- Germany
- Berlin
About Program
Experience Berlin—the economic and political center of Germany. This capital city also boasts a thriving arts scene (with more than 175 museums and galleries) and some of the world’s most spectacular architecture. When you intern in Berlin, you’ll be able to walk, bike, or take a bus, tram, or train (U-Bahn) to work. Over lunch, stroll through one of Berlin’s countless parks and gardens. At night, enjoy live music or theater in this Kulturhaupstadt (cultural capital) of Germany. Interning in Berlin will boost both your résumé credentials and your cultural competence.
You’ll be guaranteed an unpaid placement at a local business or organization, where you’ll work for at least 25 hours per week. You’ll also enroll in a 3- or 6- credit academic internship seminar with other IES interns, where you’ll gain context for your internship placement by examining cultural issues in the workplace.
Program Highlights
- An IES Internship in Berlin develops your professional skills and your ability to communicate across cultures, and provides substantive work experience to jump-start your career in today’s competitive job market.
- Course topics include: understanding business culture, improving communication in the workplace, and strengthening work attitude and aptitude.
- Live in a homestay with a German family, or with other IES interns in a shared student apartment.
- Enjoy course-related excursions and trips to Potsdam & Sanssouci Palace and a Berlin city tour.
- Enroll in an optional 3-credit German language course.
Now Boarding: New Programs!
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Diversity & Inclusion 💙
BIPOC Support
LGBTQIA+ Support
Studying abroad as part of the LGBTQIA+ community can present unique opportunities and challenges in exploring a new culture, so we have compiled resources to help prepare you and support you along the way.
Neurodivergent Support
We have not only compiled resources on mental health and self-care to help prepare you and support you along the way, but we also have a dedicated Student Affairs staff that are available for you to contact from the United States and once in your host country.
Accessibility Support
Impact 🌎
Sustainability
- Moving toward more sustainable Headquarters and Centers abroad
- Producing printed materials on 100% recycled paper with soy-based ink and in fewer quantities
- Hosting events and conferences in LEED-certified buildings
- Purchasing carbon offsets for staff air travel
- The formation of the IES Abroad Sustainability Team—a dedicated group of volunteers responsible for implementing sustainable practices across our organization. The team comprises of members across our Centers, departments, teams. It is truly a global effort, and we are better for it.
Popular Programs
When you intern in Berlin over the summer, you’ll be guaranteed placement at a local business or organization, where you’ll work for at least 25 hours per week. You’ll also enroll in a 3- or 6- credit academic internship seminar with other IES interns. Past placements include a blockchain database company, art gallery, research lab, environmental studies research center, supply-chain management company, and more.
Questions & Answers
Location
Berlin is not only the capital of Germany, but also in many ways the capital of Europe, sitting at the crossroads of the East and West. Germany serves as the continent's largest economy and the world's fourth largest overall. It's a major player in industry, engineering, science, and renewable energy, and Berlin has recently been dubbed the start-up capital of Europe, surpassing London after the 2016 Brexit decision.
Rebuilt after being destroyed in multiple wars and reunified after being split in two for thirty years, Berlin has an unparalleled experience in recreation and reinvention. The city is now famous for attracting young people, free-thinkers, visionaries, entrepreneurs, artists, and scholars, and of the 3.5 million inhabitants, over one-third are from outside Germany.
