Virtual Internship

Internships [Redefined]® - Experience You Need, Where and When You Want!

At IES®, we’ve been offering quality, part-time internships for nearly 60 years and full-time internships with the introduction of IES Internships in 2013. You could kinda say we’re experts…and now, we’re bringing the internships to you with the IES® Virtual Internship Program (VIP). You tell us which term you want to go, what you want to do, if you have a preference of where your employer is located (one of several IES Abroad host cities), how many hours you want to work (between 10 and 32 per week), and we hook it up. You’ll get the same hands-on (just not literally), professional experience you’d get abroad, while also gaining the remote working skills that are oh-so-important right now, plus an international component to boot.

And aside from the world needing to work at a distance right now, we know it's not always easy to juggle classes, a part-time job, a social life, and an in-person internship with set hours, let alone leave home to fly abroad for months at a time do so (though if you can, we highly recommend it 😉). Which is why we are excited to help you work virtually anywhere in the world, well, virtually. Learn more about our remote internships and how it works to get started!

"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. (Virtual Internship Program London | Lehigh University)

How It Works

You might have seen us mention that we're pros at placing students in professional internships and the Virtual Internship Program is no exception. Because the placement process for our full-time, in-person internships is already conducted virtually in advance, we've got a well-oiled machine. Not only that, but you'll be guided and supported by your IES Internships College Relations Manager before you start your application, Program Advisor while you're applying and before the program, and your Internship Coordinator, who's based in the same city as your potential internship host and is there for you throughout the placement process and internship.

Learn More

Your Internship

Our program guarantees an unpaid, for-credit, 12-week internship placement for 10-32 hours per week in the field of your choice. Develop your professional skills, your ability to communicate across cultures, and gain real work experience that will jump-start your career in today’s competitive job market.

Before you start, we work with you to find the ideal internship placement that fulfills your career goals. We’ve placed students in a wide variety of organizations and businesses. If we don’t currently work with a business or organization in your field of interest, we will search for a placement that’s right for you.

Academics

While working remotely, you’ll have the option to enroll in a virtual, 3-credit academic seminar* (6-credit option also available for the summer) with other IES interns to complement the practical experience you gain during the internship for a greater understanding of remote work life. Topics covered include:

Understanding business culture
Improving communication in the virtual workplace
Strengthening work attitude and aptitude
Resolving conflicts
Navigating issues, challenges, and opportunities so you can succeed on the job in the future

*IES Abroad transcripts are only awarded for internships in conjunction with the academic internship seminar.

Courses

Our internship seminars are taught by IES Abroad faculty from one of our Centers abroad.

Internship Seminar
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
IN 395 - Leading Across Cultures: Internship Seminar	Fall, Spring, Summer	English	3
IN 395 - Leading Across Cultures: Internship Seminar	Summer	English	6

Advising & Support

Students First is a philosophy that guides everything we do at IES Abroad, and as an IES Intern, you'll experience that firsthand! As you start the process, you'll work with your Advisor to find the best internship placement for your goals, and while you're interning, your Internship Coordinator (who is based in the same city as your employer host) will help you maximize every day "in" the office. Even though your internship will be remote, we’re still here to fully support you.

Program Cost

TRANSCRIPT FEES
Free IES Abroad transcript
Note: if an official School of Record transcript is required in place of the IES Abroad transcript, there will be an additional $375 fee.

Consider these prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your study abroad office to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your home school policies, and other factors.

Term: Fall 2022
Term	Tuition	Housing	Insurance	Total
Fall 2022	$2,096			$2,096

Term: Summer 2022
Term	Tuition	Housing	Insurance	Total
Summer 2022 0 Credits	$1,695	$0	$0	$1,695
Summer 2022 3 Credits	$1,995	$0	$0	$1,995
Summer 2022 6 Credits	$2,295	$0	$0	$2,295

Term: Spring 2022
Term	Tuition	Housing	Insurance	Total
Spring 2022	$2,035	$0	$0	$2,035

Our Center

In today's world, you need the flexibility to study and intern from wherever you are. With our virtual programs, you can get the international experience you (and your resume!) are craving, without all of the travel logistics.

The beauty of virtual is that even though you won't have a physical Center to go to for class and advising, you still receive all of the student support we're known for from our headquarters in Chicago to our Centers around the world. That includes:

An advisor who works with you from the moment you apply up until your program starts
On-site staff abroad who help you make the most of your courses and/or internship
Highly-rated faculty who have been trained on best practices for online learning
Support from staff in Chicago throughout your program including our Dean of Students, Academics, and Advising departments
And more!

Our Staff

Melissa Comiskey, M.Ed.

Executive Director

Melissa joined IES Abroad in 2013 and has worked in a variety of roles including advisor, recruiter, manager, and currently Executive Director overseeing the Internship Programming department. As Director, she leads a team of talented professionals in developing and expanding IES Abroad’s full-time global internship programs. Melissa has worked in higher education for 10 years. Previously, she worked in career services at DePaul University and at the University of Chicago, where her primary focus was counseling students on career exploration and preparedness. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Master of Education degree in Counseling with a concentration in College Student Development from DePaul University.

How It Works

On our Virtual Internship Program, you’ll pick an industry first, and maybe a location or language if you have that in mind. Then get ready for personalized, committed advising with our Internship Coordinators who help find the best internship opportunity for you. Learn more about the specifics on how this all works and hear from a past VIP on her day-in-the-life experience as a virtual international intern.

Website Icons_1 green.png	Discover Review the fields and locations we offer to determine what type of internship you'd like and if you have a virtual location preference. If you have questions before applying, you can connect with an IES Internships College Relations Manager to discuss the best options for you.
Website Icons_2 green.png	Apply With your assigned IE S Internships Advisor available as a resource, complete the first step of the application process—the online application form. Once this form is processed (1-2 days), you’ll be prompted to submit application pieces by the deadline. These may include, but are not limited to, résumé, school approval, transcript, and placement interest form. Wait one to two weeks for an admissions decision.
Website Icons_3 green.png	Confirm Once you are admitted, submit the Confirmation Form and $250 non-refundable deposit, which goes towards the Program Cost, or Intent to Enroll Form, depending on which school you attend, to secure your place in the program. The IES Internship Coordinator based in the city where your preferred internship placement is located will then reach out to discuss your career goals and interests.
Website Icons_4 green.png	Interview Before interviewing, you will complete online modules of our Internship Seminar, which will help you tailor your materials and interview skills to your chosen location. Around this time, your Internship Coordinator will arrange a phone or virtual interview(s) between you and an organization(s) in the field of your choice.
Website Icons_5 green.png	Accept IES Internships consults with you and the potential internship host after the interview to confirm that the placement is a match. Once you’ve accepted your placement, get ready for the experience of a lifetime, virtually speaking.

Benefits

Website Icons_money navy blue.png	Intern Internationally, Affordably With a virtual internship abroad, you'll get the global experience (and optional academic credit) without the cost of international housing, insurance, and travel. And you won't have to worry about calculating any exchange rates either.
Online Learning Icons_Breaks.png	Work When you Want It With a remote international internship, you almost literally get more hours in your [work] day. Our flexible semester and summer programs allow you to choose between 10 and 32 work hours per week. And because you may sync for just part of the day with your colleagues across the pond, you can attend your classes, work your part-time job at home or on campus, and complete that project for your internship all before the sun rises in your host city.
Online Learning Icons_Workspace.png	Work Where you Want It Whether you're at home with your family, in the dorm on campus, or a cabin in the woods for a couple of months, you can work from whereever works for you (just make sure your workspace is quiet, Wifi-equipped, comfortable, and professional for those Zoom calls, of course).
Website Icons_school purple.png	Stay on Track Get an international perspective while staying on track for graduation—earn college credit by taking our optional, credit-bearing Internship Seminar.
Virtual Icons_Virtual.png	Gain Real-World Experience These days, remote work or school is the reality for many of us. Working and collaborating virtually is extremely valuable in our globalized economy, now more than ever, and you'll join the ranks of those who have learned how to do so successfully.
Virtual Icons_Make-Friends.png	Get Ahead You and your future career can't just wait around for an in-person internship to come to you. Get ahead of the curve and your peers by proactively taking on a remote internship that you can do now.
Online Learning Icons_Tech.png	Give it a Test Run Now is the time for you try out an internship in your field, and possibly city, of interest. So when the world opens up, not only will you know if you want to proceed on the same career path, but also if your host city or country is a place you could see yourself working, and even living, in the future (and if so, you've got an in...).
10 Lessons_Rome_010.png	Get a Foot in the Door Speaking of having an 'in' abroad, not only will you forge lasting relationships with colleagues, seminar classmates, and even the IES Abroad and Internships staff, but once you complete a program, even virtually, you'll join a network of more than 140,000 alumni. All of this means that you'll know more people than ever in more places than ever, because we all know, it's who you know, to get ahead.
Online Learning Icons_Multitasking.png	Customize Your Career-Making Business or arts? Part-time or full-time? Europe or South America? Summer or Semester? College credit or nah? No matter how you slice it, you've got options to make the most of the program and make it work for you.
Online Learning Icons_RS alt.png	Communicate Across Cultures Not only will you get to interact with colleagues based in the city of your internship, but you can also hone your skills with Rosetta Stone language-learning software access, which is included with your enrollment in the program.
Website Icons_globe blue.png	Capture Cultural Context In addition to any lingo you may pick up, we also have cultural exchange opportunities, called DiscoverIES, built right into the program! Whether it's a check-in with your internationally based Internship Coordinator, a virtual tour in Quito, or a guest speaker talking about the nuances of the European Union, you're sure to learn 'out of the office', too!
Online Learning Icons_Professor.png	Support Before & Beyond the Workplace This isn't your average upload-your-résumé-and-hope-for-the-best scenario. Internship Coordinators based at our locations abroad work with you to fine-tune your professional materials and prep for your interview(s), including cultural best practices. And your relationship with your Internship Coordinator doesn't end the day you start your internship. In fact, they'll check in with you throughout the program to ensure that everything with you and your internship host goes smoothly.

Placements & Locations

Past Placement Examples

While study abroad is location, location, location, our Virtual Internship Program takes an industry-first approach. Review our internship fields and examples of placements previous interns have done to get an idea of what's possible. If you don't see exactly what you're looking for, simply connect with an IES Internships representative at [email protected] to discover what else you can do!

Here are a few examples of placements that past virtual interns have had. Though exact placements may not be available term to term, new placements are always being added!

Placement at a Diving Center in the Galapágos Islands - projects include running social media campaigns, promoting diving packages, and Spanish to English translation for the website.
Education Intern in Quito - projects include developing a virtual education program for children and conducting research for the implementation of a didactic aquarium.
Public Health Intern in London – projects included monitoring social media feeds for news about local hospitals, coronavirus inoculations, and explanations of the vaccine, as well as discovering dental programs available to patients in their borough.
Placement at a Music & Performance Company in Vienna – projects included writing and editing (CD booklets, musicology articles, biographies), updating the English-language website, helping to create new catalogs, and musicology and market research.
Public Relations Intern in Berlin – projects included social media marketing, branding, and content creation for web and e-mail marketing.
Placement in Bioengineering in Dublin – projects included research and imaging as it relates to cardiac structures on the epicardial surface of the heart.
Research Assistant at a Nationally Recognized Hospital in Barcelona – projects included migration and mental health research, as well as on the racial wealth gap as it pertains to healthcare in the European and Spanish contexts.
Placement with an Analytics Company in Barcelona – projects included creating technical content and analysis regarding technical optimization in Packaging, Supply Chain, and other spend categories.
Consulting and Research Intern in Shanghai – projects included case study analysis and data collection.

Participating IES Abroad Locations

In addition to choosing your internship industry and sharing your placement preferences, once you've applied, you can also indicate if you'd prefer that your host company or organization be based in one of the following IES Abroad host cities (and be sure to check back, as many locations may be added or vary by term). This may be especially useful if you need an internship conducted in a particular language or culture for your major, minor, or global learning requirement at your school.