What are International Internships? Everything You Need to Know
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@cieestudyabroad What’s an international internship? Here’s everything you need to know! #cieestudyabroad #ciee #studyabroad #internship #intern #internabroad #howtofindaninternship #summerinternship #college #careeradvice original sound - CIEE Study Abroad
Forbes Magazine deems college internships as “the ultimate return on investment for today’s college students.”
Why? Because no matter what your academic or career goals are, an internship helps you gain valuable, hands-on experience in a discipline you’re interested in while learning directly from seasoned professionals.
Better yet, get involved in an international internship program, and you will make your resume stand out with future employers and get you the skills you need to navigate our increasingly interconnected world.
Learn more about the power of participating in an internship abroad and discover how you can really delve into your passions on an international scale.
What are International Internships?
An international internship is a work placement that takes place in a foreign country in person, or even virtually. CIEE currently offers amazing international internship opportunities in 40+ countries around the world! Available internships range from six to 12 weeks.
If you’re considering applying to an international internship, we recommend finding one that involves an industry related to your academic or professional ambitions. And with the variety of CIEE internship programs around the world, we bet you’ll find one that fits your goals perfectly.
And we’re not talking about positions where you’re stuck at a desk all day. You can help organize voter registration events in Paris, attend an industry networking event in Tokyo, explore archaeological sites in Jordan, or even work at an NGO in Chile. The possibilities are virtually endless.
It should go without saying, but we’ll reinforce that CIEE internships aren’t all work and no play. Not by a long shot. While interning abroad, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to explore these spectacular countries. During CIEE-organized excursions, you’ll get to visit some of the world’s most famous attractions, meet people from all over the world, learn new language skills, and indulge in new and delicious cuisine. How’s that for a well-rounded experience?
What do you do in an international internship?
Your tasks and responsibilities will vary depending on the international internship program you choose.
We’ll work with you to find a placement that makes the most sense for your goals and aspirations, but there are some common responsibilities you’ll have no matter which one you choose.
You’ll:
- Work alongside experienced professionals to learn new skills and gain hands-on experience in your field
- Support ongoing projects and tasks, such as research, data analysis, and report writing
- Explore the local area, participate in cultural events, and learn more about the community culture and way of life
No matter what program you choose, with an international internship, you’ll be guaranteed to gain real-world experience, build an outstanding resume, grow a global network, and hone your cross-cultural communication skills. It’s a win-win-win!
4 Types of CIEE Internships Abroad
Worried an internship can’t fit into your schedule? CIEE offers a diverse range of options, including Summer Global Internships, Summer Intern + Study Abroad, Semester Global Internships, and Semester Intern + Study Abroad. Our varied offerings ensure you’ll be able to choose an internship abroad program in an industry, location, and length that works best for you.
And the easiest way to find the best internship placement is to use our Internship Search Tool! This convenient platform gives you the ability to search our catalog of open placements based on your city, occupation, and term preferences. We have HUNDREDS of placements available right now, and our list grows daily. Now, consider which of the following internship types suits you best!
CIEE Summer Global Internship Programs are eight-week, full-time experiences designed for students who want to fully immerse themselves in international work over the summer. You’ll intern approximately 30 hours per week (minimum 225 hours total) with a company, startup, or NGO in your field while earning six academic credits.
If you’re serious about accelerating your career, this is your chance to step into a global workplace and prove what you can do.
Summer Intern + Study Abroad
Want to balance career goals with classroom credit? This six-week program lets you do both in one streamlined summer experience. You’ll intern part-time for approximately 20 hours per week (minimum 100 hours total) with a company, startup, or NGO while earning 6-7 academic credits through a course abroad.
This option is perfect if you want momentum on both your resume and your transcript. You’ll apply what you’re learning in real time, gain international work experience, and still have space to explore your host city – making the most of every week abroad without choosing between classroom growth and career growth.
Semester Global Internships
CIEE Semester Global Internship Programs are 12-week, full-time experiences built for students who want to make international work the centerpiece of their semester abroad. You’ll intern approximately 30 hours per week (minimum 360 hours total) with a company, startup, or NGO in your field while earning 9-13 academic credits.
With three months immersed in a global workplace, you’ll move beyond surface-level tasks and take on meaningful responsibilities that sharpen your skills and expand your professional network.
CIEE Semester Intern + Study Abroad Programs are 12-week experiences that combine part-time professional work with a full academic semester. You’ll intern approximately 20 hours per week (minimum 225 hours total) with a company, startup, or NGO while earning 12-14 academic credits. Students enroll in two required courses through CIEE or ASU Online, allowing you to stay on track academically while gaining international work experience.
This program is ideal if you want a true balance of career development and classroom learning. You’ll build hands-on experience in a global workplace while diving deeper into your coursework, creating a semester abroad that strengthens both your professional trajectory and your academic progress.
What Industries are International Internships in?
The better question is, what industries aren’t international internships in?
But seriously, our internship abroad programs run the gamut of industries from business, arts, and design to engineering, international relations, and more.
Business
Our business, management, and finance international internship programs take place in more than 20 countries throughout the world.
In Rome, you can explore startup firms, non-profits, and even multinational companies where you’ll pick up valuable insights into Italian and international work environments. In Australia, you can dive into a hub for trade, finance, tech, and media production. In Singapore, learn about the city-state’s centuries-old international trade practices and thriving economy that embraces everything from finance and pharmaceutical to technology and tourism.
This is just a snapshot of some of your options.
Arts and Design
Our arts and design international internships take place across the globe and offer a wide range of opportunities.
In Ghana, you can immerse yourself in humanities and science courses while shadowing doctors and nurses during rounds at the West Africa AIDS Foundation and International Health Care Center, teach English or math and mentor children, and assist with research and advocacy governance.
In Prague, you’ll have a chance to intern at advertising agencies, media outlets, vibrant startups, and more, all while gaining valuable insight into the Czech Republic’s professional and cultural norms and perspectives.
Arts and design naturally fall into a ton of different industries, so you’ll have plenty of program and industry options.
Engineering and STEM Fields
Our engineering and STEM field internships abroad span the globe and offer experiences like no other.
In Barcelona, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside professionals in the biomedical sciences, whereas, in Berlin, you get to take advantage of networking and lecture opportunities.
International Relations
Our international relations and legal studies internships take place in more than six countries and offer unique insight into how other countries approach their international policies and justice systems. These related internships take place in fantastic locations like Seville, Santiago, and London – just to name a few.
EXPLORE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS INTERNSHIPS
Our international internship fields of study don’t end there – we offer programs specific to architecture, education and human development, information technology, environment and sustainability, health care and public policy, journalism and media, politics, and marketing and communications.
Make sure to explore all industries of interest to truly find the best program match for you. (And we’ll help you navigate this too!)
A Few More Things
Through our Personal Placement Process, you’ll have access to lots of great resources while preparing for your internship abroad. We’ll be there for you each step of the way to help you better define your academic and career goals, identify the perfect location for your industry of interest, source the perfect host, and so much more. We’ll make sure to draw from our global connections to provide you with pre-placement advice.
Due to visa constraints and the need for work visas, all international CIEE internships are unpaid. But don’t let that stop you from making this once-in-a-lifetime experience a reality! We offer millions each year in scholarships and grants so that students like you, who want to study and intern abroad, can do so.
Taking on an internship abroad will offer you advantages that will serve you for a lifetime. By gaining firsthand international work experience, you’ll stand out in the professional world, all while bettering yourself and stepping outside your comfort zone.
Take the next step today!