The World’s Best Places to Intern in 2018

How do you choose the one that’s right for you from a host of overseas internships? Think about where you’d like to work. Where are some of the best places in the world to intern? Do you want to hand out meishi (call cards) to Japanese salary men? Learn a new drinking game from your Aussie workmates? Put on those gumboots and work outside in New Zealand?

You should also consider abroad internships based on the field you’re interested in. Business majors should hit up China for the most competitive international internships. If who want to work in international relations and diplomacy, head to Switzerland where the UN and many other international organizations call home.

What are you waiting for? We’ve analyzed millions of searches from meaningful travelers to bring you the best of the best when it comes to entry-level professional experiences abroad. Here are the world’s best places to intern in 2018!

[First-time interns, you GOTTA download this ebook]

1. United States

Top destinations for internships abroad in 2018

Learn more about the United States, favorite place for internships abroad amongst our users this year.

The US is one of the most popular countries for international internships. With its work hard, play hard culture and strong emphasis on research and profit, the States is the perfect place for interns to earn some solid work experience. It’s also a great country for networking and polishing up those English skills. Popular internship opportunities include business, marketing, finance, agriculture, media, diplomacy, and tourism.

Recommended program: Intern abroad in the US with The Intern Group

See ALL intern abroad programs in the US

2. Canada

Learn more about Canada, favorite place for internships abroad amongst our users this year.

Canada is one of the best places to intern because it knows how to treat them right. Explore the length and breadth of the world’s second-largest country to find internships to suit almost any interest. For internships in accounting, hospitality, and engineering, head to Vancouver. Toronto is popular for placements in the arts, media, and architecture and find international internships in finance and IT in Ottawa.

Recommended program: Find internships in Canada with World Internships

See ALL intern abroad programs in Canada

3. Japan

Learn more about Japan, favorite place for internships abroad amongst our users this year.

If you want to intern in a country where the old and new peacefully coexist, consider Japan. Popular international internship programs include business, marketing, and English teaching placements in megacities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Yokohama. Hokkaido is popular with snow bunny interns and Kyoto with those who want to learn more about Japanese culture and history.

Recommended program: Intern abroad in Japan with Zentern

See ALL intern abroad programs in Japan

4. Germany

Learn more about Germany, favorite place for internships abroad amongst our users this year.

Germany is one of the world’s most popular countries for migrants and we don’t blame them! The country is economically stable and culturally rich. Perfect your Deutsch in Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Munich, the most popular destinations for overseas internships. Popular placements include technology, finance, pharmaceuticals, media, international relations, and architecture.

Recommended program: Intern in Germany with Boston University

See ALL intern abroad programs in Germany

5. Australia

Learn more about Australia, favorite place for internships abroad amongst our users this year.

Would you walk 500 miles just to be in the country you love? Oz offers you the chance to get some professional experience and learn why Aussies are so darn happy all the time. Interns can choose from placements in film and media, fashion, graphic design, marketing, and environmental conservation. On weekends, catch a show at the Sydney Opera House, sail the Whitsundays, or explore the Outback.

Recommended program: Intern abroad in Sydney with CAPA

See ALL intern abroad programs in Australia

6. France

Learn more about France, favorite place for internships abroad amongst our users this year.

France is perfect for anyone who wants to get a leg up in the competitive European job market. The pro-employee work environment also makes it attractive to many interns because it promotes healthy work/life balance. If your French isn’t up to scratch, Paris offers incredible abroad internships in finance, fashion, and the culinary arts. If you want to improve your fluency, student-friendly Lyon is popular with international interns for banking, tourism, and startup placements.

Recommended program: Intern abroad in Paris with IES Internships

See ALL intern abroad programs in France

7. Spain

Learn more about Spain, favorite place for internships abroad amongst our users this year.

Spain’s sunshine and laid-back culture make it an amazing destination for interns. Foreign interns flock to Madrid to work with multinationals and NGOs and enjoy the city’s legendary nightlife while others go to more cosmopolitan Barcelona for technology, startup, architecture, arts, and design placements. For interns seeking a more local vibe, Sevilla offers lots of opportunities to intern in tourism and hospitality.

See ALL intern abroad programs in Spain

8. England

Learn more about England, favorite place for internships abroad amongst our users this year.

Interning in England is a walk in the park because they speak English over there! However, be prepared to face a steep learning curve when it comes to British slang. Internships are aplenty in London, the country’s financial and cultural center. Foreign interns can also find opportunities in Manchester, Birmingham, and Bristol. Popular placements in England include international business, journalism, and communications.

Recommended programs: Intern in London with CISabroad & Summer Internships in London with Global Experiences

See ALL intern abroad programs in England

9. New Zealand

Learn more about New Zealand, favorite place for internships abroad amongst our users this year.

Tolkien fans, don’t miss this opportunity to intern abroad in the real Middle Earth. Don’t forget to pack your gumboots. It does rain a fair bit! New Zealand is popular with interns in fields like environmental science, animal science, hospitality, social work, and public relations. Popular locations for internships include Auckland and Wellington on the North Island and Christchurch and Queenstown on the South Island.

Recommended program: Find internships in New Zealand with ISA

See all intern abroad programs in New Zealand

10. Italy

Learn more about Italy, favorite place for internships abroad amongst our users this year.

Bella Italia! An intern’s dream destination! So much good food, so little time! Most international interns base themselves in Rome, the Eternal City. Those interested in art history intern in Florence, the home of the European Renaissance. Italy offers a host of internships, particularly in fashion, art, architecture, media, marketing, and communications so choose wisely!

Recommended program: Intern abroad in Italy with PAA

See ALL intern abroad programs in Italy

BONUS! Top TYPES of internship fields

Not only did we collect data on where the world’s best places to intern are according to our search data, we also found some awesome trends regarding the top types of internship fields. For these interns, destination comes second so long as their program involves…

A note from GoAbroad

We’d like to thank our community for not only inspiring us daily, but for also giving us enough insight to share accurate predictions for meaningful travel in 2018.

Learn more about our research methodology, recommended programs, and links here. Photo credit: Freepik.

Read the full report here.

Where will your internship abroad land you?

Browse more of our report on international internships—broken down by region

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