Internships and research

In a decade, Absolute Internship has formed into a leading international internship program. They enable university students and graduates to develop their career aspirations across the globe. Their programs take place in Barcelona, Beijing, Hong Kong, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Paris, Shanghai, Singapore, Stockholm, and Tokyo.

Absolute Internship is a pioneering firm working with world-class companies to provide life-changing opportunities to our participants. Their award-winning programs aim to develop both the personal and professional skill sets of those who enroll, allowing ambitious individuals to follow their passions alongside other like-minded students from all around the globe.

Absolute Internship is frequently featured as an industry-leader on renowned media outlets such as The New York Times, BBC, Bloomberg, Reuters, and Sky News.

Absolute Internship are dedicated to providing international opportunities that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to find, and with a growing number of talented participants joining them each year, Absolute Internship continues to help students and graduates step out of their comfort zones and follow their dreams – wherever they may be.

How does it work?

Absolute Internship assist you with organising an international internship. Their comprehensive services do a preliminary assessment of the things that you're seeking in an internship, and either matches you with one of their existing business partners, or goes and actively searches a placement to match your needs.

Read about Vimbai, an Essex student who completed an internship in Madrid during summer 2017.

How long do the internships last?

Usually for 4, 8 and 12 weeks between June and August. You can choose a duration which suits you best.

Where could I go?

Absolute Internship currently offer programmes in Barcelona, Beijing, Hong Kong, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Paris, Shanghai, Singapore, Stockholm, and Tokyo.

How much does it cost?

The cost varies depending on your destination and duration. Absolute Internship offers a guaranteed discount of €100 to University of Essex students.

Their international internship program includes guaranteed internship, housing, transportation to and from the internship, group dinners, career speaker seminars, cultural excursions and weekend activities, as well as 24-hour on-site support.

Each year Absolute Internship offer a range of scholarships to students that covers the cost of their programme.

When do the internships start and when do I need to apply?

Most programs run between June and August. It can take around three months from applying to when you start your placement.

Interested?

• Watch this short video to learn about Absolute Internship in 60 seconds! Or if you've got more time there's also a more in depth video.
• Visit Absolute Internship for more details and information on how to apply. Keep an eye out for talks we'll be doing with Absolute Internship.
• You can also read more about previous student experiences via the Absolute Internship blog posts.

The Intern Group program delivers tangible, accelerated professional development. They enable young people to gain invaluable experience in their chosen industry, in an exciting city, in a new country. It is this framework of experiencing different cultures and different ways of life that leads to greater tolerance and acceptance.

An internship program with The Intern Group is perfect for those who wish to travel outside of their comfort zone, both literally and metaphorically. It is for those who wish to gain that crucial experience in their chosen industry while simultaneously learning about the way of life and culture of a different country.

How does it work?

The Intern Group provides international internship programs that enable individuals to gain valuable professional experience at leading companies and organisations while exploring exciting new places and developing extensive global networks. Take your global experience to the next level by completing an international internship.

They have full-time local teams in each of our destinations, who are equipped and ready to set you up with the experience of your dreams. All aspects of the program are designed to enhance your professional and personal development and to allow you to experience diverse cultures in a new way.

How long do the internships last?

You can specify how long you want your internship to last. The Intern Group offers internships from 4 weeks up to 24 weeks. It's a good idea to check the location you're interested in as program lengths may be more limited.

Where could I go?

Asia - Bangkok, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo

Australia - Melbourne

Europe - Barcelona, Dublin, London and Madrid

Latin America - Santiago de Chile, Bogota

USA and Canada - California, Chicago, New York and Toronto

How much does it cost?

Their programs include much more than a professional internship in your desired career field. You are also provided with quality housing, social & cultural events, professional career training, and full-time local support.

Discounts

• The Intern Group offers a generous 10% discount on program fees to University of Essex students.
• If you are a college or university student in the UK receiving a Maintenance Loan of over £8,200 or a Maintenance Grant, you are eligible for a 500 USD discount off any of their programs.

When do the internships start and when do I need to apply?

Programs are available all year on a rolling admission. It can take around three months from applying to when you start your placement, but it is best to apply as soon as possible.

Interested?

Visit The Intern Group for more details and information on how to apply. Keep an eye out for talks we'll be doing with The Intern Group.

Read this case study of Maria's experience with a remote internship based in New York during summer 2020.

With 13 years’ experience and over 5000 participants and counting, Pagoda Projects provide life-changing internships across 7 amazing destinations for students and graduates in the UK and worldwide. They work with universities and government organisations to provide funded opportunities that enhance employability and allow participants to gain valuable experience in their sector.

How Does It Work?

Pagoda Projects assist you from start to finish by working with you and your individually selected host company to ensure you find the perfect summer internship or paid placement.

You will receive unrivalled pre-departure support from their UK staff and in-country teams, as well as first class on-place support throughout your programme.

After completing your programme with Pagoda Projects, you’ll be welcomed into their Alumni network and gain access to employability tips, job offers and the opportunity to meet other alumni.

How long do the internships last?

Pagoda Projects offer 8-week short-term programmes during the summer months with the option to complete a remote or in-person internship.

They also offer a 6-12-month paid placement programme in Taipei, Taiwan with applications being taken year-round, perfect for those in need of an overseas accredited opportunity.

Where can I go?

Pagoda Projects currently offer programmes in:

• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• Mexico City, Mexico
• Chengdu, Dalian, Qingdao and Zhuhai, Mainland China
• Taipei, Taiwan

How much does it cost?

For the fee-paying programmes, there is no financial commitment until you’ve found the right opportunity for you meaning you have total flexibility and control.

The remote internships cost £995 for an 8-week programme including support from the Pagoda Projects team. If you’re looking for a more tailored experience with a longer duration, just get in touch and a quote can be provided to match your needs.

For a summer in-person internship in an overseas locations, the programme fee of is from £2,495. This includes the internship, accommodation, visa processing, insurance and support from in-country staff.

6-12-month paid placement programmes in Taipei, Taiwan have a programme fee of £1,995 including on-place support, insurance, visa processing and access to trips and events.

On top of this, Pagoda Projects also deliver places across all our destinations through the British Council funded Generation UK programme as well as their own Pagoda Projects scholarship opportunities.

When does it start and when should I apply?

Funded and scholarship programmes are available for all overseas destinations and will typically take place the following summer. Applications open in autumn each year.

Applications for our long-term paid placement programme in Taiwan are open year-round with flexible start dates that suit you and your studies.

Interested?

Visit Pagoda Projects for more details and information on how to apply.

You can also follow Pagoda Projects on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for up-to-date news on their programmes.

You might be interested to read the feedback report representing two Essex students that took part in a remote internship during the summer months of 2020.

Eurodesk is a free information service to help young people experience international opportunities.  Established in 1990, Eurodesk is now a European-wide network with national support in 36 countries.

The Eurodesk Opportunity Finder database lists current opportunities across Europe. There are five categories – learning, volunteering, internships, participating, and grants.

EMA – short for Eurodesk Mobility Advisor – is a bot that functions as a virtual Eurodesk advisor providing friendly services available 24/7  - you can access EMA via Facebook messenger.

Euraxess is a hub for all things related to international research. It works in three key areas: jobs, services and rights, and is completely free to researchers who are interested in working abroad. You get funding for your travels, can apply for fellowships and placements overseas, find a new job on the other side of the world, or just get useful pointers for life in a different country.

By providing support, advice and funding for researchers, Euraxess UK can help you collaborate with other international researchers in your field and share your knowledge across the world. They also have a wealth of experience helping people relocate to other countries, so whether it's medical care or childcare, accommodation or taxation, Euraxess is the place to find the answers.

Funding

Available grants vary from country to country and specific fields of work. You can find current opportunities depending on your own personal skills, level of experience, and where you’re looking to go. New opportunities are constantly posted and each one will have its own individual deadline.

Further details and how to apply

Please visit the Euraxess website to learn more and to search through numerous international research opportunities.

Deutscher Akademischer Austauschndienst (DAAD) is the German Academic Exchange Service. Through the RISE Germany program, they are offering summer research internships for undergraduates and postgraduates studying in the fields of science and engineering.

This is a funded opportunity and therefore highly competitive. In 2019, nearly 2000 students applied for the undergraduate programme with a total of 216 scholarship places being awarded. You should take time with the application process and also read any tips online.

About the program

RISE Germany is for undergraduate students and offers research internships with research groups at universities and research institutes.

RISE Professional is for Master and PhD students and offers research internships with companies in Germany.

How much will it cost?

Most costs are met by the scholarship, you will receive a monthly scholarship of 861 EUROS (per full month) for undergraduate students.

How to apply

Applications for both programmes for 2021 are open 1 November 2020 - 15 December 2020. 

Each year our partner universities all over the world offer research opportunities.  These opportunities can be found via our exchange finder - just select "research abroad" under programme type.

During summer 2020 we featured programmes from The University of Western Australia and  Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.

Eurodesk is a free information service to help young people experience international opportunities. Established in 1990, Eurodesk is now a European-wide network with national support in 36 countries.

The Eurodesk Opportunity Finder database lists current opportunities across Europe. There are five categories – learning, volunteering, internships, participating, and grants.This can be a great place to search for funding to support your research abroad.