Senior year of college is a great time to do an internship. As you enter the job pool after graduation, a solid internship in your career field will help set you apart from the competition.
What’s even better than a standard internship in your home country is an international internship. An international internship will let you travel and experience new cultures all while you advance your career in a city overseas.
Are you a fourth-year college student who’s wondering, “Can seniors intern abroad?” or “Is senior year too late to intern abroad?” Yes, seniors can intern abroad, and no, it’s not too late them to do so, depending on two main factors that we’ll discuss below.
AIFS Abroad offers incredible internship opportunities for seniors in college. Learn about international internship requirements, how to intern abroad as a senior, and why it’s a great option for fourth-year students.
Why Intern Abroad as a Senior?
Senior year is an extremely popular time to intern abroad. By this point, you probably have some ideas of which direction you want to take your career after graduation. An internship abroad as a fourth-year student lets you gain experience in your preferred career field, so you’ll be a step ahead once you graduate.
Benefits to interning abroad as a senior in college include:
- Impress future employers: An internship abroad will help you stand out when it comes time to apply for jobs. It shows you are serious about your career and are comfortable working with people from various backgrounds. Hands-on experience in an international city is sure to set you apart from the competition!
- Test out various careers: Before you enter the workforce, a senior year international internship is the perfect opportunity to try out different career paths and learn which direction is right for your professional future.
- Improve your industry knowledge: Learning in class is one thing, but applying that knowledge to your industry is another! An international internship will allow you to take everything you’ve learned in school and use it as context for building real-world skills.
- Develop a global network: Leaving the country for an international city abroad means plenty of chances to forge relationships with people from all around the world. This will help you build a global network that spans continents and will benefit you later in your career!
- Increase independence: After college, you’ll likely become a lot more independent very quickly. An international internship will let you practice living alone in a new environment while you develop your career (however, with an AIFS Abroad internship, you won’t be isolated—more on that below!).
Intern Abroad Requirements
Yes, seniors in college can intern abroad. AIFS Abroad provides a wide variety of internship opportunities across many career fields and international destinations for college students of all grades and even recent graduates. College students often choose to intern abroad during their senior year so they have some hands-on professional experience before they graduate. While most students are eligible during their senior year of college, it may depend on your school’s policies and course load.
Some colleges and universities require students to earn credits while they intern abroad. Fortunately, AIFS Abroad offers students the option to earn credits during their international internship programs. This makes it easy to earn transferable credits abroad—allowing you to satisfy your school’s requirements while gaining valuable career experience at your internship.
Another factor to consider is your specific major requirements—if you have specific courses you need to take for your major, it could affect your international internship eligibility. However, AIFS Abroad’s internship courses may be able to satisfy these requirements, so please connect with our team if you have any specific questions related to your major or course credits.
If you’re a senior interested in a study abroad experience but would also like the career-focused benefits of an intern abroad program, AIFS Abroad has your back! We offer unique Study + Internship programs that combine elements of the study abroad experience with a part-time internship, so you don’t have to choose!
How to Intern Abroad as a Senior
For most college seniors, the benefits of interning abroad are endless—all you have to do is apply!
You may want to reach out to your college advisor to discuss your academic requirements. Just tell them you’re interested in an AIFS Abroad international internship!
If your major or course availability prevents you from interning during the fall or spring semesters, there are summer internships that may be the perfect fit—even after graduation!
TLDR: The short answer to “How to intern abroad as a senior” is apply here!
AIFS Abroad Internship Advantages
An AIFS Abroad international internship program includes many amazing benefits for college seniors, such as:
- Guaranteed internship placement: Once you’ve been accepted to our program, you’ll choose two approved career fields, and then we guarantee an internship placement in one of your preferred fields.
- Integrated career readiness: Our program includes integrated career readiness features that are designed to help you prepare for your internship, handle any problems during your program, and land a job after program completion. We’ll even help you review your professional documents and develop the perfect cover letter!
- Safe & central housing: All AIFS Abroad interns are placed in safe and central housing within a residence. You’ll have a single room, and your residence includes 24/7 security for your safety.
- On-site support: You won’t be left out in the cold with AIFS Abroad. All interns will have an on-site Program Director who will meet you as soon as they arrive. On-site staff will be able to support you throughout the duration of your program.
- Activities and excursions: Our program includes cultural and social activities in addition to excursions and day trips. These experiences will let you learn more about the history and culture of your program destination and get you to bond with other AIFS Abroad program participants.
AIFS Abroad internship program inclusions don’t end there! Learn more about our internship programs.
Launch your career and immerse yourself in new cultures before graduation with an AIFS Abroad international internship!
Interning abroad as a senior is a way to set yourself up for professional success before you graduate. You can boost your resume, gain hands-on professional experience, and travel the world, all while you soak up the culture of your international destination. Additionally, AIFS Abroad offers unbeatable internship program inclusions such as student housing, integrated career readiness, 24/7 emergency support, on-site support staff, and excursions and day trips to enrich your experience. Launch your career as a fourth-year college student with an AIFS Abroad international internship!
