International internships are an excellent way to apply ideas and theories acquired during your courses to the professional world. They are an opportunity to address personal as well as professional development goals, gain employment skills, and identify your own strengths and preferences while learning within a structured environment. International internships allow you to explore different communication styles and work cultures.
Education Abroad can only award internship credit for those internships that are done in conjunction with an academic course that ties the experience together. Nearly all such internships have two components: work in the placement and a related academic project. You cannot earn credit for simply working abroad. Most often internships abroad will provide no salary or monetary compensation.
IU sponsors a number of programs that include internship components. If you do not find one that fits your needs, please consult our non-IU internship vetting guidance which offers information about what to look for in a non-IU internship program. For more information on applying to non-IU programs, please consult our non-IU programs procedures.
Students interested in virtual internships should look under Other Work Opportunities on this page for more information.
Many students teach English abroad either in language institutes, businesses, or on a private tutorial basis. In some locations the pay is quite high, especially Spain and Japan. In many cases, you do not need a work permit but that means you are not an "official" employee which affects your visa status. The Walter Center for Career Achievement has a number of useful resources for locating teaching jobs abroad.
The following websites might be of interest:
- CIEE Teaching Programs: Offers programs for teaching abroad in Chile, China, Dominican Republic, India, South Korea, Spain, Thailand and Vietnam. CIEE also offers an internationally-recognized online TEFL Certification Course.
- Dave's ESL Cafe: Offers teaching resources and tips, job opportunities, chat rooms and bulletin boards for teachers of English as a second language (ESL).
- Epik (English Program in Korea): Provides programs for teaching English in South Korea.
- French Ministry of Education Program: Places English language assistants in K-12 schools in France.
- Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships: Offers assistantships in 38 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America through arrangements made by the US Department of State. For more information contact Paul Fogleman, Hutton Honors College, 811 E. Seventh St. 216B, Bloomington, IN 47405, pfoglema@indiana.edu, (812) 855-3948.
- International Schools Services: Connects educators with international schools.
- JET Programme: Offers English language teaching placements in Japan.
- Spanish Ministry of Education Program: Places North American Language and Cultural Assistants in K-12 schools in Spain.
- World Teach. Facilitates teaching placements in English, math, and science in one of many sites around the world.
While many people teach abroad with no formal preparation, training and certification in teaching English as a second language can improve your skills and marketability. The following options are available through IU:
These resources may be helpful for identifying short-term work experiences overseas. Some of these are affiliated with U.S.-based organizations, while others are work permits with foreign governments.
- Australian Work & Travel Visa: Allows young people (ages 18-30) to work and travel in Australia for up to one year with a working holiday visa.
- BUNAC (British Universities North America Club): Provides work permits for Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and internship placements in Britain for up to 6-12 months.
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program: Offers research, study, and teaching opportunities in over 140 countries to recent graduates and graduate students.
- New Zealand Work & Travel Visa: Allows young people (ages 18-30) to work and travel in New Zealand for up to one year with a working holiday visa.
- Walter Center for Career Achievement: Links to international careers, work abroad, and teaching overseas. Ernie Pyle Hall, 2nd Floor, IU Bloomington, (812) 856-4278.
- Virtual Internship Programs: Allow students to gain a global experience through remote work without traveling abroad. These programs are NOT considered study abroad and will not fulfill requirements such as World Languages & Cultures. For virtual internships that carry credit, students would earn transfer credit, processed through the Office of International Admissions. Contact newtoiu@iu.edu for more information.
