Study Abroad Internships With Guaranteed Placement

An internship abroad is a professional work experience in another country that combines career development with cultural immersion—and with IES Internships, it's also credit-bearing and comes with a placement guarantee.*

We work with you to find a role in your field of interest, across a network of cities that spans five continents. Whether you're looking for a full semester of professional immersion or a focused summer experience, there's an internship program designed for everyone. 

Why Intern Abroad With IES Abroad

Real professional experience in another country, academic credit toward your degree, and the support of a team that knows your city.
Background Image Mask
What it is

Credit-bearing internship programs with guaranteed placement*

Background Image Mask
Who it's for

Undergraduate students and recent grads

Background Image Mask
Terms

Full-Time Semester, Full-Time Summer, Remote and Part-time internship

Background Image Mask
Locations

15+ cities including Cape Town, Dublin, London, Tokyo, Sydney, Santiago

Background Image Mask
Hours/week

16–40 hrs/week (varies by term and location)

Background Image Mask
Credit

Typically 3 to 6 credits (varies by term and location)

Background Image Mask
Duration

7–15 weeks depending on term

Background Image Mask
What's included

Placement, predeparture advising, housing and on-site support

Background Image Mask
Paid/unpaid

All internships are unpaid—visit our paid vs. unpaid policy to learn more

Find Your Internship Destination Abroad

View All View All Destinations
two students celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Dublin

Dublin

two students posing for photo in Nantes

Nantes

Student looking at Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

Paris

a group of students sitting near the beach with Rabat city in the background

Rabat

Jardins du Belvédère gardens in Vienna, Austria.

Vienna

How to Get an Internship Abroad

Choose the Term and Check your Eligibility
Most programs are open to rising juniors and seniors with a GPA of 2.5 or above. Some programs accept sophomores and recent graduates. Options include full-time semester or summer, or part-time semester as part of your study abroad program.
Pick a Field & Location
Tell us what you're interested in. Your IES Internships Advisor will help you decide on the right city based on your interests.
Apply for Your Program
Complete your online application and submit your supporting materials—résumé, statement of interest, and anything else your program requires.
Confirm Your Spot
Submit your Confirmation Form in your Student Portal by the deadline to secure your place on the program.
Interview & Crush It
Your Internship Coordinator will conduct an intake interview. Then you can be matched with a placement!

Requirements to Intern Abroad

2 students standing in a stadium, with blue sky in the background

Eligibility Criteria

  • At least 18 years of age
  • Enrolled in or graduated from a full-time degree program within the past five years. Note: some countries may have visa restrictions based on full-time student enrollment.
  • At least sophomore status at application, rising junior status prior to departure; freshmen and full-time graduate students will be considered
  • Minimum GPA of 2.5

Types of Internships Abroad

Full-Time vs. Part-Time Internships

Depending upon your career and academic goals, you can either study abroad and take courses while doing a part-time internship, or you can participate in a full-time internship with an optional internship seminar and language course for college credit.

student in professional attire sitting at desk with computer and other office supplies in front of large window

Full-Time Summer

Keep your semester plans at school and spice up your summer with an international professional internship. Choose your location and apply to an IES Internships Summer Program. (3, 6, or 9 credits)

education cape town

Full-Time Semester

Establish a new routine and get deeply acquainted with your internship and new city for a whole semester. Choose either fall or spring and apply to an IES Internships Semester Program. (3 credits)

Woman holding a camera in the hand standing by banner

Full-Time or Part-Time Remote

You choose the term you want to intern, what you want to do, location preference, how many hours you want to work per week, and we make it happen. (3, 6, or 9 credits)

two students sitting across from each other at a paper filled desk in front of a wall that reads the name of the company Baasbox

Part-Time + Semester Study Abroad

Choose either fall or spring and apply to and IES Internships Program. Throughout the application process, you'll have the option to add a part-time internship. (3 credits)

A group of nine students smiling, with some sitting at a table and others standing behind them

Paid vs. Unpaid Internships

Our internship programs are unpaid and designed for academic credit. Unpaid internships abroad help govern students through meaningful project-based work and In return, you receive meaningful benefits: academic credit toward your degree,  a guaranteed placement in your field*, a career-focused seminar, housing, and on-site support from a team that knows your city well, and cultural activities and field trips so you get to know your city well, too. Most students say the experience itself is what stays with them. You gain hands-on exposure inside a global organization, build an international network, and learn how to navigate a new professional environment. These are the stories and skills that stand out in interviews. After interning abroad with us, you will not just have something to talk about in an interview, you will have experiences that stay with you long after you return home.

Mia Spagnoletti Headshot
“I learned that working in a global company with international offices and clients contributes to your personal and professional growth...This experience will enrich my resume as hiring managers will see my extensive experience in a global office and having directed a self-project that improved the company’s hiring process (more than an average intern’s experience in the States of fetching coffee).”

From "Reflecting on My Summer Internship in London"—
Mia S. (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill | IES Abroad London-Summer Internship )
Five students smiling while working with stone artifacts and documents in an archive room

Industry-Specific Opportunities

When you're an IES Abroad Intern, you're guaranteed a placement in one of your indicated fields of your interest. Because your internship is personalized for your career goals, each placement looks different. If you're looking for inspiration, use these real-life student placements as examples, and explore our internship programs by field.

Explore Internships by Field

“Be as specific as possible. Be honest about your career goals and interests. IES Abroad Internships will work with you to make sure you end up with a fulfilling internship. Ask yourself ‘does this placement align with my career goals and interests?’ Be confident and optimistic!”

Mia W. • North Carolina A&T University • Cape Town Summer - Internship
student sitting on couch typing on laptop that contains various stickers
Michalina M. • Lehigh University

Remote Internships

With a remote internship with a company abroad, you’ll get global experience (and optional academic credit) without the cost of international housing, insurance, and travel. Participate in our remote, international internship in your field of interest from anywhere that’s convenient for you, whether that’s home, school, or vacation. It’s the same hands-on professional experience you’d get abroad, plus remote collaboration skills that are increasingly relevant in today’s hybrid and distributed work environments.

“Before interning through IES Abroad, I already had an interest in working abroad or working for a large company with an international presence. I have a passion for travel and would love the opportunity to experience new countries and cultures throughout my professional career. My international internship experience through IES Abroad, though remote, reaffirmed these goals and made me even more excited to pursue a career that takes me to other countries!”

Jessica F. • Lehigh University • Remote Internship

Find internships in your field

All of our global full-time internship destinations offer placements in a variety of fields from film to finance to health care and more. Explore our most popular internship fields below.

The placements below are not an exhaustive list, so let your IES Internships Representative know if you would like additional examples. Once you confirm to a program, the on-site Internship Coordinator will work with you closely to find an internship placement based on your interests.

Background Image Mask
Archaeology, History & Museum Studies
Background Image Mask
Art, Design & Fashion
Background Image Mask
Biology, Chemistry & Physics
Background Image Mask
Business
Background Image Mask
Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Media & PR
Background Image Mask
Computer Science, Data Analytics, Math & Statistics
Background Image Mask
Creative Writing, English & Publishing
Background Image Mask
Education & Social Work
Background Image Mask
Engineering
Background Image Mask
Environmental Studies and Sustainability
Background Image Mask
Film, Music & Performing Arts
Background Image Mask
Health
Background Image Mask
International Relations, Political Science & Law
Background Image Mask
Sports & Exercise Science

Placement Examples

Costs and Funding for Internships Abroad

A Group of Students and their teacher in the IES Abroad commons on a sunny day.

Program Fees and Costs

If you choose to add a part-time internship onto your study abroad program, your part-time internship is included in the program fee. For full-time internship programs, costs typically range from $6,500 to $13,000 depending on your destination and term. This includes guaranteed placement*, so you'll start your program with a confirmed position secured. Scholarships and financial aid are also available to help make it more affordable. See your Program page for more details.

View Fees on Your Program Page
2025 Spring

Scholarships and Financial Aid

We believe that financial limits shouldn’t stop you from studying or interning abroad. As a student-centered not-for-profit, we dedicate nearly $7.9 million in scholarships and aid to help as many students as possible. The application is quick and only takes about 10 minutes to complete. We will get back to you within 5 business days with your total aid package, even if you haven't picked a program yet.

Apply for Scholarships & Aid
Money Belt

Cost of Living Abroad

There are some obvious costs that go into studying and interning abroad like tuition, housing, and required health insurance. There are also some not-so-obvious things like round-trip airfare, textbooks, meals, cell phone, local transportation, optional IES Abroad field trips, and other personal expenses like a weekend trip outside of your host city.

Learn What Study Abroad Costs

Frequently Asked Questions

Latest from #IESinternships

See what it's like to intern abroad in real time. Follow @IESabroad on all your favorite social media platforms for the latest videos, photos, blog posts, and updates from our students and staff around the world.

The IES Internships Placement Guarantee

IES Internships guarantees a placement in your field of choice for all full-time and remote internship programs. If we are unable to secure your placement at least two weeks before your program start date, you have the option to receive a full refund or transfer to a comparable IES Abroad program in the same location

Subject to satisfying applicable visa requirements and program requirements. Placement is based on your stated interests, qualifications, and host organization needs.

Tyler Schmied Headshot
“Overall, the internship program in Nantes has been fantastic. I never gave teaching much thought before, but getting my feet wet teaching English has opened my eyes to the possibility of a career in education. It feels odd to say that one semester working with French high schoolers on their English has had such a big impact on my ideas for what I want to do with my life, but it’s true.”

From "Why do an Internship?"—Tyler S. (Drew University | IES Abroad Nantes )

Add Global Brilliance to Your Résumé

Find Your Program 

Apply Now 

students at Versailles on a summer day