
Program Details
Program Eligibility
About
Participate in a 4-credit internship opportunity that links a virtual internship with an on-site internship. Work culture around the world is changing, and this program will give you the opportunity to learn and develop practical and valuable skills through an internship experience in the virtual world during the spring semester and then in-person in Buenos Aires in May.
You’ll begin the experience by working on projects from the US for an organization in Buenos Aires. In May, you will then travel to Buenos Aires and meet your supervisor and other colleagues in-person, and continue to develop your skills and relationships by interning with them in-person for three weeks. This program will add a global perspective to your professional work experience.




Program Model
Housing & Meals
Apartment
Shared apartments are fully furnished, include cooking facilities and are conveniently located within a short walking distance of the classroom building. Breakfast is included at the apartments each day. You will be responsible for providing lunches and dinners throughout the program.
Homestay
Most students who choose a homestay, cite this as one of the highlights of their experience, since it offers you a unique opportunity to connect with the culture, practice your Spanish, and observe daily life in Argentina.
Most families have hosted students in the past and are committed to helping ease your transition into city life.
As in the US, families in Argentina are diverse and vary greatly in terms of the composition and ages of family members. In your application, you can express some basic preferences about the type of host family you would like. About half of families are able to accommodate two or more students, so you may be placed with another student from the program.
Host family homes are scattered throughout the city, and typical commute times range from 30–60 minutes, including some combination of public transportation (bus, subway) and walking.
Excursions
A city tour of Buenos Aires and an excursion outside of Buenos Aires will add cultural context to your internship experience.
Flight
The Learning Abroad Center works with Village Travel, a local travel agency, to arrange a coordinated flight for program participants. The flight is optional, and is arranged for those who want to fly with other program participants. Group flight information is typically available by the program application deadline, if not before.
Ground transportation from the Ministro Pistarini International Airport (airport code: EZE) into Buenos Aires is provided by our partner organization and the cost is included in the program fee. The transportation schedule aligns with the group flight arrival time. Our partner organization comes to the airport once to collect everyone.
Therefore, you can either book a ticket on the coordinated group flight, or book a flight independently that arrives prior to the group flight's arrival. If you arrive late and miss the group, you may be responsible for arranging and paying for your own transportation into the city.
For immigration purposes, you should purchase a round-trip ticket, since you must be able to show your entry and exit dates from Argentina.
Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
- Communicate and navigate effectively in a global, virtual environment
- Gain culture specific knowledge of work placement country
- Understand your own values, skills, and behaviors and how different values and communication styles may impact workplace dynamics; develop strategies for adapting to these differences
- Identify and articulate skills and experiences necessary to reach future career goals; develop learning objectives for the virtual internship site that will help you move toward these career aspirations
- Conduct your work during the internship utilizing best practices around professional behavior within a virtual work environment
- Understand and practice tolerance of different cultural assumptions
- Use a comparative framework in essays and dialogue with fellow students to examine cultural and professional aspects of work and how COVID-19 has impacted these environments
- Research and analyze the placement country’s workplace, particularly in terms of social media and online presence, including language, norms, values, and economic assumptions, and compare this virtual environment to the US
Program Structure
One 4-credit virtual internship course as well as 12–20 hours per week at your internship placement.
Course Schedule
Spring 2025
Course Dates & Times
January 27: Internship course begins
February 3: Internship placement begins
Late May: Internship course and placement ends
The class meets synchronously 6 times throughout the semester for 2 hours each. Our expectation is that you are able to make it to all synchronous sessions, listed below:
- Monday, January 27: 3:30–5:30
- Monday, February 3: 3:30–5:30
- Monday, February 24: 3:30–5:30
- Monday, March 31: 3:30–5:30
- Monday, April 7: 3:30–5:30
- Monday, May 5: 3:30–5:30
Study Abroad Dates
May 17: Depart US
May 18: Arrive in Argentina
June 7: Depart Argentina
Coursework
The 4-credit linked internship course will consist of lectures, small-group discussions, readings, posting to prompts, blogs, essays, a mock interview, and a presentation. Along with the class, you’ll be assigned projects for about 10–15 hours per week at your internship placement during the semester and 20 hours per week while you are abroad. You must complete a minimum of 120 hours with your internship in order to pass the course. The course will help you apply in-class knowledge to your work and understand your newly developed professional skills to articulate in professional situations.
For Spanish majors and minors: In the past, the program could be counted as an elective without a Critical Analysis prerequisite provided that you complete your assignments in Spanish and conduct your internship in Spanish. Consult the Spanish Department for approval.
Virtual Internship Syllabus (PDF)
Internship Placements
The majority of placements are available in Spanish, with a limited number of placements available in English. Placements in Spanish require a minimum of 4 semesters of college-level Spanish (SPAN 1004), or equivalent proficiency.
Internships are available in a variety of fields and industries including:
- Art History
- Art Management
- Business
- Communications
- Creative Arts/Writing
- Education
- Environment/Sustainability
- Finance
- Fundraising & Philosophy
- Human Resources
- International Relations
- Law
- Marketing
- Nonprofit
Past Internship Examples
Administrative Assistant—International Relations
Consejo para las Relaciones Internacionales
Description: Assist with general administrative tasks related to international relations and foreign policy
Internship language: Spanish
Language prerequisite: SPAN 1004 or equivalent
Human Rights Project Assistant
Fundación Encontrarse en la Diversidad
Description: Assist with inclusion and diversity projects in the areas of social sciences, communications, technology, graphic and web design, international relations
Internship language: English
Language prerequisite: None
Research Assistant—Art Curation
ESEADE Instituto Universitario
Description: Research art curatorship within Latin America and Argentina.
Internship language: Spanish
Language prerequisite: SPAN 1004 or equivalent proficiency
Research Assistant—Service Learning
CLAYS (Centro Latinoamericano de Aprendizaje y Servicio)
Description: Conduct research on service learning and assist with administrative tasks.
Internship language: Spanish
Language prerequisite: SPAN 1004 or equivalent proficiency
Dates Details
Submit the online application and complete the assigned application checklist according to the appropriate deadline:
Term | Course Dates | On-site Dates | Application Open Date | Application Deadline |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spring 2025 on-campus, May 2025 abroad | Late January to Late May | May 18–June 7 | May 1 | November 1 |
Orientation Dates & Locations
The Learning Abroad Center provides pre-departure orientation in preparation for your time abroad. It is your responsibility to know the information shared at these orientations.
Orientation consists of several sessions, all of which are created to support your preparation to go abroad:
- Online Health & Safety Orientation: This asynchronous module can be accessed in your LAC checklist and is mandatory.
- LAC Program Orientation: Program-specific and important UofM registration information will be covered (academic registration, finances, arrival, housing etc.). Details will be sent to you via email.
The Learning Abroad Center also offers 2 optional orientations:
Fees
May 2025 Cost of Participation
The tuition rate for this 4-credit course is the same as other undergraduate UMTC courses and will be billed to your UofM student account. If you are already taking 13 credits during spring semester, you can add the virtual international internship course at no additional tuition costs, but will be billed the additional on-site Cost of Participation, linked above. Visit Onestop for additional information about tuition costs. If you are registered for less than 13-credits you will be charged tuition for this course in addition to the program fee. Notify the Learning Abroad Center if this applies to you.
In addition to the tuition, you will be charged a program fee for the May term on-site portion of the program, which is linked above. This will include on-site support, housing, international health insurance, and a few local excursions. You must also budget for a flight, passport and passport photos, meals, spending money, and other miscellaneous living expenses.
Billing & Payments
Visit Billing for information about the billing process for application fees, deposits, and program fees.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Visit Financial Information for information on using financial aid and scholarships for study abroad.
Cancellation Policy
Before you apply to or confirm your participation on this program, review the Learning Abroad Center's Cancellation Policy to inform yourself of the timeline and financial obligations for canceling.
May 2025
Linked Internships: UofMN to Buenos AiresApartment 1—Shared ApartmentMay Session 2025 (Spring on campus course) |
|
---|---|
Program Fee
|
|
Non-refundable deposit | $400 |
Tuition and educational costs | $1,181 |
International health insurance | $44 |
Housing and/or mealsIncludes breakfast | $1,070 |
Transportation (if required and included in program fee) | $0 |
Total Program Fee | $2,695 |
Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable | $0 |
Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable | $2,695 |
Estimated Additional Expenses
|
|
Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad. | |
Transportation to and from program siteAirfare to and from Buenos Aires | $2,000 |
Passport/photos | $150 |
Visa/required documents | $0 |
Travel clinic/immunizations* | $0 |
Housing deposit | $0 |
Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure | $2,150 |
Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country | |
Texts/materials | $50 |
Housing and/or meals not included in program feeLunch and dinner daily | $420 |
Essential daily living expensesIncludes cost of required cell phone, toiletries, personal expenses, etc. | $150 |
Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country | $620 |
Total Estimated Cost of Participation
|
|
Total Estimated Cost of Participation | $5,465 |
Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation | $300 |
Additional Notes & Information | |
* Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage. |
Linked Internships: UofMN to Buenos AiresHomestay 1—HomestayMay Session 2025 (Spring on campus course) |
|
---|---|
Program Fee
|
|
Non-refundable deposit | $400 |
Tuition and educational costs | $1,181 |
International health insurance | $44 |
Housing and/or mealsBreakfast and dinner included | $820 |
Transportation (if required and included in program fee) | $0 |
Total Program Fee | $2,445 |
Program discount for University of Minnesota and Big Ten students, if applicable | $0 |
Total Program Fee with discount, if applicable | $2,445 |
Estimated Additional Expenses
|
|
Costs Typically Incurred Prior to Departure These costs may need to be paid before your financial aid is disbursed for your term abroad. | |
Transportation to and from program siteAirfare to and from Buenos Aires | $2,000 |
Passport/photos | $150 |
Visa/required documents | $0 |
Travel clinic/immunizations* | $0 |
Housing deposit | $0 |
Total Estimated Cost Incurred Prior to Departure | $2,150 |
Costs Typically Incurred After Arrival in Host Country | |
Texts/materials | $50 |
Housing and/or meals not included in program feeLunches daily | $210 |
Essential daily living expensesIncludes cost of required cell phone, toiletries, personal expenses, etc. | $150 |
Total Estimated Cost Incurred After Arrival in Host Country | $410 |
Total Estimated Cost of Participation
|
|
Total Estimated Cost of Participation | $5,005 |
Spending money and personal travel Not included in financial aid calculation | $300 |
Additional Notes & Information | |
* Immunizations Note: This estimate is based on approximate cost of travel-related vaccinations and medications required for entry or recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your costs may be higher or lower depending on your travel clinic, the specific immunizations and medication prescribed, and your insurance coverage. |
Prepare
Complete pre-application advising.
Apply
You will be charged a $50 application fee for each application you submit.
Complete
After you submit your application, you will receive an email notification confirming that your application was received. Submitted applications are assigned an application checklist, which will include the following items:
- Cover Letter
- Resume
Detailed descriptions and instructions for submitting each checklist item are included on the application checklist assigned to you.
Next Steps
After the above application is complete, it will be reviewed by our program team. You will be notified of an acceptance decision by email. Our onsite internship coordinator with then work to find you a suitable internship placement in your field, and you may also be asked to conduct interviews with potential internship placements.
To accept your internship placement you will complete the Confirmation & Payment Agreement. If you decide not to continue with the application process, log into the online application system and submit a Cancel Request.
Register for On-Campus Course
Once you are confirmed in the program, the Learning Abroad Center will register you in the 4-credit Virtual Internship course. No other action is needed from you to register for the course. You will not be able to withdraw from this course on your own, you will need to contact the Learning Abroad Center.
After You Apply
Before your program begins, review these resources.
Health & Safety
Learn more about staying healthy and safe abroad, including mental health and wellness, international travel insurance, and safety precautions.
Power of Attorney
Consider designating someone as your power of attorney to act as your legal representative while you’re abroad.
Student Identity
Consult our resources on student identities as you prepare for your abroad experience.
Travel Resources
Ready to go abroad? Our travel resources will help you pack and learn what to expect.
Program Contact
We encourage you to reach out early in the process if you have questions about available placements, so that our advisers can help guide you to the location that works best for your skills, experience, and internship goals.
For further information or questions about this program, send an email to
Contact Program Alum
Below is a list of additional students who participated in past program sessions. They are ready and willing to answer your questions about this program. Feel free to contact them during your decision-making process or anytime during your pre-departure preparation to get a student perspective.
- Savanna H.—Global Studies and Communication Studies major, Spanish minor, Spring 2024