Work, Intern, and Volunteer Abroad

The Office of International Education (OIE) provides this website solely as a service to Richmond students and alumni for their informational and educational purposes. By listing various hyperlinks to external websites, the OIE is not endorsing any organizations owning those websites, nor is the OIE guaranteeing the validity or value of the information contained therein. Please consult the web sites or contact persons listed for the most up-to-date information. Students interested in gaining academic credit should contact the appropriate academic department or the Center for Civic Engagement to determine whether credit can be arranged. Other work, volunteer, and internship resources may be found in the International Resource Center (IRC) in Puryear 114.

Work and Volunteer

Asia and Africa

Australia/NZ

Canada

Europe

Latin America

Worldwide

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Work Tools

Internships Via UR Partner Universities/Programs

Universidad Blas Pascal, Argentina
Blas Pascal offers unpaid internships in business and political science during the academic year for qualified students. For more information, see Michele Cox in the Office of International Education.

Macquarie University, Australia
UR students who study at Macquarie may enroll in a work-based, non-paid, internship for academic credit. Past internship placements have covered the following areas: communications, media, event management, strategic business planning, finance, information technology, environmental and marine science, NGP projects, human resources, marketing, psychology, and logistics. Most internships take place over a period of 12 weeks. See the Macquarie Internship Website for further details.

University of Melbourne, Australia
UR students who study at Melbourne may apply for a practical work placement or field studies in an Australian cultural context. Each internship has individual requirements and credits may vary significantly. Areas include business and management, education, humanities and social sciences, fieldwork and other experiential options. Placements are competitive, based largely on GPA.

London School of Economics, England
The London School of Economics offers visiting students the opportunity for a unique political internship experience via the Hansard Scholars Programme.  If selected, you might be based in a party's headquarters, or the office of a MP or Peer in the Houses of Parliament. You might be helping to cover political developments as they emerge for a newspaper, news agency, or broadcast news channel. You might be in the policy unit of a major pressure group or think tank or NGO, drafting briefings and aiming to get the views of your organisation heard by decision makers in Government and beyond. For further information, visit http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/studyandscholars.  

IES-Paris, France
IES offers 3-credit internships to students with advanced French language proficiency. Past placements have included leading French organizations, companies, and schools. Placement depends on availability, the student's skills, previous experience and language level. Because an on-site interview is required, placement cannot be guaranteed in advance.

Summer Leadership Initiative in Budapest, Hungary
Central European University (CEU), in cooperation with UR partner Bard College, is pleased to offer an opportunity for a select group of students to undertake a highly substantive summer internship in various Budapest-based public, non-profit, and private organizations in areas such as economic and political transition, human and minority rights (e.g. Roma issues), European integration and enlargement, environment, education, gender issues, history & archival research, Jewish history and culture, and more (see website for entire topic list). During the program, students attend a credit-bearing core seminar that constitutes the academic component of the internship program. English is the operational language of the internship and the seminar and the program is typically organized from June 1-July 31 each year. The deadline for submitting applications is usually mid-March. More information about the summer program, including application forms and available scholarships can be found at http://ceu.bard.edu/summerinternship.

IES-Milan, Italy
IES offers 3-credit internships to students with any level of Italian language proficiency, including beginners. Past placements have included fashion houses, educational organizations, businesses and non-profits. Placement depends on availability, the student's skills, previous experience and language level. Because an on-site interview is required, placement cannot be guaranteed in advance.

IES-Rome, Italy
IES offers 3-credit internships to students who have at least two semesters of previous Italian language study. Past placements have included educational organizations, businesses and non-profits. Placement depends on availability, the student's skills, previous experience and language level. Because an on-site interview is required, placement cannot be guaranteed in advance.

Universita' Commerciale Luigi Bocconi, Italy
Bocconi offers summer internships to business, economics and law students who have studied abroad at Bocconi for the spring semester. Past placements have included banks, international companies such as 3M, Coca-Cola and Whirlpool, and financial groups. Placement depends on availability, the student's skills, previous experience and language level - Italian language is not required, but could increase placement options. Because an on-site interview is required, placement cannot be guaranteed in advance. Contact Abby Ward if you are interested in a summer internship in Milan after spending the spring semester abroad at Bocconi.

The Umbra Institute, Italy
Umbra offers a variety of internships to mature students with self-direction and good inter personal skills. Placements can be tailored to complete or reinforce academic interests and will depend on the student's language proficiency, skills and interests. Past placements have included the Montessori middle school, a tourism agency, an environmental association, the Comune di Perugia, legal assistant intern, physician's assistant, physical therapy intern and student services intern. Availability will vary from semester to semester. Students wishing to obtain credit for an internship should consult a relevant faculty member/department at Richmond in advance about this possibility. For more information, click here.

ITESM-Tec de Monterrey, Mexico
ITESM offers three and six credit internships during the academic year at the Monterrey and Guadalajara campuses. Opportunities with U.S. and Mexican organizations are available in the following areas: business, high tech industry, social sciences and humanities. Placement depends on availability, the student's skills, previous experience and language level. Because an on-site interview is required, placement cannot be guaranteed in advance.

INCORE Internship through University of Ulster, Northern Ireland
An internship opportunity at INCORE (International Conflict Research) is available for post-graduate or for very mature undergraduate students who study at the University of Ulster for a semester or year. Ideal for students studying peace and conflict. For more information, see the INCORE web site: http://www.incore.ulst.ac.uk.

The University of Edinburgh, Scotland
The University of Edinburgh offers visiting students the opportunity to serve as interns to Members of the Scottish Parliament in a semester-length program. Students may take part in either of two fifteen-week sessions, the first from late August to mid-December and the second from mid-January to late-April. For further information, visit Edinburgh's internship website and the internship application.

School for Field Studies (SFS), various locations
The SFS program periodically offers internships to graduating seniors or post-graduate students at their field stations abroad (Turks and Caicos, Costa Rica, Mexico, Australia, and Kenya).  This is a great way to earn professional international experience, conduct field-based research, enhance your resume, and work in a multicultural environment.  These internships need not be limited to science students. 

*UR does sponsor select summer internships in Australia (Brisbane & Sydney), Germany (Berlin), Ireland (Dublin), Mexico (Monterrey), and South Africa (Cape Town). Further information is available on the SCS summer study abroad website. To find the application form, payment information, program dates, and more details, see the UR Summer Internship Page.

Other Internship Opportunities

The USAID Africa Bureau offers summer internships in both DC and in overseas missions in sub-Saharan Africa. This is an excellent opportunity for students interested in careers in international development. While the application deadline for summer 09 has passed (March 12), interested students can expect a similar deadine for summer 2010 (TBA). For more information, visit http://www.usaid.gov/locations/sub-saharan_africa/internships.html.

Global Service Corps (GSC) offers unique volunteer and internship service-learning programs in Tanzania and Thailand. The focus of these programs range from international public health to English education, Buddhist immersion, and sustainable agriculture and food security. Program lengths can vary from two-week Introduction to Service-Learning Programs to nine-week Internship Programs and three-month or longer Community Development Programs. Academic credit can be arranged through SUNY-Albany or through individual colleges and universities. For more information about GSC program opportunities, program fees, and program start dates and lengths, contact Global Service Corps by e-mail at gsc@globalservicecorps.org, by phone at (415) 788-3666 ext. 128, or visit the website at www.globalservicecorps.org.

IIE/Latin America Internship Program in Mexico City. The Institute of International Education (IIE), Office for Latin America, based in Mexico City, offers an internship program which provides students and recent graduates the opportunity to develop professional skills in a formal bilingual setting and gain practical experience within the field of international education, working for an international non-profit organization and an affiliate of the Educational Information and Resources Branch of the U.S. Department of State. For more information and an online application, please go to: http://www.iielatinamerica.org/cgi-bin/Contenido.pl?p=pintership or contact Nichole Johnson at njohnson@iielatinamerica.org.
Summer Application Deadline: March 15
Fall Application Deadline: June 15
Spring Application Deadline: October 15

JMU Summer International Internships
James Madison University has developed a program specifically for Virginia students to add an international dimension to their education by arranging international internships. More than 50 internships are available each summer in the fields of business, the arts, communication, social sciences, and government. For more information, go to the JMU website: http://www.jmu.edu/international/abroad/programs_internships.shtml.

Carter Center Internships
The Carter Center, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is committed to waging peace, building hope, and fighting disease. Internships are offered during three sessions per year (fall, spring and summer) to undergraduate juniors and seniors, graduate students, and recent graduates (graduated in the past 24 months). Interns are required to commit a minimum of 20 hours per week, although many choose to work up to 40 hours a week. Students have the opportunity to intern in the following areas: Americas Program, Democracy Program, Conflict Resolution Program, Human Rights Program, China Program, Education Program, Global 2000, Development, Art Services, Finance, Research, Special Events, Public Information, or the Mental Health Program. For more information, visit the Carter Center's Internship website: http://www.cartercenter.org/involved/internship/index.html.

CDS International, Inc. (CDS) is seeking interns for Germany, Spain, and Argentina.
*The Germany program offers three month internship placements at SCHOTT AG in Germany. Fields are business, marketing, public relations, info. technology, engineering, and physical sciences. For more information, go to: http://www.cdsintl.org/fromusa/schott.htm. The deadline for summer 2009 was January 15, 2009 (similar deadline expected for summer 2010--TBD).
*The Spain program provides an opportunity for students to gain international work experience, improve Spanish language skills, and much more. Applicants must have equivalent of two years of post-secondary Spanish study (must be able to function in a Spanish-speaking work environment). In Spain, participants complete three-month unpaid internships in companies across the country. For more information, go to: http://www.cdsintl.org/fromusa/sipsp.htm. The deadline for summer 2009 was January 30, 2009 (similar deadline expected for summer 2010--TBD).
*The Argentina program is offered in cooperation with Comision de Intercambio Educativo (COINED), and provides unpaid internships in either Buenos Aires or Cordoba. 8-12 week internships are available. For more information, go to: http://www.cdsintl.org/fromusa/iparg.htm. The deadline for summer 2009 was January 30, 2009 (similar deadline expected for summer 2010--TBD).

Globalplacement.com This is an internship search portal allowing free search access for students to hundreds of internship listings. Students may use the search feature without registering or they may register to post a resume to the site and to receive internship updates via email. The site even contains advice regarding resume format and job interview skills. To explore the site, click here.

Foundation for Sustainable Development. This non-profit organization offers both service-learning internship and volunteer opportunities around the world. Programs are focused on sustainable development issues where students learn skills and gain experience while the local community realizes a true benefit. Host families are utilized to enhance the cultural benefit to the student participant. Fees are tax-deductible. For more information, click here.

Cross-Cultural Solutions. This non-profit organization offers 2-12 week internship programs in 10 countries in the fields of health, education, and social services. Whether you intern in an orphanage in Thailand, at a health clinic in Guatemala, or in a daycare center in India, your work experience will be supplemented with a structured learning component designed to offer perspectives on the culture and both the local and global issues that impact it. Volunteer opportunities are also available. For more information, click here.

ProWorld. The ProWorld Service Corps offers profound 2 to 48 week volunteer and internship opportunities in Peru, Mexico, and Belize. For more information, click here.

Scoville Peace Fellowship. This paid fellowship offers college graduates the opportunity to work full-time in DC for 6 to 9 months with non-profit, public-interest organizations addressing peace and security issues. Fellows may undertake a variety of tasks such as writing and research-based activities while supporting the goals of the selected organization. The fall 09 fellowship application deadline was February 2, 2009 and the spring 2010 deadline is October 15, 2009. For more information, click here.