International Opportunities
Interning abroad is a fantastic opportunity to travel, immerse yourself in another culture, and grow.. However, a successful experience requires careful research and planning.
Before applying, be sure the role aligns with your professional goals, budget, schedule, and your housing and transportation needs.
Ready to explore your options? We encourage you to meet with a BCE Career Advisor early in your planning process to help you best identify and assess the opportunities to intern abroad based on your fiend of interest.
Steps You Can Take To Prep
- Build your skills early: Spend time gaining experience locally through internships or volunteer work in the U.S. Developing your professional skills, knowledge, and experience in your career of interest will strengthen your resume to make you competitive when applying for international opportunities.
- Network globally: Connect with professionals in your field, alumni abroad, and faculty with international contacts. If you plan to study abroad, take advantage of the opportunity to intern in the same host country – cultivate your contacts, leads, and network.
- Tailor your resume: Update and refine your resume to meet both U.S. standards and the hiring formats of your host country. Keep in mind, labor laws, cultural norms, and standardized formats can vary from country to country.
- Vet independent programs: If you are interested in working abroad by going through a particular organization or placement agency, research them thoroughly. Ask to speak with past participants about their experience, what they offer specifically, and confirm exactly what support they provide on the ground.
- Financial Aid and scholarships: Research financial options. Some Berkeley programs offer Berkeley-specific travel scholarships and/or are eligible to use standard Financial Aid packages to help fund international academic or career experiences.
- Timeline: Be sure to consider the timing of completing required paperwork. Depending on the duration of the experience, you may need specific visas and other paperwork.
Internship Abroad Resources
- Berkeley Global Internships program: Run directly by the Berkeley Study Abroad office, this program offers project-based in-person and virtual academic internships in a variety of industries. Opportunities are open to students of all majors and class levels. Students can also earn academic credit while gaining practical internship experience in locations around the world.
- GoinGlobal: This program provides country guides, career guides, and global employment and internship opportunities.
- UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP): This is the system-wide UC study abroad network. UCEAP offers full-term or summer programs that blend traditional classes with part-time internships.
- Handshake: Always check Handshake as employers often post positions for all geographic regions
Though Berkeley Study Abroad office manages logistical frameworks for most programs, specific academic departments also host international internships designed for their students, like the The College of Engineering’s Dado and Maria Banatao GLOBE Center or the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management’s Gump South Pacific Research Station.
External Organizations & Resources
- IES Abroad: In partnership with Study Abroad Foundation, they offer semester-long or summer internships across 5 continents, providing placement and logistics support.
- U.S. Department of State: Accepts students for non-paid internships in their embassies around the world.
- Overseas Jobs: Job board featuring overseas jobs and international employment opportunities.