An internship abroad can provide valuable experiential learning and preparation for work in an increasingly connected, multicultural world. The most common way to participate in an internship abroad is to choose a study abroad program that offers an internship as part of the academic program for academic credit.  Additionally, there are placement agencies that facilitate international internships without any associated academic component.  Both of these options typically include support with job placement, visas, orientation, and on-site assistance.  The vast majority of internships abroad are unpaid, primarily due to visa restrictions.  And unless you are lucky enough to find a placement abroad on your own, expect to pay a fee for most internship placements.  As you research options, be sure to compare costs as well as GPA requirements and the fields of study a program or agency works with.

If you elect to use an organization that places interns but does not offer credit, there are options for receiving credit for the experience through the UI Career Center.

Also consider taking the Global Leadership Initiative course, a 1 credit online workshop (pass/fail), to explore leadership while you're abroad.  This online workshop is supplementary to a study abroad, international internship, or cross-cultural experience and focuses on developing the knowledge, attitudes, and skills that are paramount for global leadership competence.

Note: Students are only eligible to use federal financial aid and Study Abroad scholarships on credit-bearing internships.
 

Intern Abroad Resource List

Non-credit bearing Internship Programs                      

*Khorana Program: Summer research opportunity in India for undergrads and grads in the life science, public health, agriculture, and engineering (open to students at UI and other CIC member institutions).

*Minority Health and Health Disparities International Research and Training (MHIRT) Internship: Summer research internship awarded to eight undergrads and two graduates/professionals interested in research pertinent to reducing or eliminating health disparities. 

AIDE Abroad:  Offers a wide range of internship, work, teach, and volunteer opportunities worldwide. Paid positions available!

AIESEC: With a focus on youth leadership development, this student-run organization offers international internship placements in management, technology, education, and development.

Aptus Brazil: Gain practical experience in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) while having a cultural experience in Brazil. Except for airfare, visas, and a $200 placement fee there is no cost to the participant. A monthly living stipend, accommodations, Portuguese classes, and TEFL training are included. 

Atlantis Project: Participate in education or pre-medical internships, teach and run a social venture, or engage in Portuguese language. The program is being offered in Azores Island, Portugal for Summer 2013. Please contact Sandra Sousa at sandra-sousa@uiowa.edu for more information.  

Casa Xelaju: Internship opportunities in Guatemala (Quetzaltenango) for high-intermediate to advanced level Spanish speakers. Project areas include agriculture, art, environment, health/medical, human rights, women, children. 

CIS Abroad: Internship opportunities in Paris, London, Scotland, Dublin, Florence, Barcelona, New Zealand, Australia, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, South Africa, and Mexico.

Connect-123:  Internship, volunteer, and service learning opportunities in Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Dublin, and Shanghai. 

Creating Ties: A variety of internships available in Peru working with fair trade coffee and cocoa cooperatives or in fashion and textile design. 

Experiential Learning International: Variety of internships around the world available in art, business, engineering, human rights, journalism, medical, nutrition, special education, and wildlife (see website for all options).

Foundation for Sustainable Development:  Internship and volunteer opportunities in health, microfinance, youth development, human rights, sustainability, technology.

Global Citizens for Sustainable Development: Internship/Volunteer. 

Global Experiences:  International internships in London, Dublin, Sydney, Seville, Florence, Milan, Paris, New York, and Washington D.C. 

Global Routes:  Teach, volunteer, or intern in Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador, India, Kenya, Tanzania, Thailand. 

Going Global:  Provides global career information and resources, including internship listings, employment trends, and work permit/visa regulations.  *UI campus users can create a free account – sign up through the link on the Career Center website.

HECUA: Each semester program has a rigorous, project-based internship component for credit. 

IAESTE United States: Matches US students majoring in technical fields with paid internship opportunities worldwide (engineering, computer science, architecture, natural and physical science, agricultural sciences). 

International Internships:  Provide placements around the world, both for-credit and not-for-credit.  

Intrax Internships Abroad (Summer): Placements offered in Paris, Berlin, London, Madrid, Barcelona, Santiago, Tokyo, and Beijing.

John Cabot University: American liberal arts university in the heart of Rome, Italy.  Offer for-credit and not-for-credit internships. 

Medical Electives: Healthcare Internship & Medical Spanish program in Peru (2-6 weeks). Accommodation options include a family homestay or the Elective Centre.

Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship: A 10-week summer internship program with US Department of Energy research programs for women and minority students in STEM majors.

Projects Abroad: Offers a wide range of volunteer and internship projects throughout the world including conservation, sports, archeology, medicine and healthcare, journalism, human rights, and performing arts.

ProWorld Interns:  Intern with non-profits, NGO’s or other organizations.

RISE: Opportunity to work on cutting edge research projects at top research institutions and universities in Germany.

South China Internship Program: National competition for 20 American undergrad students to participate in a low-cost, high-quality internships. American students will team up with Chinese students and spend 8 weeks in Summer 2013 in companies and NGOs in the booming Pearl River Delta of south China. 

US Department of State Student Internship Program: Locations throughout the world.   Student Programs Office:
202-261-8888.

Work the World: Clinical healthcare elective placements in Africa, Asia, and South America, from 2 weeks to 6 months in duration.

World Endeavors:  Intern, volunteer and study abroad programs worldwide. 

World Health Organization: Internships are available in a variety of areas related to the technical work WHO, 6 weeks to three months.

WISE Abroad: Internship opportunities in Spain, Italy, England, France, Germany, Greece, Singapore, Taiwan, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic.

Credit-bearing Internship Programs

*UI (Tippie College of Business) Summer Global Internships:  Undergraduate students interested in gaining professional experience abroad can apply to intern in London, Paris, Madrid, or Hong Kong.

AIFS Abroad:  Academic placements in Sydney, London, and Florence. 

AIFS: Richmond International Internship Program: Summer, Fall, or Spring placements in London for juniors and seniors.

Arcadia University:  Academic internship programs in nine countries, for a semester or summer. 

Australian Internships (AI) Internship placements to students and recent graduates in all major cities of Australia.  

Broadreach College (Summer, Winter, Gap Year) Experiential learning programs for credit with hands on field work and service work. Multiple programs in Marine Science, Natural Science, Leadership & Professional Development, and Culture & Anthropology.

Boston University: A variety of academically directed internship programs for students from any university.

CAPA International Education:  Provides internships in London, Florence, Sydney, and Beijing.

CDS International: Internships in Argentina, Chile, Germany; summer internships in Germany, Spain; independent work in Germany, Switzerland. 

CEA: Internships and academic credit available in the Czech Republic, Spain, Chile, China, and South Africa.

Central College Abroad: Offers a variety of internship and service learning opportunities in each of their international program locations.

Center for Global Education (Augsburg College):   Programs offered in Central America, Southern Africa, Mexico, Bolivia and Vietnam.  CGE programs are experiential, socially and environmentally responsible, promote diversity, and foster critical analysis of local and global conditions. 

CIEE Internship Programs: Offer many study abroad programs with service learning and/or internship components. 

Connect-123: Spring semester Social Entrepreneurship internship and classes in Cape Town, South Africa.

Education Abroad Network:  Internships and Service-Learning in New Zealand, Australia, and Asia. 

EF Language Internships: EF Language Internships offer credit for the language instruction component of the internship. Credit is available in Spanish, French, and Italian. 

ELAP (Experiential Learning Abroad Programs): Offers structured volunteer and internship placements in Latin America, Spain and England in a variety of fields. 

European Study Abroad Center: Summer internship and study program in Prague.

German Academic Exchange Service: Research Internships in Science and Engineering. 

Global Engagement Studies Institute: Unique opportunity to make a positive impact on communities abroad while earning credit. Opportunities available in Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, India, South Africa, and Uganda. 

GlobaLinks Learning Abroad:  International internships available for summer or semester in any field of study in Australia; Chile; New Zealand; Hong Kong; Shanghai, China; and Valencia, Spain.  6 weeks, 10 weeks, or custom dates available. 

Going Global:  Provides global career information and resources, including internship listings, employment trends, and work permit/visa regulations.  *UI campus users can create a free account – sign up through the link on the Career Center website.

IES Abroad: Most of their academic programs abroad offer internship opportunities or field placements. 

IfSA-Butler:   Internships available in Australia, Chile, England, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland. 

IIE Passport:  A directory of study abroad programs, including those offering internships (search for ‘Internship’ under the Subject category).

International Internships:  Provide placements around the world, both for-credit and not-for-credit.  

John Cabot University: American liberal arts university in the heart of Rome, Italy.  Offer for-credit and not-for-credit internships. 

Living Routes: Live and learn in Eco-villages around the globe.  An internship or service learning component is included in the academic curriculum of these experiential, sustainability-related programs.

Minnesota Studies in International Development (University of Minnesota):  Study and participate in a grassroots internship in India, Senegal, Equador, or Kenya.  Focus on justice, sustainability, development. 

Mountbatten Institute:  Postgraduate-level Business internships (paid) in London. 

SACI (Studio Art Centers International): Offers undergrad and graduate courses in studio art, design, conservation, and liberal arts instruction in Florence, Italy.  3 credit internships available assisting with classes and special events.

School for International Training (SIT):  Offer rigorous academic programs with a field-based, experiential approach. 

Umbria Institute: Offering academic credit and internship opportunities in Italy.

University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC): Offers multiple internship programs, with semester and summer options. 

*UI program