Asia Internship Program (AIP) Reviews

AIP gave me the opportunity to have an internship in Bangkok. They were very supportive throughout the whole process and even continued to stay in touch throughout my time there. The internship opportunity was exactly what I was looking for as it pertained to what I wanted to do in the future. It gave me hands on experience and gave me the confidence for when that time comes. I highly recommend AIP if you are interested in an internship abroad. Not only do you gain experience but you can travel.

I got to work at a very cool startup. My CEO and Co-workers were extremely cool and welcoming. They treated me like family since the first day and really took care of me, sharing their culture and also creating an environment for me to learn and grow.

I was included in almost all activities, and being in such a close-knit team really opened my eyes, and I got to be part of big decisions like being included in meetings with investors, product renewals, and even inbound interviews!

It was a great experience overall. I would like to thank Seth, my account manager, for really understanding what I was looking for and getting me this opportunity at this great company.

My AIP Internship in Bangkok was such an incredible experience and I was so sad when it came to an end. Every aspect of the internship, from the initial interview to the completion of my placement was amazing. The staff an AIP are so lovely and helpful, any concern or issue I had they were always there to help me. I never had to worry about anything for long as they were always so quick to help me. The company I was placed in align with who I am as a person and a student so well, I can't imagine myself in any other company. The entire process starts to finish was fantastic and I can't recommend it enough

Overall Experience: Fair to Poor
My experience with AIP was significantly below expectations, primarily due to a lack of clear communication, poor logistical planning, and a questionable internship placement. While some aspects were eventually resolved, the initial and ongoing issues created a stressful and disappointing two-month stay in Singapore.

Pre-Departure Communication and Planning: Poor
The communication leading up to my departure was a major point of frustration. I frequently had to send multiple follow-up emails (two to three times) to my agent to get a response to my questions. This was in stark contrast to their quick response time when they needed something from me. This one-sided communication created a sense of disorganisation and left me feeling unprepared.
A significant issue was the last-minute confirmation of my accommodation. I was not informed of where I would be staying until just a few days before my flight, which is an unreasonably short timeframe for a two-month international stay.

Accommodation: Unacceptable
One of my primary requests was to have a kitchen, as two months of eating out in a city like Singapore is expensive. I was initially told that for the first month, I would be placed in a hotel without a kitchen or a washing machine, but that my subsequent accommodation could include a kitchen. This plan was not followed. Instead, my stay at the initial hotel was simply extended, forcing me to continue paying for all my meals and laundry, which cost $16 per load. This was a significant and unexpected financial burden.
Furthermore, the room itself was inadequate. It lacked a wardrobe, so I was forced to live out of my suitcase for the entire duration of my stay. My clothes were either stored in the luggage or on a rack.
It became clear that the promise of a kitchen was never a real possibility. I was informed after the first month that a kitchen is only provided for stays of three months or more. This is a critical piece of information that AIP knew before my departure and should have communicated to me upfront, rather than putting me in a difficult situation I could not plan for.

Internship Placement and Professional Experience: Unprofessional and Disorganised
My first internship placement was with a company that was questionable. The work environment was highly unprofessional and led to me quitting just two weeks in, a sentiment shared by other interns who also left the company. We were working in a shared office space, and because the company had more than the allowed number of interns for their space (3 employees maximum), we were instructed to sneak in through a back door and were not allowed to enter as a group through the main entrance. We also then wouldn’t come in the office everyday so as a guidance it was around twice a week.

Following this, I was left without an internship for a few weeks before being placed in a remote role. While the second company was better, working remotely from a coffee shop or my hotel room was not the immersive, international experience I had paid for. The purpose of traveling across the world for an internship is to be in a professional, in-person environment, not to be isolated and working from a personal computer.

Internal Communication and Contradictory Policies: Disorganised
The internal communication within AIP appears to be highly inefficient. I was assigned two separate agents: one for my internship placement and one for my accommodation and overall stay. When discussing compensation and refunds, I received contradictory information. One agent suggested that if I was not placed in a new internship, I would be eligible for a 50% refund, along with a refund for the remaining accommodation fees (which did not happen in the end as I was placed in a second internship). However, when I brought up the possibility of compensation for the high costs of daily meals and laundry, I was abruptly told that AIP never issues refunds, citing their company policy. This clear contradiction highlights a lack of internal alignment and transparency.

Recommendation
Based on my experience, I would be hesitant to recommend AIP. The program is poorly organised, and the communication is subpar. My trip was marred by preventable issues with accommodation and an initial unprofessional work placement.
If you are considering an internship with AIP, I strongly advise you to gather all the information you need and get everything in writing before committing. Make sure all your specific needs and expectations are clearly outlined and confirmed to avoid being blindsided by unexpected and costly problems.

Thanks to AIP I had a wonderful experience interning in Taiwan. The staff were helpful and very nice. I could always ask them questions. These two months in Taiwan are something I will always remember and treasure! I had a great time and would recommend this to anyone!

AIP helped from creating my resume to finding companies to interview at. They made the process very easy and helped ease any worries I had. With the program I chose, they helped find great accommodation too. They would answer any questions I had.

I had an incredible 10 week internship in Taiwan thanks to the Asia Internship Program! They provided me with so much support from sourcing companies that aligned with what I was looking for and giving additional support when I was in Taiwan. They also responded to all my emails and messages quickly and promptly which helped me ease any concerns I had. The whole process was relatively stress-free. The overseas experience was truly invaluable and I recommend anyone looking for an overseas internship to give AIP a try!

I had an incredible internship experience, all thanks to AIP! I feel truly fortunate to have been given the opportunity to intern at such a unique, dynamic, and inspiring company in Taiwan. The experience not only allowed me to grow professionally but also gave me the chance to immerse myself in a new culture, meet amazing people, and gain real-world experience. I learned so much and made unforgettable memories. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone looking for an impactful and enriching internship abroad!

I had a great experience in Seoul these past few months thanks to AIP. I interned for five months at a marketing company right outside of Seoul, South Korea. I had a great supervisor and I got to work on so many cool projects and videos, collaborating with other teams in the company as well. My language skills improved a lot and made unforgettable connections with my Korean coworkers as well. I will miss the food and the people dearly, thank you Herlyn and Kate so much for this amazing opportunity!

I had the incredible opportunity to intern at a private equity firm based in Bangkok, Thailand, and I can confidently say it was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had to date. During the internship, I was exposed to real-world investment processes—from deal sourcing and market research to financial modeling. I gained hands-on experience analyzing companies across various sectors, with a particular focus on emerging markets in Southeast Asia. Working in Bangkok added an extra layer of richness to the experience. The city is dynamic, culturally vibrant, and great for young people explore, grow, and meet new people. Being able to engage with the regional market while living in such an energetic city was truly a unique advantage. I would highly recommend this internship to anyone interested in emerging markets and cultural exposure.

I had an excellent experience with AIP for my summer internship in Tokyo, Japan. The team was present and helpful throughout every step of the process, from the interviewing and placement stage, to pre-arrival materials and preparation, and finally any assistance that I required while being here in the country. They helped me solve any problems I faced and were constantly supportive. I would recommend AIP to anyone looking to complete an internship experience overseas, it was truly fantastic and allowed me to gain valuable professional insights.