An international experience is not simply limited to the classroom. An International Internship is a great way to further develop your knowledge and skills. Along with the potential to earn academic credit, students who complete an international internship expand their networks and develop transferable skills which give them a competitive edge after graduation.
Locating an International Internship
I. Arrange your own internship. This requires more research and motivation but also has the benefit of offering you an internship that closely meets your needs. Your academic department and the
Career Development Center are your best resources for finding internships however it is also possible to search for them on your own.
II. Contact an internship organization to see if they have placements in your field. The advantage(s) of working with an internship organization are that they have the industry connections and their listed price often includes housing, airport pickup, internship seminars, visa support, etc. Listed below are some organizations that are able to help arrange international internships. This list of organizations does not include all possible options available to students nor are they organizations that are recommended more than other options. They are merely organizations that we have experience with and that in most cases should be able to meet the Appalachian Internship requirements. Students are encouraged to explore all options and should not submit an application fee to the organizations until they fully understand the process, cost, and that the internship will be approved by their home department.
Appalachian State Partners (Program Cost billed through AppState)
Other Affiliate Options (Program Cost not billed through AppState)
Semester Exchange Partners with Internship Options
Duy Tan University - Semester long internships available for Hospitality majors and possibly CIS and Computer Science.
BINUS University - Semester long internships may be possible for Computer Science, CIS, Business, Design, Architecture, Psychology, and Communication.
Some of our Affiliate partners offer Study+Internship during the semester. Students interested in this option should contact the Education Abroad office.
Process
Students who are interested in international internships will need to complete the following steps:
- Meet with their faculty advisor to find an internship or communicate the information you have found with your advisor regarding your internship.
- Get approval from the department and be submitted into the Internship Inventory.
- Complete the OIED International Internship application. OIED must certify international internships before student can be registered in the internship course by the department. Please see the International Internship Checklist for information about the OIED process. All students completing an international internship for credit will be responsible for the $100 OIED admin fee, the $60 international health development fee, and the GeoBlue international insurance and evacuation policy (currently $1.45 per day) in addition to the credit charges.
- Follow up with your department to ensure you are registered for internship credit.
International Internship OIED Application Deadlines (Deadlines Are Firm)
The deadline for International Internships is 15 Business days before either the program start date or the
term add drop date, whichever occurs first. The Appalachian approved international internship programs have earlier deadlines: Fall (mid February), Spring (early September), Summer (early February).
Things to Consider
Are there
safety concerns in the country? If so what are they and how will I minimize them while abroad?
Are there
immunizations I will need and how early should I start receiving them?
What is my experience in the country?
What is the primary spoken language and what is my familiarity with that language? If I am not familiar with the language, what sort of support will be provided by the host organization?
What sort of assistance and support will be available to me from the internship/host organization in the event of an emergency and with daily questions that may arise?
Will I need to find my own housing or will it be provided by the internship organization?
What sort of transportation will be available from the housing to the internship site?
You should carefully research all entry and work visa requirements for the country in which you plan to intern. The US State Department provides consular affairs sheets for each country that provide visa requirements and contact information for embassies and consulates in the US. Obtaining a work visa for an internship can take time so students are encouraged to start looking into the process early.
Additional Resources
www.internationaljobs.org
www.goabroad.com
www.idealist.org
www.globalplacement.com
www.diversityabroad.com
www.transitionsabroad.com
www.gooverseas.com