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Apply Now for a Work, Intern, or Volunteer Program
Combining two international experiences can be a great way to extend your international experience and put to use what you have already learned about a country. Students who plan to study abroad may wish to consider combining their study abroad experience with a work, intern, or volunter opportunity after their study program has ended. The Learning Abroad Center does not recommend participating in a work, intern, or volunteer program immediately prior to study abroad. Consider the benefits and challenges of combining two international opportunities and then talk with a Learning Abroad Center adviser in more detail.
Benefits
- Provides two different means of local community integration
- Identifying work, internship, or volunteer opportunities can be maximized by your in-country location, allowing you to open doors to new areas that would have been difficult to find from the US.
- Allows initial support with a study program, followed by a more independent opportunity that will allow for personal and professional growth
- Offers the possibility to build on what you learned in the classroom in a professional or community context
- Solidifies language and communication skills you gained while studying abroad
- Studying first may help build a support system to ease the transition to a more independent opportunity
- Paid opportunities may contribute to funding for your study abroad experience or other financial obligations
Challenges
- Requires advance planning to meet application, visa, insurance, and other logistical requirements for both opportunities prior to departure for the first experience
- Some students are not ready to arrange a work, intern, or volunteer program independently or to commit to additional time abroad
- Work, intern, or volunteer schedule may restrict travel opportunities
Working While Studying
Sometimes it is possible to work while studying abroad, just as you might work while studying on campus at the University of Minnesota. While this is often a positive opportunity, there can be more potential complications doing this abroad than at home. It is generally to your benefit to explore this option only if you have experience succesfully working while studying in the U.S.
Start by talking with you program's study abroad advisers. On some programs, the academic schedule or rigor makes it impossible to simultaneously work and suceed academically. If your program's advisers tell you that working while studying may be an option, here are more points to consider:
Benefits
- Experience deeper immersion in the host culture
- Experience non-academic host culture
- Get to know more people from a wider spectrum of the host culture (not just students)
- Earn money to help pay for your study abroad or for financial obligations at home
Challenges
- You may need more study time abroad than in the US
- Your work schedule can limit your free time and freedom to travel
Questions
- Is it legally possible to work while studying in my program's country?
- Are visa requirements different?
- Is it realistic to expect that I can find employment in my host country?
- Can I find work for which my language skills are sufficient?
- Am I plannig a healthy balance between studies, work, community/extracurricular group inovlvement, and personal leisure? Because of the time and energy needed to adjust to and become involved in a foreign culture, leave yourself more free time than you need at home.
Intern or Volunteer as Part of a Study Abroad Program
Several study programs offer students the option of participating in an internship course as part of their academic curriculum. Study programs with an internship component allow students to gain academic credit as well as practical skills and experience through a placement in their field of study. Many study programs also arrange volunteer opportunities for participants. Volunteer options through study programs may be semester- or year-long commitments or may involve a weekend of community service.
Last modified on May 20, 2008 |