Vienna – Psychology & Social Sciences

Did you know that, while in Vienna, you can intern as part of your study abroad experience? With a part-time internship, you’ll gain global work experience that will increase your job readiness and give you an advantage after graduation. With an internship, you will:

• Take an important step in your career development by navigating the professional world with our support.
• Learn more about yourself both personally and professionally and build confidence in the process.
• Experience what working in Vienna is really like and gain an authentic understanding of the workplace culture while developing real, applicable job skills that will bolster your career readiness.
• Begin building an international network by making connections with coworkers and peers.

All of our internships are supervised and earn IES Abroad credit. You will participate in a 3-credit seminar, which complements the practical experience gained during the internship helping you better understand work life in your host country. Proficiency in German language is not generally required, but can be helpful in securing certain Arts & Culture and Business internship placements.

Personalized Job Placements
Once you indicate your interest in an internship, we work with you to find the ideal placement that satisfies your interests and goals. We’ve placed student with a wide variety of organizations and businesses. If we don’t currently offer placements in your field of interest, we will look for one that’s right for you.

Placement Examples
We have four tracks for our part-time semester internships, each with its own specialized internship seminar. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Just talk to your IES Abroad Advisor—we are always looking for new internship opportunities for our students.

• Arts & Culture — The arts and culture internship offers first-hand experience with Austrian cultural institutions (including museums and theaters), businesses, and service organizations working in  arts, culture, and entertainment in Austria. The internship includes 8-12 hours per week at your internship placement and a weekly internship seminar. Proficiency in German may be required for certain placements.
• Business — Business internships are arranged with multinational corporations and Austrian firms. Past assignments have covered a range of training areas including marketing, accounting, sales, public relations, research, consulting, computer programming, investment banking, and international banking.  The internship includes 8-12 hours per week at your internship placement and a weekly internship seminar. Proficiency in German may be required for certain placements.
• Teaching Field Experience — A supervised teaching internship involves 4-5 hours weekly spent teaching in an Austrian school, supervised by an Austrian professor, in addition to time spent preparing for lessons. Placement schools include kindergarten and elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as a few specialised institutions. Students attend a seminar once a week on the structure and function of the Austrian school system and comparative teaching methods. Proficiency in German is not required.
• Public Service — A Public Service Internship gives you the opportunity to gain practical experience with the work of civil society and non-profit organizations in the social, environmental, humanitarian or development field. You will develop your lobbying and advocacy skills, gain an understanding of the functioning of the European Union and its institutions, and learn about Austrian life and culture. The internship includes 8-10 hours per week at your internship placement and a weekly internship seminar.  Proficiency in German is not required.