing experience! I was a nursing intern at a nursing home, and the relationships I built with my coworkers are ones I will cherish forever. My goal for the internship was to gain health experience before starting my program, and I am walking away with exactly what I came for. Global Experiences did an amazing job of placing me where they felt I would accomplish my goal the most, and I would trust them over and over to do it again.

This has been an incredible summer in Galway! I’m glad Global Experiences had an internship program where I could work abroad while getting credit for my university. My internship placement was really fun & I learned a lot throughout my entire time. The on-site program advisor was wonderful & super helpful! The city of Galway is a great spot if you’re looking for a smaller city vibe. It’s beautiful, quaint, & there’s lots to do here! The accommodations were great as we had our own bedroom & bathroom with a shared kitchen area. It was amazing meeting all of the other interns & we all became friends fast. It was an experience I’ll never forget! I’m glad I chose Galway!

I had no idea what to expect from this experience going in. The only thing I knew was that I wanted to go abroad and get experience that would help me in the future. Global Experiences was great helping me figure out my ideal location and ideal placement. I placed with a wonderful company. It was filled with the most kind and welcoming staff. I have never felt so comfortable and they took my thoughts and suggestions into consideration. Our point of contact here was absolutely wonderful. Any issue we had she was their to help. Anything we needed she was there to listen. Galway it's self is a charming city. It is full of history, great night life, and so many places to visit on the weekends. The eyre square is full of pubs, shops, and historical sights to see. A market happens every weekend which has so many artistic peices and food trucks. The locals are so nice to talk to and very proud of where they come from rightfully so! They will happily give you directions to the craic happening in town. They also have so many festivals it's hard not to find somthing happening in town! Lastly the accommodations are a quick bus ride into town. Even though you share a common area you have your own spacious room and bathroom. You share the common area with other GE interns. As for my experience I have made so many new friends. The other interns here are all so friendly, since we all are in the same boat we easily bonded over our interships and as time went on we become amazing friends. Overall if you are looking for a location that doesn't feel like a big city, has a big personality, and holds the most lovely people and experiences come to Galway!!!

I had a an experience I will never have, and it was all thanks to GE! From my application to the day I left my destination, I always felt that the people at Global Experiences were taking good care of me, and always had my best interests at heart. They helped me assess my strengths and weaknesses and found the placement that best suited my interests. On-site, my program advisor was so compassionate and caring towards all the members in the Galway program! She planned a lot of cultural and social events for us in the city, and routinely checking on all of us to make sure we were doing fine in our work environments, yet she still gave us space to explore Ireland ourselves. I would highly recommend Global Experiences and the Galway program to everyone who is interested in studying/interning abroad wishes to learn about their field of choice just as much as the city that their in.

Applying to intern abroad through Global Experiences always has its doubts, being away from home and into a completely new culture and environment for two months can be overwhelming at first. However, being able to go through all of the pre-departure program details, getting into contact with my host company supervisors early on through the program gave myself an excited mindset where I would work and experience a new culture extensively over the summer. I was placed into a job relating to my major where I was able to gain professional working experience as well as more insight into future career outlooks. Many cultural events were also held throughout my stay, where I could visit the many historical and cultural sites Ireland and Galway has to offer. Overall, the program was able to break down the experience for me in a way that had me open-minded throughout the entire experience, and I wouldn't trade the experience I had this past summer over anything. Thanks GE!!