Do you want to study and intern abroad? If you’re one of 222 million students around the world pursuing tertiary education, you can intern at some of the world’s most exciting companies.
If you want to try something new and exciting, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to even go abroad to study and intern at the same time.
What are the Advantages of Internship and Study Abroad?
Your internship can coincide with your studies, offering numerous advantages and opportunities that are career-changing.
Advantages of interning while studying abroad
One of the most intriguing reasons to study and intern abroad is that studies found that you’ll enjoy a $2,000 higher starting salary. Professionals who have this unique experience will enter their careers with skills that justify their higher earnings over non-interns.
You’ll also enjoy:
- Expanding your professional network and opening the doors to an entirely new workforce that you can join.
- An easier time transitioning from your education to the workforce environment. You’ll already be used to the hustle and bustle of an internship and will be ready to impress your future employer with your work ethic.
- Immersion in a new culture and, potentially, in a new language will make you a unique hiring choice in your field.
And this is just a small sample of the advantages that you’ll enjoy when you study and intern overseas.
Where Can I Go to Intern While Studying Abroad?
Your opportunities to study and intern abroad will be heavily reliant on the field and degree you’re pursuing and demand. We recommend that you:
Find a provider that offers both
Work with a provider, such as Capital Placement, that offers remote internship programs and allow you to work with flexible start dates and part-time or full-time options for up to a year. It allows you to study and work simultaneously. Providers will take over much of the hard work for you and present you with viable options that you can pursue immediately.
Consult your host institution
If you have a host institution that you want to study at, you can consult with advisors. Your host institution may have agreements to help you find an internship while you’re enrolled at the institution.
You can also follow the same concept with your home university.
Talk to your home university
If you’re looking for an opportunity to study abroad for education majors or any other major, consult with your home university.
They may be able to connect you with programs that offer both study abroad and internships. At the very least, they should have some information on study abroad programs.
Search job boards
Job boards are also a great resource for finding internship opportunities while studying abroad. For example, you may find job listings for international IT internships in your host country.
Make sure that you read the job description carefully and understand the requirements before you apply. The hours may conflict with your studies, and some employers may not be flexible with their work hours.
How do I Balance an Internship with A Study Abroad Program?
Programs that offer internship and study abroad opportunities allow you to enjoy the best of both worlds. But balancing the two can be challenging. The goal is to enhance both your education and your professional experience without compromising one or the other.
No matter whether you’re looking to study abroad for education majors, marketing or something in between, finding balance will be key.
Here are some tips:
- Be flexible. Go with the flow and be willing to change directions at the last minute if you’re needed in the workplace or in the classroom.
- Shift your class schedule or accept odd internship hours to avoid scheduling conflicts.
- Plan ahead. If you have deadlines coming up, prepare in advance to ensure you have enough time to meet those deadlines.
- Master the art of time management. There’s enough time for both studying and your internship, but you’ll need to be efficient and smart with your planning. Avoiding distractions will be key.
- Keep your employer in the loop. Ultimately, your studies should be the top priority, so keep an open line of communication with your employer and inform them of potential conflicts or issues that may arise.
- Establish and stick to a routine. It’s much easier to balance an internship and studying abroad if you have a routine. If you can find a schedule that works for you and helps you give ample attention to both work and study, stick to it.
It may take some time for you to learn how to balance an internship with a study abroad program.
Conclusion
Having the opportunity to intern and study abroad at the same time is a privilege that many students will never get to experience. If you’re an ambitious student who wants to pursue this route, the first step will be to find the right location and provider. Once you’re abroad, you’ll need to work hard to balance your internship with your studies.
