Gap year international internships
An internship abroad is ideal if you want to gain valuable work experience outside Britain. You can get to know another country and culture, travel afterwards – and when you return home you’ll have great skills for your CV.
Internships in the EU
The EU is promoting business cooperation between its member countries, and you may be able to benefit from this by finding an internship in Europe. The British Council is involved in social, environmental and cultural exchange schemes for young people, mostly based in Europe. These are usually unpaid except for a small allowance, but accommodation and travel costs are covered.
There are many opportunities at the EU headquarters in Brussels, if you’re interested in politics and international affairs. Apply directly to the European Commission, or get in touch with your MEP. BUNAC runs some internships in countries including the USA, Canada and Australia.
Agencies that charge a fee to arrange international internships
If you’re prepared to pay a fee, some agencies will find you an internship abroad. Many are paid – you won’t necessarily earn much, but it should be more than your original payment.
AIESEC is an international student organisation that arranges traineeships in 88 countries. Placements are available in management, development, technical fields and education. It will match you to a company and arrange your work visa; you will have to pay for travel and insurance. A few placements are unpaid, but practically all include accommodation and food.
Using an agency can be a great way to find opportunities, particularly in a field where competition is fierce even for internships. You could get journalism experience working on a newspaper in La Paz or a music magazine in Bangalore. Take a look at the following links for ideas but, again, make sure you are aware of any fees involved.
- Explore jobs and volunteer internships from i-to-i
- Explore internships in New Zealand Internship Institute New Zealand
Choose a volunteer project that provides experience relevant to your prospective career, and get the best of both worlds – an internship and the satisfaction of supporting a worthwhile cause. If you want to work in the USA, going through an agency may be the best way to get a work permit, as they are usually awarded only to people with a job offer.
