International Internships

Take your study abroad experience to the next level by participating in an internship during your program! Internship opportunities are available in a wide variety of areas. 

Gain experience in your academic field, learn what you like or don't like, and continue honing skills you're already building here at Purdue. 

Internship opportunities abroad come in many shapes and forms - from dedicated summer internship programs to semester-long programs that include a part-time, for-credit internship.

Take a peek at some of our featured internship options below, and then head to our Program Search to search for all available internship options. Just look for the LEARNING OPTIONS filter and check the box next to internship. Add in any other filters you'd like, such as duration or country - to see what options are available! 

 

International internships are an excellent way to gain experience, learn, and travel all in one program - however, it is important that students understand that interning through a study abroad program may look different from a domestic internship.

International internships are a great fit for students who have an open mind and are ready to learn, but may not be the best fit for a student who has a very specific idea of what their internship will look like and is only willing to work for a specific company or complete specific tasks. 

While Purdue strives to offer as many opportunities as possible, internships through study abroad may not be available for every field in every location. Factors such as language proficiency, proximity to housing, working modes, local laws and regulations, and more will affect availability.

It is important students go into a program with realistic expectations, and understand the following:

• International internships are unpaid, though students will earn academic credit.
• Internships are not available for all academic fields in every program that offers an internship, language barriers and location-specific considerations may limit options in specific locations.
• Internships are not guaranteed, students must be active participants in the placement process which will include virtual or phone interview(s). 
• Placements must be related to your major, niche interests or hyper-specific placements within a field may be unavailable. Students must be open to placements within their larger area of study.
• Depending on the country, visa limitations may dictate how many hours you can work.
• A different kind of visa may be required for internships vs. study or tourism. 
• Internships are meant as an entry-level experience to gain experience working.
• Placements may be at a variety of companies, including smaller companies and start-ups. Large, multinational corporations cannot be guaranteed.
• Internship students may have a bit less flexibility to travel as they will have a set work schedule, some fields may require evening or weekend work.

While this page features Study Abroad programs that involve international internships, there are certainly many ways to participate in internships while at Purdue.

The Center for Career Opportunities and the Office of Professional Practice are great resources for students looking for more information.