International Internships

Cultural Immersion. Global Perspective. International Work Experience.

These are only three of the benefits of doing an international internship. You can also add increased communication skills, ability to deal with ambiguity, and greater self-awareness. All of these skills and attributes are valuable to employers and graduate school admissions committees. One of the best ways to acquire these skills and attributes is to have a meaningful out of the classroom experience such as an international internship.

There are several internship options depending on your interests. Do consider the value of an unpaid internship as these internships are often the most valuable.

Funding an International Internship

• Huntsman School Opportunity Scholarships are available if you have a declared major in the business school and have a minimum GPA of 2.75.
  Note: A FAFSA application is not required when doing a global experience
• Liz Allred and JP Spicer-Escalante Global Scholarships are available for business or Spanish majors or minors with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Various scholarships are also available through USU Student Financial Support.
• Financial aid can also be used to help finance your experience. Talk to a financial aid advisor.
• Scholarship opportunities are also available through the USU Office of Global Engagement.
  • If you receive Pell Grants, you can apply for the Gilman Scholarship. This is a national scholarship program. For more information, contact the USU Study Abroad Office.

Internships in Valencia, Spain

The Learning Abroad Co. – an approved USU third party provider – offers business internships in Valencia, Spain from mid-May to end of July. Any business major can apply and internships are based on major and/or interest. There is a cost associated with doing an internship in Valencia but the cost includes housing, cultural and professional experiences, medical/evacuation insurance, and on the ground support by the staff of The Learning Abroad Co.. The benefit of going through a third-party provider is that there is no visa requirement to do an internship and The Learning Abroad Co. is well connected with companies in Valencia so a great internship can be obtained. Spanish is not required.

Valencia, Spain is mid-sized city on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Traditional architecture beautifies city plazas and charming neighborhoods. Large farmers' markets dot the city and offer splendid arrays of fresh fruits, vegetables, pastries, and more. The beautiful beaches that stretch along the coast promise a refreshing dip after which you can enjoy a meal while continuing to enjoy the beach. The people of Valencia are friendly and helpful and if you don't speak Spanish there is no need to worry.

If interested, contact Liz Allred at liz.allred@usu.edu for more information.

Use a Third-Party Provider

Available for in-country and virtual internships.

Because the need for a visa may present a real obstacle to getting an internship in another country, a third-party provider can be extremely useful in securing an international internship. When working with a provider, work visas are not required. A tourist visa may be required in some countries but many countries do not require US citizens to get a visa in such situations. Typically, these internships are unpaid and a student will pay a fee to the provider. This fee does include housing during the internship as well as some sponsored activities and in-country support.

If you want to stay where you are and still have an international experience, a virtual internship is a great opportunity. Working remotely became a viable option for many companies during the recent COVID-19 pandemic and companies have realized some great value from their virtual interns.

USU's Office of Global Engagement can connect you with internship opportunities around the world. Providers such as Next Step (Asia), EUSA (Prague, Madrid, Paris), ECZ Study Abroad (Spain, Ireland, Italy) are excellent to work with and provide good business-related internships.

Apply Directly with a Company

Some global companies offer internships in various locations. You will need to go to the website and apply for an internship directly, usually accessing the application through the Careers menu. Note that most of these internships may require the ability to obtain a work visa if you are not a citizen of that country. However, do not hesitate to move forward and apply anyway. Companies vary in their response to applications from non-residents or non-citizens.