Internships are available in a wide range of locations and disciplines. There are also academic programs that provide internship and service-learning opportunities alongside courses. Paid internships are rare, however, the internship experience offers the most direct connection to an international career.
Types of Internship Programs
Internship Placement Programs
Internship placement programs are companies that streamline the process of providing you with an internship, for a fee. Typically, you would submit an application, pay a fee, and then be matched with an internship in another country.
There are many placement programs available and they vary by location, type of internships offered, level of in-country support, etc.
The benefits of going through a placement program typically include in-country support, such as housing and orientation, health and safety resources, and (sometimes) opportunities to gain credit for the experience.
To find internship placement programs, we recommend the following:
- Search M-Compass, the U-M education abroad database to find U-M sponsored international internship placements. Often, the featured options are for undergraduate students. Graduate students should contact their academic departments to find out about any department-affiliated options.
- Search engines like GoAbroad.com, Go Overseas, and studyabroad101.com
- Schedule an advising appointment with the International Center to learn more about options that would align with your interests or to inquire about a program’s legitimacy.
Self-Arranged Internships
Self-arranged internships refer to internships that students find themselves through networking or websites such as Idealist.org, Handshake, GoinGlobal, and Interstride.
When considering a self-arranged internship abroad, evaluate the legitimacy of the host organization as well as health and safety precautions. Assess all potential expenses including airfare, lodging, transportation, food, visa, organization fees, and other personal costs. Consider the logistical arrangements, particularly housing, and determine the level of independence you are comfortable with. Finally, be aware of potential complexities in obtaining a visa for an internship. There may be cases in which obtaining a visa is just not possible due to a country’s work restrictions.
Virtual Internships
Virtual internships increased in popularity in 2020 due to the pandemic. Through a virtual internship, you can work with companies across the world (including some in the U.S.) to support a myriad of projects. When completing a virtual internship, many of the same aspects of a traditional in-person internship still exist: meetings with your supervisor or teammates, completing a mix of individual and group projects, and learning about the overall company culture and industry it works in. Virtual internships can offer many benefits, as well as challenges, which you can read about in the LSA Opportunity Hub’s Virtual Internships and Working Remotely: A Resource Guide for Students.
Considerations for Interning Abroad
- Duration: Most U-M students pursue international internships during the Spring/Summer terms. Internships tend to be at least a month in duration (and often longer). This is due to the learning curve involved with starting a new job and navigating a new cultural environment.
- Application Timeline: The timeline varies widely depending on the internship. Some internships have hard deadlines while others have rolling deadlines (the latter is most common for third party provider placement programs) For Spring/Summer internships, deadlines can be as early as November and span through Winter term. To take full advantage of available internship opportunities, we suggest starting your search for a summer internship early in the Fall semester.
- Affordability: If your internship will be unpaid (and many are), you may wish to apply for funding to help cover your expenses. U-M funding application deadlines for summer internship typically start in mid-February. This is another reason to begin searching for internships during the Fall term. See Funding for Internships and Research Abroad for more information.
- Getting Credit for your Internship: If you are an undergraduate student interested in gaining credit for an internship, you should consider enrolling in ALA 225: Undergraduate Internship Course (if eligible) or speak with faculty/staff in your department about pursuing an independent study. Graduate students should speak with their graduate program advisors about credit options.
- Visas: Internship placement programs that you pay for often provide guidance on visa requirements (if applicable). Other internships may not provide this guidance and you will need to do the research yourself. It is important to note that internships often fall into a gray area with visas, which can be confusing to navigate. See Visas for more information about how to research requirements.
- Level of Independence: Unlike a classroom-based study abroad program, internships are often highly independent experiences. Third-party provider placement programs offer additional support (and sometimes even a cohort of other students pursuing internships in the same city). Self-found internships usually offer less support and are most appropriate for students who feel confident navigating life in a new country independently.
- Health and Safety: Students who are interning abroad are encouraged to take full advantage of health and safety resources offered through the University of Michigan, including registering travel in the U-M Travel Registry and purchasing the Travel Abroad Health Insurance through BCBS Global Solutions.
Global Wolverines
To assist students with navigating the international internship process, the International Center has developed an event series called Global Wolverines, which takes place annually during the Winter term. Events focus on topics like how to find internships, health and safety, booking flights on a budget, and more! Learn more about the Global Wolverines event series.