Sun Devil Portal
Global Internship Program
Third-party Internship Organizations
Finding an internship abroad can be a hard process, requiring students to be very proactive and diligent in their search. While many ASU students find overseas internships directly with an employer, this is not the only way to secure a placement. There is a series of organizations that help students to find overseas internships for a fee. Such fee may vary depending on the structure, length, and location of the program, as well as the level of support and amenities provided.
Why should I pay a fee to intern abroad?
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Fee-based programs can be a good option for students who are looking for a customized experience or for those who could not land an internship directly with an employer. Usually this is the option for freshmen and sophomores, but students of all other standings can take part as well.
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​It is important to highlight that these fee-based programs usually provide local on-the-ground support, social events with other student interns, cultural enrichment activities, and more infrastructure than one would have available when participating in an independent internship directly with a company. These organizations usually assist in securing reputable housing, and some include housing (and even some meals) in their program fee. One benefit of going through a fee-based program is that they have broad local networks in their locations and can often place students in unique internships that they might not have otherwise found on their own, providing customized experiences that match their skills and interests.
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Internships can be paid, non-paid or fee-based. Any one of these three types is a resume booster, being a great experience that can be shared in a job interview, for instance. Thereby, when looking for full-time post-graduation jobs, one's experience from previous internships may be crucial (most times the deciding factor between students with the same academic curriculum). Indeed, there are some recruiters who believe that internships are more valuable than GPA's and academic transcripts - but keeping both GPA and internship experience at high levels is a task that a Sun Devil must strive for.
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Although these fee-based programs involve the payment of a certain fee to the organization, the host company may pay the intern a compensation. Often, these organizations charge placement fees for the service, which are usually minimal when compared with for-profit internship services. Then, the net total may be positive or negative depending on the organization and the host company. In other words, in the end of the day, one could pay for an internship or actually be paid.
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Organizations
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Paulo (Global Ambassador) explored certain organizations and recommend the following to our Sun Devils. The student will need to research each program provider to get the details of their locations, types of internships, fees, and other program logistics. If a student decide to pursue one of these options, he/she may apply directly through their websites. As always, if any question or concern arise, Paulo would be more than glad to help.
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AIESEC is an international, not-for-profit, non-political organization run by students and recent graduates at institutions of higher education across 124 countries. AIESEC provides professional internships and volunteer experiences all over the world that encourage cross-cultural understanding and challenge young people to develop themselves and contribute to communities around the world.
All AIESEC internship and volunteer programs require a program fee. This fee can be seen just under the opportunity you're applying for and is payable upon matching to that opportunity. Fees range from $500 USD to $750 USD. Some opportunities are paid, covering housing, meals, and/or transportation. The program fee does not include flights, insurance, or visa costs.
Founded in 1963, Cultural Vistas is a nonprofit exchange organization promoting global understanding and collaboration among individuals and institutions.
Cultural Vistas offers customized summer and year-long internship placements around the world (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, and Switzerland). Internship placements are based on each student’s skill set, career aspirations, and experience as determined by an interview with Cultural Vistas staff. Participants receive assistance crafting a foreign language resume, pre-departure cultural information, work authorization services (if applicable), housing assistance in-country support, and a reentry toolkit for marketing their experiences to US employers. Financial assistance is available for individuals participating in these unpaid internships through the Cultural Vistas Scholarship Fund.
IAESTE is a global organization that pormotes intercultural exchange between students in STEM fields over 80 countries. All IAESTE participants receive a stipend that covers at least the cost of living (housing, transportation and food) in their host city. Housing accommodations and other administrative services, such as assistance with the visa process, are provided by the local IAESTE organization in the host country. Additional in-country support is provided by a network of local student-volunteers, who organize cultural activities and assist with logistics. Program fee is very reasonable ($775). Applications are due in December each year.
UBELONG is the world's leading social organization for people seeking affordable, high-impact volunteering and learning opportunities abroad. One can choose several volunteering opportunities in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. Positions are unpaid and generally not technical in nature, but provide great opportunity to be involved with NGOs, community organizations, non-profits, and social enterprises. One decide when to start and how long to serve.
Connect-123 links students with career-related internships in Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Shanghai, Barcelona and Dublin in a wide range of fields including engineering, human rights, business, education, health care, journalism, social work and sustainable development. All programs are unpaid. For all programs, Connect-123 provides substantial local support, including secure housing, logistics support and regular social programs, ranging from cultural tours to group community service activities. They also advise students prior to departure and provide ongoing support and guidance once abroad, from advice and mentoring to hands-on help in case of an emergency. Programs run throughout the year and both program dates and durations are flexible according to students’ schedules.
BlueEnergy's Global Leadership Program gives participants the opportunity to explore award-winning community development models, apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations, grow personally and professionally, and create local impact. Participants work alongside a diverse team of other participants, local staff, fellows, and Nicaraguan community beneficiaries. This unpaid program is developed in the summer in 8 weeks. Program fees include domestic airfare from Managua to Bluefields, housing, food, internet, laundry, and program activities.
ImmerQi was established in 1992 and is headquartered in Beijing, China. Their team of local and international staff arrange internships and co-ops for students within their network of over 200 national and international companies across 14 key industry sectors in Beijing and Shanghai. No Mandarin language knowledge is required. Many positions provide nominal stipends. Internships and co-ops run Spring, Summer and Fall with monthly intakes and 1 - 6 month programs.