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Absolute Internship

Why choose Absolute Internship?

Absolute Internship is an award-winning global internship program. We offer students the opportunity to broaden their professional and social network whilst gaining invaluable skills in their industry of choice. Our internships cover a broad range of sectors, with opportunities in business, finance, marketing, public relations, pharma-healthcare, the nonprofit sector, and more. Each internship is tailored to align with your interests and skill set, offering hands-on experience that helps you stand out to future employers.

Since our inception in 2009 we have matched over 12,000 students with 1500+ corporate partners in world-class cities including Barcelona, Beijing, Hong Kong, Madrid, Paris, Lisbon, London, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Stockholm and Tokyo. We have been featured in The New York Times, BBC News, Forbes Magazine, Financial Times, and Bloomberg as a worldwide leader for internship programs.

Travel. Learn. Grow. Make your internship an experience you’ll never forget!

Impact 🌎

As an organization, we have a crucial corporate responsibility to sustainable change and reflect this through our thorough office recycling plan, sustainable travel plans for our programs, the dedication of our team to ethical diet practices, and monthly team volunteering efforts to make the cities in which we live a little more clean and brighter for future generations.

We take pride in our commitment to Diversity and Sustainability, and support you in your own individual efforts!

Reviews

Miguel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Incredibly rewarding experience

This was an incredibly rewarding experience overall. I was able to build meaningful connections in both my professional and personal life, which made my time abroad even more valuable and memorable. It also gave me the opportunity to apply what I had been studying in a completely new and unfamiliar environment, helping me grow both academically and professionally. I gained confidence in my abilities and developed new skills that I know will benefit me in the future. This kind of hands-on experience has become more difficult to find in my city, where opportunities in my industry have recently become more limited, making this experience even more impactful.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
One of the most unique foods I tried in Sweden was herring. I was a bit hesitant at first, especially since it was fish served from a jar, but it turned out to be absolutely delicious. I especially enjoyed it when paired with traditional sides like boiled potatoes, eggs, rye bread, and pickles, which really brought out the flavors.
Pros
  • Work-life Balance
  • Innovative Environment
  • Cultural Experience
Cons
  • High cost of living
  • Adjustment Period
  • Sunlight adjustment (later became a pro)
William
2/5
No, I don't recommend this program

Good internship and city but everything else was bad

Overall, the internship placement was very good, but the on-site program coordinators were terrible. The internship was in my area of study and provided a alot of professional growth, but the included trips left a alot to be desired. We were put in a hostel during one of our trips and were constantly nagged by the program coordinators if any of us broke a rule, even by one inch. We were constantly shouted at, and it created a tough environment. There was one coordinator who was respectful the whole time, but the others had an obviously poor attitude and should not be leading us, as it was most of our first time in Japan.

Overall, the program coordinator's attitude had a poor reflection of Absolute Internship and created a tense, zero-tolerance environment throughout the duration of the program. To Absolute Internship, hire coordinators with a good attitude. The crazy part is that there are very few negative reviews. I would advise using Absolute Internship only to be placed in an internship and do everything else on your own.

Astrid
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing Experience

I absolutely loved my time in Spain. I was able to create lifelong relationships by experiencing this new culture with my fellow interns while simultaneously gaining work experience. It truly opened my eyes to the world and helped shape me as a professional and as a person. I would and have recommended it to a friend. It was life-defining and was one of the best times of my life. I truly believe everyone must take on an experience like this. Everyone must go abroad and immerse themselves in the culture.

What was your funniest moment?
My funnest experience was exploring the city with my follow interns, getting lost together, adapting to a new culture, and just living!
Pros
  • Guided tours
  • Housing
  • Internship
Cons
  • A bit pricey
Emily
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life Changing 🌍✈️

My internship experience in Madrid through Absolute Internship was nothing short of life-changing and exceeded all my expectations. Professionally, my placement with a dynamic local company gave me real, hands-on responsibilities from day one. I was able to apply my academic knowledge to real-world projects, honing crucial skills in communication, problem-solving, and cross-cultural collaboration that I know will be invaluable for my future career.

Beyond the work itself, living in Madrid was an incredible adventure. The city is so vibrant, and the program's organized activities made it easy to connect with a community of fellow interns and fully immerse myself in the local culture. Exploring the city's rich history, enjoying the amazing food, and navigating a new environment built my confidence in a way I never anticipated.

What truly sets Absolute Internship apart is its incredible support system. From the pre-departure guidance to the on-the-ground assistance in Madrid, the team was always available, professional, and genuinely invested in our well-being. They made what could have been a daunting experience feel seamless and secure. This program provided the perfect blend of professional development and personal growth. I can't recommend it enough to anyone who wants to take their career and life to the next level through an international experience.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
A spaghetti tortilla 🤣
Grant
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Singapore Internship Review

Singapore with Absolute Internship was a truly life-changing experience. The housing was incredible—fantastic building and amenities all on top of a mall! The convenience was unbelievable, and it was possible to get to most places in Singapore from the residence without stepping outside. The internship itself was so rewarding and developmental. My company balanced my work so well, ensuring I got all the relevant experience I could want while giving me plenty of time to explore Singapore. Absolute's team's communication was fantastic as well. At one point, I felt underutilized at my internship, so I reached out to see what I could do. Within a week, they had communicated with my bosses, and I was getting put onto more tasks, more leadership in my internship, and everything was incredibly useful and fruitful after that. The helpfulness of the staff, the facilities and resources Absolute offered, not to mention the amazing weekend trips and the experience of my internship, made me 100% confident that my decision was right—that Absolute Internship is truly the best abroad internship program out there.

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

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

Alumni Spotlight: Jack

Why did you choose this program?

I choose this program because I was keen to kickstart my career while having a fun adventure. Aside from the stunning architecture and food readily available in Madrid; this program provided a unique opportunity to immerse myself in a completely different environment and gain a better sense of myself personally and professionally.
 

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The people at Absolute Internship were a great help in finding a host organisation to work for and throughout the onboarding process; talking with them through the process certainly helped me stay on track and excited!

On my own I had to provide an updated CV and portfolio of work to demonstrate my capabilities. More importantly I also had to organise my travel itinerary!
 

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Just go. That’s the one piece of advice I always give to people considering opportunities like this program, you can learn a lot about yourself.

Taking this into account don’t just expect a change in location to affect you because it will be over before you know it. Be mindful of the new culture and respect them, your in their home now while being a representative of your own country.
 

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

A typical day for me would involve waking up and getting ready for work, a morning coffee and then a short commute to work via metro.

During the day I’d work on various tasks relating to projects the firm had ongoing, always getting advice and feedback from my colleagues who also provided mentoring in Spanish architectural practise.

Later in the evening I’d cook dinner and catch up with the others in my program at the accomodation.
 

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I’d say my biggest fear was a sense of imposter syndrome. Considering I had recently graduated uni at the time with limited prior experience I was unsure about heading into practise full time and how to actually put theory into practise.

To overcome this I’d remind myself that since I’m on the program I actually am qualified enough. During work I’d always ask my colleagues for advice and help, especially when language needed translating!
 

What is your favourite story to tell from your time overseas?

My favourite moment would Definitely be one day when it just clicked that I actually am capable of working. I was talking with a colleague and the way she said it made me realise that although I’m only at the start of my career, I’m quite a capable “arquitecto”.

Later that night I was quite fortunate to see Real Madrid play at the Bernabeu with a mate and the atmosphere was incredible, I’ve never experienced any crowd roaring like that and I’ll never forget it.

 

Staff Interviews

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

Anna Robles

Job Title
Senior Operations Manager, Faculty-Led Programs
Originally from California, USA and currently based in Barcelona, Spain, Anna earned a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from San Diego State University. Her experiences during two exchange programs in Spain, both in high school and college, sparked her decision to move abroad and pursue a career in international operations.
Maggie smiles happily for a photo

Staff Spotlight: Maggie

What is your favorite travel memory?

One of my favorite travel memories is a trip I took to Stockholm, Sweden with my grandparents to meet our long-distance Swedish relatives. We spent time with the entire extended family, explored the village where our ancestors once lived, and visited old family headstones. It was a significant and unique experience, and I’m grateful that I was able to share that moment with my grandparents.
 

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I’ve grown a lot in confidence. The longer I’ve worked in operations, the more comfortable I’ve become handling complex tasks such as pricing programs and responding to student emergencies onsite. I’ve also become more culturally aware through working with people from all over the world — from Italy and Seoul to Morocco and Vietnam.
 

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

My favorite story is about a student who completed her internship in Stockholm. At the end of the summer, she was offered a full-time job and decided to stay. Since then, she has continued living in Sweden, improved her Swedish, worked for several companies, and even earned dual American-Swedish citizenship!
 

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

If I could join any program, I would choose Seoul. I’ve always loved Korean culture and cuisine, and spending an extended period in Asia would be an incredible opportunity to challenge myself, step outside my comfort zone, and experience a completely different way of life. While there, I’d love to take a cultural trip to Jeju Island to explore its nature and traditions.
 

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

What makes our company unique is how young and motivated our team is. We work really well together, genuinely care about one another’s growth, and bring a lot of enthusiasm to everything we do. I’m especially proud of how we collaborate and keep the office atmosphere positive through birthday celebrations, holiday parties, and team bonding events that let us connect beyond work.
 

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I believe the biggest factor in being a successful company is caring about the team’s work–life balance while also providing clear opportunities for growth. A great company encourages continuous learning, offers training and support, and helps each person build new skills with every role they take on.
 

Professional Associations

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