AIFS Abroad Internships in Barcelona, Spain

Name: AIFS Abroad Internships in Barcelona, Spain
Brand: AIFS Abroad
SKU: 20212
Rating: 4.99 (70 reviews)

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4.99 Rating

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Location

Spain
- Barcelona

Length

8 to 12 weeks

Industry

Accounting Advertising Anthropology Architecture Art History Arts Biology Business Communications Computer Science Culinary Arts Design Economics Education Engineering Film Finance International Business International Relations Journalism Marketing Media Relations Music Sports Science Tourism +15

Financial Support

General grants/scholarships, BIPOC funding

Health & Safety

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Program Details

Compensation

Non-Monetary Benefits

Timeframe

Fall Spring Spring Break Summer

Housing

Apartment

Language

English

Weekly Hours

Age Min.

Pricing

Price Details

Program fee includes: guaranteed internship placement, award winning career development with one-on-one coaching, social events & excursions, Spanish language courses, centralized housing, local support from staff, personalized career development and pre-departure, and medical/travel insurance.

What's Included

Accommodation Some Activities

What's Not Included

Airfare Meals

Last Updated: Feb 21, 2024

Last Reviewed: Aug 04, 2022

Wish List

89 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Barcelona is home to miles of sandy beaches, one of the world's most well-known soccer teams, and an endless number of experiences to have. The economic center of Catalonia offers a wide range of internships in nearly every career field. As an international intern, you’ll have the chance to immerse in everything about Spanish culture.

You’ll have the opportunity to work in your approved career field all while enjoying everything Barcelona has to offer. We do our best to tailor your internship to match your background and future goals. We’ll support you every step of the way to make sure your Barcelona internship is an experience you’ll never forget.

Included in the cost of your tuition is a guaranteed internship, housing, social events, our career development program, and more.

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Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

At AIFS Abroad, we want to support all participants in their study/internship abroad journey, inclusive of gender, race, religion, age, physical ability, or sexual orientation. Everyone has a complex identity, and faith, spirituality, and religion are important factors when deciding on a program location.

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LGBTQIA+ Support

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Accessibility Support

Everyone’s experience is unique. We recognize the location you choose can have an impact on your sense of belonging. We encourage you to use the information below as you review your options to select the program and location that will be the best choice for you. If you do not hold the identities that are amplified here, this information is still a great resource for you as well. It will give you a better understanding of those who have this identity.

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Impact

Sustainability

In response to the overwhelming global climate crisis, AIFS Abroad is pleased to make Sustainability a key priority when considering organizational, operational, and programming decisions. We understand that the only way to effectively combat this crisis and mitigate the effects of climate change is to drastically reduce our environmental impact. Therefore, AIFS Abroad has committed to reaching carbon neutrality by the year 2025. AIFS Abroad is proud to announce we have signed the CANIE Accord, becoming the first US provider to make this commitment.

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Program Highlights

Guaranteed Internship: As part of the AIFS Abroad program you are guaranteed an internship in your host city. We do our best to tailor your internship to match your background and future goals.
Personalized Attention: We want this experience to be as fulfilling as possible. From the first phone call, we support you and give you all the resources you need to make sure your internship is a success.
Centralized Housing: You’ll be living in accommodations centrally located in Barcelona with other AIFS Abroad interns. Your housing will have access to public transportation, ensuring it is easy to get to and from your internship.
Professional Development: Through one-on-one coaching and webinars, we assist you in improving your professional documents, prepare you for an interview with potential employers, establish internship goals, and discuss your strengths.
Local Staff and Social Events: Our Location Coordinator lives in Barcelona year-round and provides interns with an insider's glimpse of the city. The LC is there to provide 24/7 emergency support and takes all the interns on a range of social events.

Popular Programs

Business Internships

Experiencing and understanding business in a global context is essential for long-term career success. An international business internship is the best way to expand your horizons and learn necessary professional skills. Our business internships abroad are tailored to your prior experience, education, and future goals.

Economics/Finance Internships

Your dream career in the world of finance and economics is within your reach with an international internship through AIFS Abroad. Our interns are placed in firms where they gain invaluable career experience in a competitive industry. Finance internships can include everything from projects in asset management, investment banking, financial services, and private equity.

PR & Marketing Internships

AIFS Abroad provides opportunities for students and young professionals looking for internship experience in the competitive career fields of marketing, public relations, sales marketing, and advertising. Interns are matched through our one-on-one placement process with employers around the globe who are excited to give you hands on experience.

Scholarships

AIFS Study Abroad Scholarships, Grants & Financial Support

We believe a study abroad experience is an essential component of well-rounded university education and we are committed to providing financial assistance to as many students as possible in support of their goal to study abroad. AIFS also offers internship and study abroad + internship blended programs to support the development of personal and professional skills.

Value

$500 - $5,000

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Program Reviews

4.99 Rating

based on 70 reviews

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Rating Spread Intern

5 rating 98.57%
4 rating 1.43%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Growth 4.9
Support 4.95
Fun 4.95
Housing 4.85
Safety 4.95

Good for Students, Building your resume, Photographers

Showing 33 - 40 of 70 reviews

This has been an experience of a lifetime, and something I will never forget. It helped me grow in all aspects in just three months and for that I am forever thankful.

I feel deeply changed and I’m so excited and motivated to continue living life the way that this program has taught me.

Can’t recommend Global experiences enough’

I started out by just wanting to know more information about interning abroad - I just didn’t feel like studying abroad was my thing.

I had a couple of options and after receiving that first phone call from Global experiences I bailed on the rest of my options because GE was so welcoming and warm and I just couldn’t say no to them!

They helped me instantly and there was 100% support from day one and it was great!!

The program all together was lovely, and it made everything easy!

Going to a different country is intimidating but GE made it so exciting and I felt safe and guarded

This is the best decision I’ve ever made in my life!

What would you improve about this program?

Longer programs (instead of 12 weeks it should be a full semester!)

Coming here was one of the biggest and best decisions of my life. I wasn't sure what to expect at first and had a lot of questions and concerns. The GE team made sure I was 100% cared for and answered any and all of the questions I had! My biggest concern when applying is that I wouldn't be able to get an internship specifically in the field of Human Resources as it wasn't one of the placements offered on the site for Barcelona. After communicating with them exactly what I was looking for and seeing what options I had, they found the absolute perfect placement in HR for me in my first-choice location!
I truly felt like they went the extra mile to make sure that I was happy from start to finish (and beyond) with this program. Our program Director, Inma, is so positive, fun and always ready to help! Absolutely anything we needed, she was on top of it. The group excursions with her were always stellar and I feel super lucky to have had her as our Director. Shoutout to Katherine and Chrissie as well for being amazing with staying in contact, checking in, and being so helpful, especially at the early stages of this program! The GE staff is so great!!
I can't even begin to explain how much this program and internship has postitively impacted my life. Not only did I get the wonderful opportunity to explore a whole new world and experience a beautiful culture and make tons of new friends from all around Europe, but now I have impressive job experience under my belt that already has and will continue to help me in my future career endeavors.

As a recent graduate, Global Experiences was a great program to utilize as I am still determining what type of career I'm interested in pursuing and was interested in traveling before settling down. Based off of our conversations throughout the application process, my internship placement was spot on. Although I didn't feel entirely passionate about the work I was assigned, it was an excellent opportunity to learn more about what direction I would actually like to move towards in my future positions. I couldn't have asked for better employers. As I don't speak Spanish, they were always open to helping me throughout any obstacles I encountered, gave me a ton of tips about Barcelona, and were always available to answer any questions I had.

I believe being abroad in general after graduating is a unique and special opportunity. The challenges of traveling most weekends have made me feel more independent than ever before and I believe I'm more adaptable because of this experience. Being away from what I know and am comfortable with has given me the chance to really tune in to what I want out of my future.

To all future participants, definitely take advantage of every moment you have in your city. If you're like me, you'll travel most weekends. Don't let that affect what you experience here in Barcelona or whatever host city you may choose. Even if you're tired after a long day of work, drink that extra shot of espresso, and get out and explore.

Global Experiences was a growing experience packed with sooooooo much fun. It pushed me to travel more, enhance my Spanish-speaking skills and meet new people. For me, this is an experience that I will forever be grateful for. This program has allowed me to learn more about Spanish culture and understand a different way of life than my own. Everyday I was learning something new about Barcelona. My program directors really made my summer worth every penny and were extremely helpful with everything. They were the main reason why this summer was unforgettable.

What would you improve about this program?

I wish there were more group events. It's hard to see other people in the program at times because most participants are working different hours for their internships.

Wow. What an amazing summer. When I signed up for this program I had no idea it was going to be so life changing. I have loved every minute since stepping out of the plane to this beautiful city. Inma, Saskia and all the other interns made the time here worth every single penny. All the social events, the traveling, and just the overall memories have shaped me into a better global citizen and I will be forever grateful for my time here. It's amazing how immersed we get into this whole different culture and I can't help but fall more and more in love with Barcelona. It's gonna be hard leaving, but I know for a fact that I will be back!

What would you improve about this program?

Consistent internships for all interns.

GE has provided me with an experience that I will never forget. The internship placement, the social events, and just the overall immersion of the culture made it worth every single moment. I highly recommend taking advantage of this opportunity because it allows you to grow professionally and culturally. My only regret is not being here longer to explore more of this amazing city. Many thanks to Inma and Saskia, our program advisors, for being so attentive to everyones needs.

Global Experience is the best program that I could have asked for to plan out this whole experience. From the internship to the housing to the planned group trips I could not have had a more perfect time in Barcelona thanks to Global Experiences. I traveled the world, met amazing people, and got the best internship experience that I could have gotten. If you have the opportunity to do this you better not miss out.

If you want to have the most fun you will ever have, if you want to live in a paradise, if you want to intern in the heart of Barcelona then you have to use Global Experiences. GE will place you in an internship that will fit your career interests and they will ensure that you have the time of your life. While they are ensuring you are having a great time, they also are always there for each and every one of us whether it be personal or professional. The people who work for GE are some of the best people I have ever met in my life and I recommend this organization 100 times over.

What would you improve about this program?

To be completely honest, I have nothing negative to say about this program and I wish I could give constructive criticism, but I have none.

Questions & Answers

How old do you have to be?

Answer this question

Do you meet the people on facebook or anything before you go?

When you enroll in the program, you are added to a private Facebook group for your specific program location and session. This means that you have a way to communicate to other interns in the group before your departures, and for some locations you can even arrange to meet up in the airport and take a taxi to your housing together. Hope this helps!

By Global Experiences on June 5, 2019

is it a paid internship?

Hi Alyssa! As with many internships, the vast majority of our internship placements are unpaid. We look for opportunities that allow our interns to gain the best possible experience while adhering to local laws and visa restrictions. If an employer offers you a stipend or other form of compensation you are welcome to accept it. We hope that this helps! - Lydia T. | Student Experience & Marketing...

By Global Experiences on June 4, 2019

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Tell us a little about your experience working with Global Experiences.

I am currently an Account Manager at Go Overseas. Recently, I was able to shadow the Global Experiences program in Barcelona. This interview is a reflection of my experiences during the site visit.

I’ve worked with Global Experiences for the past three years and have met a lot of their stellar employees at various conferences, over Skype calls, etc. The majority of the time, I liaise with the marketing team as my role at Go Overseas encompasses partner success.

Being able to visit Global Experiences in Barcelona provided an excellent opportunity to learn more about their day-to-day programming (an area I’ve been very intrigued to know more about!). I learned a lot from their Barcelona staff -- as their areas of expertise are completely different from my own. There is so much to know within the areas of student development and program operations.

What stood out to you about this program specifically?

Being able to step away from my desk and see what it’s like to manage and nurture interns while they’re abroad opened my eyes a lot. As I’m in touch with hundreds of organizations (dozens of intern abroad companies alone) I had a hunch that there was an immense amount of heart (and sweat!) that went into these programs -- from the initial interview, to the placement, all the way through to job references in the future. I had no idea just how much, though.

What stood out to me about Global Experience’s program in Barcelona was the amount of care and concern that their team pours into their participants. Even well beyond their internship abroad -- these students are supported and have a lifelong network to reference.

View Entire Interview

What were your observations about the current interns in Barcelona?

To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect meeting the current interns. Would they be mature? Hardworkers? Travel-savvy students? Or the opposite? One of the many takeaways that I learned from the GE Barcelona Director was how much work goes into their intern selection process prior to even interviewing for the internships.

When an intern is selected for the program, the GE team works incredibly hard to find an internship placement in the student’s field of interest AND matches the type of work that they want to do day-to-day. On top of that, they’re vetting organizations that will provide a nurturing and positive experience for their interns.

GE doesn’t want to partner with an organization in Barcelona that gives their interns “busy work” or doesn’t foster a learning environment to further their students’ professional development skills. The Barcelona Director consistently takes advantage of local networking opportunities and events to find great organizations for her interns to be placed in.

To further this -- if the intern doesn’t have any Spanish skills, Global Experiences seeks to find a supervisor whom the student can effectively communicate with.

Once an intern is placed in a company, the GE Barcelona team checks in on the student's and supervisor’s progress and assists where they can, while fostering the intern’s independence and professional development skills.

Throughout the internship, the GE students have opportunities to participate in several cultural events around Barcelona. I had the privilege to experience Gaudí's famous Park Güell with the current cohort.

Needless to say, the GE team works very hard to meet all their participant, placement and program criteria. Thus, the type of student that this program attracts is typically driven, culturally-sensitive and mature. I personally experienced this with the cohort that I met.

Any advice for future interns based on your site visit?

Learn a little Spanish! Even better, if you’re able to hone basic conversation skills ahead of applying for the Global Experiences program -- the internship placement opportunities will be even greater. Spanish is not a requirement for this program by any means, but I wanted to mention this as advice I’d want to know so I could maximize my planning process and my time abroad.

Not to mention, getting around Barcelona and traveling throughout Spain is a lot more fun when you can talk to the locals in Spanish. It’s a great ice-breaker and being bilingual is a very advantageous skill to acquire (or hone) regardless.

Alexandra Grund

2014 Alum

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Brian Brinkman

Program

AIFS Abroad Internships in Barcelona, Spain

Job Title

Internship Program Consultant

After living in South Korea for a number of years, along with extensive travels through SE Asia and Western Europe, Brian returned to the States with a goal to "pay it forward." Travel is one of his favorite things in the world, and he feels incredibly fortunate to help college students discover the benefits of travel. In his free time, Brian can be found sampling the local cuisine in whatever city he's currently living in, training for the nextmarathon, and seeing as much live music as possible.

What position do you hold at Global Experiences? What has been your career path so far?

Brian Brinkman

I am a Program Consultant at Global Experiences. I work with students who are interested in our internships to ensure we can provide them with the experience they're seeking. I get to chat with students from all over the world, and help them to achieve their own personal and career-based goals! It's incredibly rewarding.

My career path has been unique. Upon graduating college, my number one goal was to travel. I held a lot of odd-jobs in various locations around the Pacific Northwest, where I learned how to cook in a seasonal/farm-to-table restaurant, and then spent two years teaching English in South Korea.

After completing a five-month backpacking trip through SE Asia, India, and the US, my wife and I decided to settle down. I came to work at Global Experiences because I know how fortunate I was to have the opportunity to travel and follow my passions. It's my hope to help today's college students gain the skills needed to follow their own dreams, while also experiencing everything our big ole' world has to offer!

What country have you always wanted to visit?

It's impossible for me to pick just ONE country, so these are my top 3 :)

Boating

1. Iran: I was an Islamic Studies minor in college, and had the great benefit of learning about the fascinating and misunderstood history of Iran. From its megalomaniac Persian past, to its cosmopolitan east-meets-west mid-60s & 70s, to today's fractured state, Iran is one of the most mysterious places on Earth, and one I feel I have to see to really understand.

2. Russia: I was born at the tail-end of the Cold War. Russia has always been this ominous no-man's land my whole life. It's vast and beautiful and so similar to America, and yet so different all at once. Another one I have to see to really grasp and understand.

3. Myanmar: After spending three months in SE Asia last Spring (2014), my itinerary forced me onward to India. Myanmar, having just opened its borders, is the last untouched gem of SE Asia. More similar to Laos and Cambodia than it's more popular neighbors, Thailand and Vietnam, Myanmar will surely explode with tourism before long. I have to see it before that happens!

Why is language learning and cultural immersion important to you?

I grew up in a small suburban town just SW of Chicago. It was as white-bred middle class as a place could be. While I was thankful for the safety and security as a child, as I grew up I began to resent coming from such a place that increasingly felt sterile and boring.

Camel Safari

Cultural immersion showed me how different, yet, at the same time, how similar the rest of the world was. It showed me how many different ways one could live in this world. It showed me the varying definitions of success. It showed me how critical love and understanding and acceptance is. It showed me how much could be overcome simply through conversation and listening. It also showed me the true benefits of community and family.

Upon returning from my travels, I always feel even more fortunate for the family I have, the love I've been surrounded by, and rich with understanding for the interconnected human community we're all apart of.

What unique qualities does your company possess?

Here are two key qualities I see here at Global Experiences that make us an effective and special organization.

First and foremost, we are a group of experienced travelers. At every level of our company, we are staffed with people who have lived and worked abroad.

This kind of experience gives us a first-hand understanding of both the benefits of international travel, and the importance of overcoming the challenges that inherently come with international travel.

Boating

Moreover, we all love the revelations and learning opportunities that come from travel. That's something that can reach our interns and the larger community within International Education.

Secondly, we are dedicated to innovation which has shaped and defined us since our inception. We are the original international internship provider, and we continue to redefine this aspect of our larger field.

Our office is a constant incubator and laboratory for what is possible within International Internships. This dedication to constantly making the experience of International Education better and more effective, is one that will have far-reaching implications on this generation of college students!

Location

Location:

Barcelona

Currency:

Euro

Weather:

Jan-Mar

61 F / 41 F

Apr-Jun

77 F / 48 F

Jul-Sep

84 F / 57 F

Oct-Dec

72 F / 43 F

Airports:

Barcelona–El Prat

( BCN )

Whether you prefer beaches, buildings, or history, Barcelona is the place to be. Spend your time admiring Gaudi's work at La Sagrada Familia, walking down the Mar Bella beach, or learning about the history in Catalonia.

About AIFS Abroad

AIFS Abroad is a leading provider of study abroad programs. Since 1964, more than 1.5 million students have traveled abroad with AIFS Abroad. Comprehensive program fees make it convenient for students to study abroad and intern abroad to experience all that the world has to offer. Celebrating 60 years of service in 2024, AIFS Abroad has the...

Program Details

Pricing

Program Highlights

Business Internships 

Economics/Finance Internships 

PR & Marketing Internships 

AIFS Study Abroad Scholarships, Grants & Financial Support

Alumni Interviews

Anna Morris

Tell us a little about your experience working with Global Experiences.

What stood out to you about this program specifically?

What were your observations about the current interns in Barcelona?

Any advice for future interns based on your site visit?

Staff Interviews

Brian Brinkman

What position do you hold at Global Experiences? What has been your career path so far?

What country have you always wanted to visit?

Why is language learning and cultural immersion important to you?

What unique qualities does your company possess?

Business Internships

Economics/Finance Internships

PR & Marketing Internships