Interested in learning what it’s really like to intern abroad in Spain? Hear from Nicole, an international relations and global studies major and business Spanish minor at the University of Texas at Austin, who spent her summer gaining legal experience in Barcelona as a law intern.
Discover how Nicole’s internship in Barcelona with AIFS Abroad confirmed her passion for law and showed her what it looks like to build a life abroad.
Choosing an Intern Abroad Destination
Deciding where to study or intern abroad looks different for everyone. Some students begin with a specific destination in mind, while others start by exploring programs that align with their major or career goals.
As a Spanish speaker interested in learning more about legal systems in other countries, Nicole landed on an intern abroad program in Barcelona:
“I have always known that I want to pursue law school after completing my bachelor’s degree, but before taking that next step, I wanted to give myself the opportunity to see how law can differ across countries and legal systems. Barcelona felt like the perfect place to do that. Spanish is my primary language, which made the transition easier, while still allowing me to challenge myself professionally in a completely different environment.”
In addition to its colorful Catalan culture, Nicole also appreciated Barcelona’s distinct career opportunities:
“I also loved that Barcelona has become such an intersection of business, culture, and international opportunities. There is so much happening in the city and being there allowed me to learn not only through my internship, but also through the people, culture, and professional environment around me.”
Deciding When to Intern Abroad
When’s the best time to intern abroad? Well, that depends on your academic timeline, degree requirements, and personal preferences. For someone like Nicole who was unable to spend a full semester abroad, summer term was an ideal choice:
“I chose to intern abroad during the summer because it was the term that worked best with my academic schedule. I would not have been able to spend a full fall or spring semester abroad, so summer gave me the perfect opportunity to have an international experience without having to step away from my responsibilities at my home university.”
AIFS Abroad Career Readiness Scholarship
As a charity-owned organization, AIFS Abroad is proud to offer several scholarships and grants that make our study and intern abroad programs more accessible. One such scholarship is the Career Readiness Scholarship, which is awarded to applicants like Nicole who demonstrate how an upcoming internship will help them achieve their professional goals:
“Receiving the AIFS Abroad Career Readiness Scholarship really made a difference in my experience in Barcelona. Being selected for a scholarship focused on career readiness made me feel like I truly belonged in this experience and that I was a good fit for the opportunity I had been given. That honestly helped me enjoy my time abroad even more.
I felt more confident going into my internship, learning new things, asking questions, and pushing myself professionally. It was really rewarding to feel that AIFS Abroad saw potential in me and supported the direction I want to take with my career.”
Why Intern Abroad?
Career benefits are just one of many reasons why college students and recent grads choose to intern abroad.
For Nicole, interning abroad was a chance to branch out and experience what daily life is really like in another country:
“I wanted to intern abroad because I wanted to experience what it was like to actually build a life and routine somewhere completely different. I did not just want to visit another country as a tourist. I wanted to wake up, go to work, commute, meet people, and experience what everyday life could look like somewhere else.”
As she noted, this unique experience of living and interning abroad comes with some real personal advantages:
“I think every college student or recent graduate should have the opportunity to travel or live abroad at least once if they can. Experiences like this make you more independent and teach you to appreciate the small things so much more…
More than anything, living abroad reminds you that there is such a big world outside of what you already know. There are new people to meet, new ways of living, and so many opportunities to grow.”
Internship Experience
AIFS Abroad international internships place you in a role that’s directly aligned with your career goals. As someone who wants to go to law school after graduation, Nicole’s legal internship in Barcelona was extremely valuable and gave her first-hand insight into the legal profession:
“I was placed with a law firm in Barcelona, where I worked as a legal intern in the Immigration Department. This placement became one of the most meaningful parts of my experience abroad because it gave me the opportunity to see what working in law actually looks like in another country. Also, I am beyond grateful for my incredible on-site [Program Director], Inma Lopez, for making this placement a reality.”
Like all AIFS Abroad international internships, Nicole’s position helped her build real-world career skills:
“My responsibilities were very hands-on. I assisted with different immigration and residency cases, including Digital Nomad visas, student visas, Golden Visa renewals, EU Blue Card applications, nationality cases, and other residence procedures. I also helped prepare documentation, translations, government fees, and applications through different Spanish legal and immigration platforms. I also had the opportunity to accompany clients to appointments at the Town Hall and the notary, which made the experience feel even more real because I was able to see how the legal process worked beyond the office.”
The opportunity to build a global network and make meaningful connections is another major benefit of interning abroad. For Nicole, it was one of the best parts of her experience:
“What I loved most about my internship was the people. From the beginning, I felt welcomed, supported, and trusted, and over time the team became much more than just coworkers to me… My coworkers honestly became my best friends… and spending so much time together made the internship feel like much more than just work. They became such an important part of my life in Barcelona and one of the biggest reasons the city started to feel like home.”
Professional Development
AIFS Abroad intern abroad programs also support professional development opportunities outside the internship. In Nicole’s case, this involved a networking event where she got to meet other industry professionals:
“One of the things I am most grateful for is that my experience abroad gave me opportunities to meet professionals outside of my internship as well. During an activity organized by the AIFS Abroad team with our internship supervisors, I had the opportunity to meet [other professionals in Barcelona].
I really appreciated being able to have conversations with people working in different industries and learn about their careers and experiences in Barcelona. It reminded me that networking does not always have to feel formal or intimidating.”
Language Learning
Many AIFS Abroad internship programs do not require foreign language fluency. However, if you are a fluent Spanish speaker (like Nicole), getting a Spanish-speaking internship is a unique opportunity to practice the language in a professional setting.
For anyone looking to study or intern abroad in a country where English is not the primary language, Nicole offers the following advice:
“Embrace the culture and be open-minded about learning new things. Even if you already speak the main language, there is still so much to learn from the people, expressions, traditions, and everyday life around you. The more open you are to the culture, the more meaningful the experience becomes.”
Making Friends Abroad
Having a familiar face in Barcelona helped Nicole settle into her new environment and start building a broader social circle right away:
“I was actually very lucky because my best friend from high school was already living in Barcelona, so I did not arrive feeling completely alone. Through him, I was able to meet his friends, and many of them quickly became my friends too.”
Don’t know anyone in your host city like Nicole did? No worries! Whether you’re setting out alone or you know someone in your program destination, AIFS Abroad has you covered. Our programs are designed to help you meet fellow participants and make friends from the get-go through program housing, as well as included trips and activities:
“I also met new people through AIFS and different activities throughout the program. My biggest advice for future participants is to be open and willing to connect with people.”
AIFS Abroad Activities & Excursions
In addition to helping you make friends, AIFS Abroad activities and excursions let you learn more about the culture of your program destination and explore your host city and country with a trusted local guide.
Nicole’s favorite? Seeing the world-famous Sagrada Família:
“My favorite activity was visiting the Sagrada Família and finally getting the opportunity to see it from the inside. This was my first time living in Barcelona, but a few weeks before the AIFS visit, I had already gone to see the Sagrada Família with my sister and friends. We had admired it from the outside, so I was really grateful when I found out that one of our program activities would give me the chance to experience the interior as well.
Seeing it from the inside was completely different. The architecture is absolutely stunning, but what impressed me the most was the light coming through the stained-glass windows and how different the entire space felt once you were inside.”
Cultural Appreciation
Interning abroad lets you experience the culture from a more local perspective. Unlike a short-term tourist rushing between popular sites, you have time to slow down, explore the neighborhoods, and immerse yourself more deeply in the culture.
One of the things Nicole appreciated most about Barcelona was how quickly the city and its people made her welcome:
“From the beginning, people were warm, friendly, and open, which helped me feel at home very quickly. I loved being surrounded by a different culture, learning how people lived, and becoming part of the rhythm of the city. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by the differences, I found myself excited to experience them.”
Food also became one of Nicole’s favorite ways to delve into the culture:
“The food was also such a big part of my experience. I loved going out for tapas, trying different dishes, and seeing how meals were not just about eating, but also about spending time together and enjoying the moment.”
As she discovered, there was always a fascinating cultural experience she could step into:
“I also really enjoyed experiencing Spanish music and dance, especially flamenco. Between the food, the language, the music, and the energy of the city, I felt like I was constantly learning something new about the culture around me.”
Personal & Professional Growth
For many AIFS Abroad participants, studying and interning abroad is nothing short of transformative. But don’t take it from us; hear Nicole break down the impact of her international internship:
“Interning abroad became one of the most meaningful experiences of my academic and professional journey. It challenged me to grow personally, pushed me outside of what was familiar, and gave me the opportunity to see my future goals from a completely different perspective.”
Nicole’s internship also helped her connect what she’d learned in the classroom to real-world legal work:
“Academically, the experience allowed me to connect what I study in international relations with the real world. Seeing how immigration and legal processes operate in another country gave me a deeper appreciation for the international nature of law and reinforced many of the interests that have shaped my studies.”
And thanks to her experience with AIFS Abroad, Nicole feels a lot more confident about her future in the field of law:
“Professionally, my internship confirmed so much for me. I had always known that I wanted to pursue law school, but working directly with clients, immigration cases, and legal processes helped me see that this is truly a field where I can picture myself growing. I returned from Barcelona with greater confidence in my goals and an even stronger interest in pursuing a career connected to law, migration, and international affairs.”
AIFS Abroad On-Site Staff & Support
Did you know every AIFS Abroad program includes on-site support? As Nicole noted, having someone there she could trust played an important role in making her experience a positive one:
“I am especially grateful to my [Program Directors] in Spain, Inma López and Alba Conesa, who made such a difference in my experience. Their support, kindness, and the way they made us feel cared for throughout the program meant so much to me.”
Advice from Nicole
For anyone thinking of studying or interning abroad, Nicole offers the following advice:
“Do it, even if it scares you. Studying or interning abroad can feel intimidating because you are stepping away from what is familiar and putting yourself in a completely new environment. But that is also where so much of the growth happens.
You will never be this young again, and you may never have the exact same opportunity, freedom, or moment in your life to take a chance like this. Go, meet new people, say yes to experiences, try the food, learn from the culture, make mistakes, and let yourself grow.”
Ready to take Nicole’s advice? AIFS Abroad is here to help you start your journey!
As Nicole discovered in Barcelona, an international internship is about more than boosting your resume. It’s an opportunity to gain professional experience, explore a new culture from the inside, build meaningful relationships, and grow in ways you may never expect.
At AIFS Abroad, we’re here to help make extraordinary experiences like Nicole’s possible. With inclusions such as housing, integrated career readiness, comprehensive insurance, 24/7 emergency support, on-site staff, and cultural and social activities and excursions, our programs are designed to help you make the most of every moment abroad while building skills that will set you up for success back home—or wherever you go next.
