Reviews

Provider: The TEFL Academy

Program: Online Level 5 TEFL Course

My experience with The TEFL Academy has been incredibly rewarding! As someone with a background in education, I wanted to expand my teaching skills while opening doors to new opportunities abroad. The course was informative, flexible, and allowed me to learn at my own pace while balancing my full-time job and personal responsibilities. The assignments were challenging at times, but they helped me grow as an educator and gain a better understanding of teaching English to learners of different ages, backgrounds, and proficiency levels. Although I would have appreciated more assignment examples, the overall experience was fantastic! Completing my certification has given me more confidence in my abilities and made my dream of teaching abroad feel much more achievable. I am genuinely excited about what comes next, and I would absolutely recommend The TEFL Academy to anyone looking to grow professionally, travel, and experience new cultures. This has truly been one of the best decisions I've ever made!

Provider: Broadreach

Program: St. Martin & the Leeward Islands: Advanced Scuba & Sailing

This 12-day Broadreach voyage was hands-down the most elective, life-changing adventure I’ve ever had. From the second you step onto the catamaran in St. Martin, you aren't treated like a tourist—you are part of a real crew, hoisting sails and navigating the Leeward Islands. The diving is absolutely world-class; dropping into the deep blue at Saba to explore legendary underwater pinnacles like Diamond Rock felt like entering another planet. Over just 12 days, the growth you experience is wild, taking you all the way through your PADI Advanced and Rescue Diver certifications with instructors who are incredibly professional, encouraging, and safe. But what really makes this trip unbeatable is the liveaboard lifestyle—waking up to Caribbean sunrises, cooking together on deck, and stargazing every night with a group of strangers who instantly become your lifelong best friends. If you want cool summer that gets action packed this trip is for you.

Provider: VAC Internships Cape Town

Program: Journalism and Media Internships in Cape Town

Interning in Cape Town has been a great experience. I feel that I have grown a lot as a person, and navigating life here has taught me about self-trust. I’ve learnt to be open to trying new things and activities. I really enjoyed making new friends and creating memories together. I started my internship hoping to learn a lot more about Cape Town’s history, and I certainly achieved this. I was exposed to a lot of information and had the chance to engage in interesting and insightful conversations with a variety of people from different backgrounds. The organization I worked with aims to decolonize its history by centering the experiences of those who have been silenced by forces of oppression. It critically examines past narratives and questions whether these messages truly reflect the history of the Cape and its people. I was able to support this objective by working with the marketing department to develop a social media strategy that would help raise awareness of the organization and its objectives to both international and domestic tourists. My advice for future interns is to come in with an open mind and feel free to ask questions about the history. There is a lot to learn, so take the time to get familiar with the different exhibitions as this will help develop your understanding. The weekly activities with VAC were also a highlight for me, as I got to do things that I typically wouldn’t have done before. The Culture Series provided an opportunity to be exposed to and learn more about the diverse cultures that make Cape Town what it is. There was a lot of variety in the weekly activities, which meant there was always something to look forward to.

Provider: VAC Internships Cape Town

Program: Public Health Internships in Cape Town

I wanted to experience new possibilities abroad, both culturally and to gain medical experience before finishing university. I met incredible people and felt so welcomed that Cape Town truly became a second home for me. I will always remember this time and the adventures I had here with VAC. I will definitely come back. Cape Town and the people from VAC have a place in my heart. During my internship, I got to see pathologies that are not common in Austria and work with people living in different circumstances. It gave me the opportunity to experience healthcare in a very authentic way and close to traditional culture and changes in society. My advice for future interns is to be friendly and willing to see and learn. The people who work there really appreciate your curiosity. I really appreciated the internship placement, the support and knowing I could call VAC staff if I needed anything, the weekly activities and the Culture Series. The Culture Series was very interesting and gave me the opportunity to dive into the culture. From the beginning, I felt really safe and welcomed. The orientation was a good start to daily life and provided important information. I also liked having direct contact before coming to Cape Town, so I could meet the people beforehand.

Provider: Go Elective

Program: Physician Assistant & Pre-PA Internship Abroad | Go Elective

One thing I really liked about Go Elective was the Global Health sessions. We got to discuss some of the things we'd seen at the hospital and learn more about the challenges facing healthcare in Kenya. I also really enjoyed visits to a local orphanage, where we spent time playing and interacting with the children. It was nice getting to experience another side of Kenya outside the hospital. I loved the balance between clinical learning and community activities.

Provider: WorldStrides

Program: Study Abroad in Gold Coast, Australia with WorldStrides

Studying abroad in general is life changing but studying in the Gold Coast was above that! It was an amazing experience that taught me so much about myself and the world. There is so much to do around the Gold Coast a sememster wasn’t enough!

Provider: VAC Internships Cape Town

Program: Law internships in Cape Town

I first became interested in interning in Cape Town because of my desire to apply my studies in countries other than my own. As someone who studies Public Health and Law, I am always interested in how the government works to support its people, and I believe the best way to learn is to speak directly with the community. I quickly realized that Cape Town was a great city for this because of how friendly and willing to chat the locals are. My personal goal was to simply learn more about the legal system in South Africa. I anticipated this to come from my work, but I found that my best learning happened when I was speaking with locals throughout the day. I am particularly interested in social services and how a community is supported by the government and local organizations. Through my internship, I was able to learn directly from community members about how they navigate their legal issues and how South Africa has been supporting them. The organization provides underprivileged community members with access to essential legal services for free. Many clients are unfamiliar with the legal system and need guidance navigating important tasks such as drafting wills, reporting deceased estates and handling disputes. My role primarily consisted of face-to-face contact with clients. I assisted with their applications and helped gather relevant documentation. As I was often the first point of contact, I tried my best to be friendly and kind to ensure community members felt comfortable going through the process of receiving the assistance they needed. My advice for future interns is to keep an open mind and be prepared to speak with a large variety of people from different backgrounds each day. You will speak with people who are experiencing significant hardship, and it is important to stay empathetic. I stayed in Cape Town for four months, and I believe this was the perfect amount of time to fully immerse myself in the area. I was able to visit all the classic tourist spots, but also had enough time to explore on my own and discover my favorite hidden places around the city. The weekly VAC activities also provided me with a great opportunity to explore new places with other interns, and I am grateful to the VAC team for organizing these events and for their support.

Provider: LTL Language School

Program: LTL Language School || Learn Chinese in China

We came to Beijing for two weeks without the programs,And I have improved a lot, especially about practical Chinese on daily topics. A small group really helped us Discuss with other classmates and make friends./;)Love the welcoming lunch very much

Provider: VAC Internships Cape Town

Program: Business Internships in Cape Town

I chose Cape Town because I had always wanted to visit South Africa, but I was also very interested in the country from an economic perspective. Doing an internship in venture capital gave me the opportunity to understand much more about how startups, innovation and investment contribute to the local economy. My internship gave me exposure to several different parts of the venture-capital process. I helped write a funding proposal that was accepted, supported financial models for startups and the venture fund itself, screened startup applications and contributed to work around raising capital and monitoring existing portfolio companies. Through that experience, I gained a much better understanding of how venture funds work, what investors look for in an early-stage business and some of the factors that help startups succeed. I especially enjoyed being able to work with companies focused on innovation and seeing how financial decisions can influence whether those ideas are able to grow. The internship also taught me to be proactive. There were times when everyone was busy, so I learned that it was important to clarify my skills, ask what I could work on next and actively look for ways to contribute. That is something I would recommend to future interns as well. Outside of work, I loved the lifestyle in Cape Town. The combination of the city, nature, music and people made every week feel different. I travelled along the Garden Route, went on safari, did a bungee jump and spent a lot of time with friends in Observatory. I also strengthened my English and learned a lot about myself by living and working in a completely different environment. Seven weeks went by very quickly. If I were doing it again, I would stay longer. The experience gave me a much clearer picture of venture capital, startups and the kind of innovative work I would like to be involved in in the future.

Provider: VAC Internships Cape Town

Program: Engineering Internships in Cape Town

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.

Provider: VAC Internships Cape Town

Program: Film & Photography Internships in Cape Town

I chose Cape Town because of South Africa’s vibrant film industry and because I wanted to do an internship abroad somewhere other than Los Angeles. I also needed to complete a semester-long media internship for my university honors program, so Cape Town felt like an exciting opportunity to get the practical experience I was looking for. I loved how hands-on my internship was. I got experience with actual television production and was able to do a little bit of everything. Some days were spent in the studio, while others involved going out on location to shoot events around Cape Town. I edited about five inserts that aired on television and shot all but one of them myself. I’m really proud of the work I did and especially proud that those pieces were actually broadcast. Outside of the internship, Cape Town was a wonderful experience. I met amazing people, saw incredible places, ate great food, and had a phenomenal time overall. The weekly VAC activities were great opportunities to explore different parts of South Africa, and the Culture Series events gave us a chance to learn more about the many cultures of the Cape. My advice to future interns is to keep an open mind and be ready to learn. At an internship like mine, you might find yourself doing something completely different from one day to the next, which is part of what makes it so interesting. Stay aware of your surroundings when you’re out, and if you ever have an issue, don’t be afraid to speak to someone at VAC. I always felt like the team was there if I needed help. I spent three months in Cape Town, and if I could, I would do it all over again.

Provider: Travel For Teens

Program: Travel For Teens: Thailand Elephant Service and the Islands

This summer, I went to this program and the Vietnam Service and Adventure, and it was the most memorable trip I've ever been on! Not only did we help make mushroom bags for a local school, but we also helped make treats for elephants! At the school, we got to interact with the children there and made lasting connections. I also liked this trip because it had a good balance between service and adventure. We went to many places such as the beach in Koh Phi Phi and many caves and hot springs. This trip also made me make life long friends with the best people ever, and we still talk to this day! I really recommend going on this trip!

Provider: VAC Internships Cape Town

Program: Business Internships in Cape Town

I came to Cape Town wanting to gain experience in sales and business development before starting university, and my internship gave me a much better understanding of what that kind of work actually involves. One of the most valuable parts of the experience was working directly with customers. During one week, we visited distribution centres around Cape Town, where I explained the company’s healthcare product to employees, spoke with them about how it worked and helped people sign up. It pushed me outside my comfort zone and gave me much more confidence speaking to people I had never met before. The internship also helped me learn something important about my future career. I discovered that I really enjoy talking to people, explaining products and the sales side of business, but I also realised that I would not want a role focused entirely on sales. I would like a career where I can combine that with other areas of business as well. That kind of clarity was one of the biggest things I took away from the experience. I also appreciated being able to see how a growing healthcare business was trying to make its services easier and more affordable for people to access. Being involved in introducing the product to new customers gave me a practical sense of how sales and business development connect to the wider goals of a company. Outside of work, Cape Town became a place I felt very comfortable very quickly. Living close to the other participants made it easy to spend time together, and the friendships I made were a huge part of the experience. I also knew that VAC was there when I needed support, which made living independently in another country much easier. I would definitely recommend staying for at least three months if you can. It takes time to settle into the city, build friendships and really feel part of everyday life here. My time in Cape Town gave me professional experience, more confidence and a much clearer idea of the kind of business career I would like to pursue.

Provider: Beyond Academy

Program: Barcelona Internships with Beyond Academy

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.

Provider: Travel For Teens

Program: Travel For Teens: Barcelona and Paris

This was my second trip on trial for teens and they’ve both been extraordinary. The trip planning really stood out because they’re very well planned down to the hour and the staff have ordered also very caring and hopeful. Lastly, the other kids were all nice and they were easy to become friends with.

Provider: LoPair Cultural Exchange

Program: Live-Learn China：Learning through living together!

I highly recommend this agency to anyone looking for a safe and inspiring au pair experience. They have proven to be extremely reliable, and the staff is always available to help with any questions or concerns, providing constant support that truly makes a difference. Living here is an incredible opportunity: it’s not just about work, but a deep dive into a new culture, fascinating traditions, and daily life—perfect for improving the language naturally. A professional, caring, and exceptionally well-organized agency!

Provider: VAC Internships Cape Town

Program: Engineering Internships in Cape Town

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!

Provider: VAC Internships Cape Town

Program: Human Rights Internships In Cape Town

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.

Provider: VAC Internships Cape Town

Program: Law internships in Cape Town

My internship in Cape Town gave me the opportunity to learn much more about South Africa’s legal and political systems while gaining practical experience in a community-focused legal environment. I especially enjoyed contributing to projects connected to community participation and paralegal education. One of the most interesting parts of the experience was seeing how legal knowledge can be shared outside traditional legal settings and used to support people who are already active in their communities. I learned about efforts to equip community activists with practical legal knowledge so they can better support the people around them. The internship also taught me the importance of being patient and proactive when entering a new workplace. It took a little time to understand the flow of the organization, but once I settled in, I found the team incredibly welcoming. My advice to future interns would be to ask where you can help rather than waiting for someone to give you something to do. Taking that initiative made it much easier to become involved and learn from the people around me. I also valued the opportunity to network and learn from people working within a legal system different from the one I was familiar with at home. It gave me a broader perspective on the relationship between law, politics and community advocacy. VAC made the overall experience feel very supportive. From the beginning, I knew there were people I could turn to if I needed help, which made settling into life in Cape Town much easier. Overall, the experience gave me greater insight into community-based legal work and helped me understand how legal education can contribute to improving access to justice.

Provider: Go Abroad China Ltd.

Program: GAC Small Group Chinese Immersion Program

I was really nervous about learning Mandarin because I'd heard horror stories about massive classes where the teacher doesn't even know your name. GAC’s small group program was the total opposite. There were only six of us in the class, and our teacher, Chen Laoshi, somehow managed to give every single one of us individual attention. The first week was rough—tones are no joke—but having a small group meant I wasn't embarrassed to speak up and make mistakes. We'd spend the mornings on grammar and characters, but the best part was the afternoons. We'd go out into the city to practice ordering food, buying train tickets, or just chatting with locals. It didn't feel like a classroom at all. Living in shared accommodation with other international students was also a huge bonus. We'd go home and practice the vocab we just learned while cooking dinner. I came for 8 weeks knowing absolutely zero Chinese and left being able to have actual conversations with my taxi drivers. The whole thing just felt incredibly personal and well-organized from start to finish.