What is a Virtual Internship?
Virtual or remote internships mean that you can work with companies across the globe to support a myriad of projects ranging from basic social media support to full business projects, website designs, market reports, financial assessments, usability testing code, and much much more...directly from your laptop.
When completing a remote internship many of the same aspects of a traditional in-person internship still exist, including meetings with your supervisor or teammates, completing a mix of individual and group projects, and learning about the overall company culture and the industry it works in.
Internships through our providers also mean you will have an in-depth exploration of your host country’s work culture, gain career coaching and develop a cohort of other students all working ‘in’ your same location.
Why do a virtual internship?
- An internship looks great on your resume, especially with an international organization!
- You can still work or take classes while completing an internship.
- The cost of a virtual internship is almost a quarter of the cost of an on-site internship.
- In-person internships both overseas and here in the US have been closed in most locations.
- You can gain a 3, 5 or 6 credit internship credit that appears on your UI transcript.
- You will gain valuable experiences working with an international company organization that you can talk about.
"The virtual aspect really has a charm of its own...I have to stay self-motivated and push myself to make sure I get the work done...I’ve also learned so much about how to navigate the internet on a professional level and use different online tools. I believe that will be a good skill to have in the future as more and more of the world is moving online. "
Fund your internship
UI Study Abroad has compiled a list of scholarships that can be applied to an international internship.
UI Partners for Virtual/Remote Global Internships
- Fall Deadline IES Application - May 13, 2021
- Summer Deadline IES Internship - March 15, 2021
SIT Virtual International Internships
- Fall SIT Application deadline: August 1, 2021
- Summer SIT Application Deadline: May 1, 2021
Virtual Global Internship Q&As
Your provider will be teaching an internship seminar, alongside your internship placement This seminar/class will discuss such things as the work culture in your organization’s country. You will also be working closely with the provider’s on-site director, and the organization itself, which is located abroad.
Virtual internships abroad organizations focus on getting to know you and your hopes for your future. They will do a Zoom or Skype interview with you to talk about what skills you would like to acquire, to make yourself more attractive as a future employee. They will go out into the various locations to find a company or organization that would have a project, which would enable you to acquire that experience or develop those desired skills.
To begin with – no travel costs. One of the more expensive aspects of an on-site internship is travel costs. There are no plane tickets or visa fees for virtual internships. You just need your computer, a good internet connection and the willingness to be flexible and adapt to a new way of doing things. In general, the cost of a virtual internship is taken up by tuition, career coaching and credit transfer. There are no housing costs, no meal plans, no daily commuting costs, etc. These options tend to cost about a quarter, on average, of what an on-site internship would come up to.
This is your chance to shine, at job search time. Not only will this virtual internship appear on your UI transcript and your resume, you will be able to use it as an example of how you are able to adapt, overcome obstacles, and make the most of the circumstances you find yourself in. You will be able to show how flexible you are, how you are comfortable in international working environments, and how you are a collaborative and innovative thinker.
Absolutely, you will have a cohort of other students also ‘working’ in the same location that you will attend your internship seminar with. You will also develop a relationship with the other members of your team, if you are in a group project. You will work with a supervisor, at your company or organization, as well as other co-workers there. You will also get to know your career/internship coach who can help you over any bumps in the road and answer questions about the best way to approach a situation.