Program Reviews

Essentially, it's as good as you make it. If your in the position I was in (summer before college) if your looking for meaningful job experience it's very hard to find - especially in a local company.
It worked for me because I was interested in a language experience which I definitely managed to get at the local company but i didn't get too much useful job experience from my job.
The social scene is fun, I mean, your in one of the biggest international cities in the world - but don't go looking for an authentic Chinese experience. It's different than what you might be used to but shanghai is not representative of china as a whole.

If your looking for a meaningful experience that might set you apart from other people this is definitely a good place to start. Perhaps on one recomendation would be to consider looking for your own housing. The provided for housing is great and convenient but it's outrageously expensive (it's an extended stay hotel after all). There are options that are essentially as good for 1/4 of the cost.

The organisation of next step and the service they provided enabled me to experience the most interesting and exciting several months of my life.
From day one i felt straight at home in a foreign atmosphere. most people would find it a very nervous first few days in China, but they flew by fantastically. I was taken to my accommodation, which was very spacious and comfortable along with two room mates, whom are close friends of mine and stay in contact with after my time in China. We all enjoyed the nightlife, which in my opinion is the greatest in the world, whilst being the most fun and crazy lifestyle, it feels very safe in Shanghai. I have many stories from my times there and my friends are all very keen to go to Shanghai as a result.
The next few months flew by. the lifestyle suited me perfectly, always a place to eat and things to do whilst in Shanghai.
Living amongst the locals was also a great experience for me and next step have done a great job in setting up internships for me and accommodation but most importantly helping me to settle in. My work was in the financial sector, and being only eighteen i may have felt slightly intimidated working in such a country in such a workplace, but it was honestly the most comfortable workplace i have worked in my whole life.
As for the local commuting you get used to the occasional rudeness, however i began to really enjoy commuting with the locals, i love to feel like a foreigner and to experience there lifestyle and i really enjoyed living in China.
I thoroughly recommend this experience and next step connections. I intend to apply again in the summer, I have also visited every holiday i have had as my girlfriend lives in shanghai and will spend a lot of time in the future in Shanghai all as a result of my choice to go with next step connections :)

My internship was a fantastic experience in the fields of both research, and clinical medicine. I had a lovely time enjoying the exciting city I had a chance to live in, and I had a great time visiting the Great Wall of China.

NSC definitely facilitated my internship in Shanghai. To explore a city as diverse as Shanghai, you need a counseling company like NSC to make things easy and smooth. The staff there are really genial and patient.The program provided service from trivial arrangements, such as buying train tickets, to finding housing. Through NSC, I got the chance to meet interns from all over the world. The program ties us all together and absolutely gave us an unforgettable experience!

Doing an internship with NSC was a great learning experience. I have to say I got more than I bargained for in so many ways!

From the minute I landed in Shanghai I had a ready made network of friends-the very friendly NSC staff and other amazing interns from all over the world.

I was also provided me with an excellent internship in one of the best Events management companies in Shanghai.
NSC also organised networking and social events on a weekly basis, that gave me the opportunity to fully experience Shanghai and make the most of my stay there.
My experience in Shanghai gave me an edge over other graduates and helped my career tremendously. I left China not only with a great internship experience to talk about all year, but also with a great network of contacts and friendships that will last a lifetime.

NSC Shanghai Internship was an absolutely wonderful experience. The NSC staff was extremely helpful and really made the transition to Shanghai a smooth one. They made sure that we were taken care of and had the necessary resources to have a successful experience. My internship was also a great experience. The language barrier did create some small limitations however, I loved the company I interned for and was able to gain some very valuable experience that will be beneficial for me as I begin my career.

My experiences in Hong Kong this summer were amazing. I was not expecting so much from NextStep in terms of immersing us in Hong Kong's culture. NSC took further steps to create activities that were both fun and inclusive, showing me as much of Hong Kong as I could fit in my time there!

The next step connection internship program is unique in the sense it offers complete support from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave China. Not was I only able to gain exposure to a growing industry in China but also enjoy the various cultures, tours organized by Next Step and meet people with so many different diverse backgrounds. I enjoyed every bit of my time in Shanghai and came back with great lasting friendship with my fellow interns and chinese locals.

I was initially very disappointed that my internship didn't go through. I had a position set up and they fell through the cracks last minute. I was actually considering pulling out of the program since I am in Hong Kong all the time anyways so I didnt' feel like I needed the internship to make it-so to speak. I was definitely wrong. Not only did I have a great time. I made the most of my internship even though it wasn't exactly what I wanted. I made some great contacts that I am keeping up with and I am now going to touch base with them when I return in a month or so. I think this may lead to a job after graduation.

I lived at home because I have family in Hk, so I didn't stay in the housing but I did visit it. I did go out with my classmates. I didn't have any difficulties because it wasn't anything new. Basically it was eye opening just that it my experience was so different just because of the internship and activities our professor organized that made it better than the 2 times a year I'm usually there.

As an undergraduate, experience in my future field is paramount. Next Step Connections not only gave me an opportunity within one of the world’s top airlines, Cathay Pacific, but also allowed me to meet amazing people from all over the world.

The internship was invaluable and instead of shadowing and watching other colleagues work, I was given real tasks which impacted the company. Regular events were organised by Next Step Connections to meet other interns who have signed up, see all the attractions and ultimately have some fun whilst you’re there.

I would definitely, and already have, recommended Next Step Connections to anyone looking for an internship in Hong Kong. It’s more than just an internship; it’s an experience.