Why intern abroad?
Immerse yourself in a new culture, acquire skills, attain personal growth, explore possible career paths, prepare for future job placements, and develop language skills.
We've done the work for you!
If you are considering an internship placement halfway around the globe, does the idea of vetting potential internship providers yourself sound daunting?
To help facilitate international internship opportunities for UI students with reputable providers, Iowa has affiliated with IES Abroad, SIT, CEA, USAC, TEAN and CIEE.
Why go through our partners?
- Iowa students can earn credit, either resident or transfer, depending on the program
- They guarantee full-time summer (or part-time fall/spring for SIT and CEA) internship placement, either theme based (SIT) or tailored to the individual student's goals and aspirations.
- They all have very high standards for health and safety
Where can you go?
Some examples include: Spain, England, Ireland, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, and Chile.
Students considering a global internship are encouraged to complete a Discover Study Abroad session. Then you can schedule an appointment with the advisor for international internships by contacting UI Study Abroad at 319-335-0353.
Find an internship
To see a list of programs that offer internships, go to the Study Abroad Program Search Page and in the Program Features dropdown, select "Internship."
Hawkeyes talk about their global internship experiences
“My advice for students considering doing an internship abroad would be: DO IT! There are so many funding opportunities that can make this experience financially feasible.”
UI student Samuel Knuth participated in an IES Internship in Rome.
Additional Guidance
If you do not receive credit for your internship abroad, you are not eligible for financial aid or scholarships through UI Study Abroad or the University of Iowa. Because your learning is the key goal for any internship, we encourage you to seek a placement that will provide you with an academic forum to reflect upon the internship experience and earn academic credit to substantiate your learning.
New York Times article "The World is Their Workplace" by Cecelia Capuzzi Simon
University of Iowa independent study credit cannot be granted for internships. You may wish to explore a project through independent study once you return from an internship abroad, to build upon the learning that took place and explore the interests sparked by your experiences abroad. This is not the same as earning credit for the actual internship. Any independent study you may arrange is separate from the internship abroad and requires payment of UI tuition for the number of credits you’ll earn.
You may be able to apply financial aid to an independent study just as you would for any other course you take at UI. Taking an independent study will not make you eligible to use Study Abroad scholarships or financial aid to cover international internship expenses. You must earn credit from the actual internship to receive any funding support from UI to offset internship expenses. Read the UI policy governing independent study to learn more.
Want to do some research on your own? Note that an internship abroad is primarily intended to be a learning experience. The vast majority of internships abroad are unpaid, due to visa restrictions. You can expect to pay a fee for most internship placements, just as you would for a study program, as time will be dedicated to your appropriate placement, supervision and learning. As you research options, be sure to compare costs, GPA requirements and the fields of study a program or agency offers. Take a look at the following resources:
- The Forum on Education Abroad has endorsed Boston University's Internship Policies as a Standard of Good Practice for Education Abroad
- The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has put forth the 15 Best Practices for Internship Programs
When selecting an international internship, it is important that students are aware of the potential perception that they are taking jobs away from the local community. You can safeguard your professional reputation by following good practice standards that limit duties performed to those you are qualified for. For example, pre-med students are not qualified to practice medicine and should not participate in direct patient care.
For more information on good practices, please consult the Forum Standards of Good Practice. For students participating in health related experiences, you can complete the Global Ambassadors for Patient Safety (GAPS) course free online through the University of Minnesota.
IAESTE: 15-20 different countries with individualized, paid internships specifically for STEM majors.
Going Global: Provides global career information and resources *UI campus users can create a free account
Handshake: Find internships around the world posted just for Hawkeyes!
IIEPassport: Search engine for internship opportunities worldwide
Khorana Scholars Program: Research opportunity in India for undergraduates and graduates in engineering, life science, public health, computer science, and other STEM fields. Awards may include airfare, housing, and a living stipend.
Minority Health and Health Disparities International Research and Training (MHIRT) Internship: Summer research internship in various countries awarded to undergraduates and graduates/professionals interested in research pertinent to reducing or eliminating health disparities.
U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program: Internships in embassies worldwide.