Why You Should Study and Intern Abroad at the Same Time (and How!)

If you’re torn between studying abroad or interning abroad, you may be pleased to hear that you can do both! Combining an internship with your study abroad program (or vice versa) lets you gain hands-on international experience while earning academic credit. You’ll strengthen your resume, apply theory to real-world settings, and make the most of your time overseas. 

While it might take planning and hard work, here’s how you can study and intern abroad at the same time! 

There are so many benefits to studying while interning abroad, whether you’re looking for enhanced prospects for a career abroad or at home. 

• Immense resume boost: While studying abroad will boost your resume, displaying international work experience through a study-intern program will differentiate you enormously. For example, a fashion student in Milan might take a field trip to Ferragamo, but an intern might be leading that tour. That hands-on experience speaks volumes on a resume!
• Immediately apply academic learning: A combined study-internship program offers stronger integration between coursework and practical experience. You’ll gain academic context for your work and apply classroom learning in real-world settings to accelerate your professional and personal growth abroad.
• Opportunity to earn even more credits: Your internship may allow you to earn credit towards your major. Just double check with your university advisor!
• Improve your language skills: While working directly in the field as an intern, you'll have a hands-on opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture and converse in the local language. Plus, learning a foreign language can increase your chances of getting hired!
• Make valuable professional connections: Landing an internship abroad connects you with career-defining professionals. These connections can lead to glowing recommendations or even your first big opportunity, whether that’s researching sea turtles, guiding tours, or managing global logistics.
• Cultural immersion: Studying abroad is culturally immersive, but it’s easy to stay in the comfort zone of fellow international students. By interning abroad, you’ll be building genuine connections by working with and alongside locals. Many dual study-intern programs pair you with independent internships away from your usual crowd so you can integrate, expand your network, and experience the culture firsthand.
• Trial working abroad: Whether it’s for a summer, a semester, or a whole degree, studying abroad is short-term in the grand scheme of things. However, if you have plans to live and work abroad, a dual study-intern program allows you to test the waters! 

Similar to finding the perfect study abroad program, there are various ways to look for an internship abroad. Here are the steps that you need to take to study and intern abroad at the same time:

1. Plan early: It’s important that you plan ahead, whether you’re aiming to study abroad, intern abroad, or both simultaneously. Research the start dates of your study and intern programs, coordinate your academic calendar, and consider how your visa application might affect your timeline.
2. Set your priorities: If the internship is the most important aspect for you, you may want to focus more on finding that internship and then add studying to your schedule, or vice versa. Maybe you'll take language classes, or sign up for classes at a local university. Some internships are part-time, so you could easily fit in classes on the free day, in the evenings, or on the weekend.
3. Choose the right program: Other than dual programs, some study abroad programs may connect you with internship opportunities, whereas others may require you to find an internship yourself. Consider carefully what kind of program you’d like to join depending on the level of support or flexibility you want.
4. Consult your host university: If you’re studying abroad through a direct exchange or at a local university, you may be able to tap into existing internship programs offered to local students. If you’re fluent in the local language, ask your advisor about internship-for-credit options or whether the university can help you arrange one alongside your studies.
5. Talk with your home university: Your home university may be more helpful than you think when it comes to finding an internship abroad. Many study abroad offices organize international internships or partner with organizations that do. Even if they can’t place you directly, they can often connect you with alumni or companies in your host city that have hosted interns before.

Now you know how to approach your application, it’s time to find out where you can find an internship while studying abroad. 

• Find a program provider that offers both: As international internships grow in demand, many study abroad providers now offer built-in internship options alongside academic programs. This is the easiest way to gain professional experience abroad, though it may not always align with your destination, field, or budget.
• Use your university's career service: Your university’s career service will have a number of job opportunities, from unpaid internships to graduate schemes, and more.
• Browse job boards: If you’ve already contacted both your host university and your university back home without luck, maybe it’s time to turn to the internet! You never know what amazing opportunities may pop up! You can also try exploring job-hunting websites like Indeed, LinkedIn, or Idealist. Or, find new internships on the job boards here at Go Overseas! 

Rather than committing to one and hoping the other materializes further down the line, you can study & intern abroad simultaneously with these program providers:

• Worldstrides: Worldstrides offers ambitious students an “academics meets professional experience” in their unique study & intern programs abroad. You can choose from a range of study & intern experiences in destinations such as Australia, England, South Korea, and more.
• AIFS: Since 1964, more than 1.8 million students have traveled abroad with AIFS. AIFS offers over 40 study & intern programs across the world from London, Prague, Dublin, Cannes and other global hubs. You can choose between programmes that last 6 weeks to as long as a whole semester abroad gaining valuable academic and industry experience.
• CIEE: With 75+ years of experience in the game, CIEE offers the chance to earn college credits while working part-time at an international organization in countries all over the world. Additionally, CIEE even offers an Open Campus Block Program, where you can design your own semester program in multiple locations.
• SAI: SAI offers international students the chance to gain hands-on experience through summer or semester internships while studying abroad. SAI staff collaborate with you and your home university to arrange placements tailored to your major, interests, and career goals.
• Adelante Abroad: Adelante Abroad hosts a range of programs in countries such as Scotland, Uruguay, Spain, Chile, and more. Their internships in Spanish speaking countries provide intensive language courses for interns. If you’re a golf enthusiast, their unique Golf Sports Management study abroad program in Scotland allows students to take on a coaching internship to gain practical experience. 

Here are some tips for optimizing your experience abroad while interning and studying:

• Be flexible: Studying and interning abroad could cause major scheduling conflicts, especially if you end up finding the internship on your own. To make it work, you may have to give up a class you wanted to take, or negotiate with your internship host about schedule flexibility.
• Follow legal protocols: There’s a fine line between interning and working abroad. In some countries, paid or even unpaid work can be illegal unless you have the right visa.
• Be realistic: It’s important that you’re also realistic about the workload to avoid burnout. While you may be able to sustain a packed workload for the first couple weeks, it could quickly catch up with you and lead to burnout.
• Don’t just settle: Internships will naturally require a level of effort and hard work, but that doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be enjoyable. Make sure that you’re gaining valuable experience from your internship abroad.
• Integrate: One of the great things about an internship abroad is that it will probably be an even better opportunity for you to really glimpse into the local culture and experience real local customs. Make the most of it!
• Track your progress: When all is said and done, your international internship experience is only as good as you can sell it! You need to be able to understand what you learned and how you developed. From soft skills to solid accomplishments, track how you progressed and be able to say it in your resume, in interviews, etc.

While balancing both may seem challenging, with the right planning, mindset, and support, you can enjoy the best of both worlds - academic growth and professional development - all while immersing yourself in a new culture. As long as you’re realistic, flexible, and persistent in your search for the right program, you can flourish while studying and interning abroad simultaneously!

Read more about studying and interning abroad:  

• What Are the Benefits of Study Abroad Internship Programs?
• The 10 Best Countries to Intern Abroad
• 13 Best Places to Study Abroad