Curious what it’s really like to intern abroad in Germany? We recently caught up with Adrian, an accounting major pursuing a certificate in sports media from the University of Georgia, who spent her summer interning abroad in Berlin.
Discover how Adrian’s intern abroad program in Berlin helped her build career confidence and travel Europe.
Choosing an Intern Abroad Program
Struggling to choose a study or intern abroad location? You’re not alone! Fortunately, the AIFS Abroad program finder makes it easy to filter programs based on academic and professional interests, term, country, and more! As you narrow down your options, consider what matters most to you, whether that’s a specific academic opportunity, a type of internship, or simply a city where you can picture yourself thriving.
Here’s why Adrian settled on an intern abroad program in Berlin:
“I chose Berlin because it’s an exciting city to live in, and it’s central and easy to get around. That made it simple to commute to my internship and explore on my own.”
When to intern abroad is another important decision. For college students who don’t want to miss out on anything happening on campus at their home universities during fall and spring semesters, a summerprogram can offer the best of both worlds—turns out you really can have it all!
“I chose the summer term because I didn’t want to miss a semester in my college town. Going in the summer also let me focus fully on my internship without worrying about classes.”
Preparing Family & Support Systems
Families sometimes have concerns about interning abroad. To help them feel more confident and better understand our programs, AIFS Abroad offers a wide range of helpful resources for parents and families.
When Adrian’s family learned about our on-site staff in Berlin, they felt a lot more comfortable with her decision to intern abroad:
“Two things helped my family feel comfortable with my decision. First, I went with one of my best friends, so I never felt like I was doing this alone. Second, AIFS had on-site [staff] who were there to support us once we arrived. During my commute to my internship each day, I made a habit of checking in with my family, which kept them in the loop and made the distance feel smaller!”
Internship Experience
Interning abroad provides the unique opportunity to gain professional experience in an international environment. As someone pursuing a certificate in sports media, Adrian’s sports marketing internship in Berlin was an excellent fit.
Adrian’s internship abroad gave her a taste of professional life, complete with a hybrid work schedule and even occasional company lunches:
“My internship was in person Tuesday through Thursday, 9:30 to 5:30, and virtual on Mondays and Fridays. The company was flexible with our schedules, which left time to travel. Another intern and I worked together on finding potential sales clients and creating marketing videos for social media. Every two weeks, the team went out to a company lunch, which was a great way to bond with my coworkers.”
Every AIFS Abroad international internship includes hands-on experience related to your professional interests. For Adrian, researching prospective clients and producing social media videos offered a closer look at how a sports-tech company develops its business:
“I researched potential sales clients and partners across global sports markets, and I helped create marketing videos for the company’s social media. The client research taught me how a sports-tech company identifies and approaches opportunities, and the videos strengthened my content creation skills”
Professional Development
AIFS Abroad provides international interns with integrated career readiness programming before, during, and after the program. A main feature of this programming is the CliftonStrengths assessment, which helps participants identify their strengths alongside a certified Gallup Strengths coach who is there to support their professional development.
Adrian found that the assessment and personalized resume reviews helped put that experience into words for future employers:
“Before and during my program, the professional development tools provided by AIFS were game changers, particularly the CliftonStrengths assessment and personalized resume reviews. Taking the CliftonStrengths assessment gave me a clear, articulated understanding of my unique strengths, while the targeted resume advising helped me translate my international experiences into powerful selling points for my career.”
Adrian also gained important soft skills she can apply to her future roles and personal life:
“The top three skills I gained were adaptability, confidence, and becoming more personable. I adapted to a new city, a new work culture, and a hybrid schedule in a small startup. I grew more confident by taking on real sales research and social media video projects and getting direct feedback from my team. Working closely with coworkers and bonding at company lunches helped me become more personable and comfortable in a professional setting.”
In addition to honing her professional skillset, the experience helped Adrian narrow down a career direction, with lessons already carrying over into academic and leadership roles back home:
“Navigating an unfamiliar industry and global business environment built a strong sense of career confidence and self-reliance that I bring directly into my academic and leadership roles at home. This international experience confirmed my passion for sports marketing and global business, giving me a clear direction and a competitive edge as I pursue my future goals.”
That connection to the sports industry could continue beyond Berlin, as Adrian’s host company offered an opportunity to support its U.S. sales expansion:
“As [my host company] expands into the U.S., the company offered me the chance to come back and help with sales initiatives here in the States. The experience also made me much more interested in sports marketing, since I got to work on both client research and social media content for a sports-tech company.”
Since returning from Berlin, Adrian has become an AIFS Abroad Global Engagement and Marketing (GEM) Intern. Through this paid program, AIFS Abroad alumni like Adrian support international education on campus, develop career-relevant skills, and share their experiences with students considering going abroad.
Overseas Work Culture
Doing an international internship is a great opportunity to see what work culture is like abroad. As Adrian discovered, the work culture at her host company in Berlin felt less rushed compared to the fast-paced American work culture she was familiar with:
“I [interned] at a small startup, and the culture felt close-knit and collaborative. What stood out most compared to an American work environment was the pace. People took longer lunch breaks and treated them as real time to connect, and that camaraderie carried back into the work. I appreciated the slower, more balanced rhythm and found it made the team stronger.”
Navigating Language Barriers
Worried you have to master a new language to intern abroad? Fortunately, many AIFS Abroad programs do not require you to be fluent in another language, including some of our intern abroad programs. Though German is the primary language in Berlin, Adrian discovered that most people spoke English:
“There was a language barrier at times, but most people spoke English, and my internship was conducted in English, so I didn’t need German to take part in the program. I picked up a few basic phrases while I was there, which helped with everyday things around the city. My advice is to learn some basic phrases before you go, since locals appreciate the effort even if you can get by with English.”
AIFS Abroad Activities & Excursions
AIFS Abroad international internships are designed to immerse you in your host destination—all while you gain hands-on professional experience. Every program includes cultural activities, trips, and excursions that help you experience the people, places, history, and culture that make your destination unique.
Three excursions that Adrian took in Germany included trips to Peacock Island, Dresden, and a concentration camp memorial site:
“Exploring the beauty and historic architecture of Peacock Island provided a refreshing outdoor escape, while visiting Dresden allowed us to experience the stunning restored art and culture of Saxony. Touring the concentration camp memorial was a deeply moving and educational experience that left a lasting impact on all of us. These thoughtfully guided trips gave us a much deeper, well-rounded appreciation for German history beyond our daily lives in Berlin.”
Weekend Trips
In addition to traveling with AIFS Abroad, most interns enjoy plenty of opportunities to travel on their own or with friends. During her time in Berlin, Adrian went on several weekend trips from Berlin to other cities across Europe:
“Weekend trips were definitely a highlight of my time abroad, as I had the opportunity to travel to incredible destinations like Paris, Amsterdam, Prague, and Croatia… My absolute favorite trip was to Budapest, which I found to be one of the most underrated cities in Europe. Budapest completely blew me away with its breathtaking architecture, incredible historic charm, and how amazingly walkable the entire city was to explore.”
Housing
Vetted by our on-site staff, you can rest assured that with AIFS Abroad, your intern abroad housing will be up to our award-winning standards! In Berlin, Adrian stayed in a studio apartment next door to other program participants, providing her with the perfect mix of privacy and community:
“During my internship in Berlin, I lived in a studio apartment featuring a single bedroom with my own private kitchen and bathroom. I loved the prime location in the heart of Berlin, but the best part was having all the interns housed in the exact same building, which created an immediate, supportive community.”
She emphasized that having that built-in support system made adjusting to life in Berlin much easier:
“While adapting to independent living and daily routines in a new foreign city initially presented a slight adjustment, living alongside my peers made the transition seamless. Together, we explored the neighborhood, shared practical tips, and quickly turned our living situation into a welcoming home base.”
Why AIFS Abroad?
With trusted programs across more than 30 destinations worldwide that focus on immersive cultural experiences, hands-on academic learning, and skills-based professional development, it’s easy to see why so many college students choose AIFS Abroad. Add on our over six decades of experience and more than 1.8 million students served, and many people don’t have to think twice.
For Adrian, the decision to go with AIFS Abroad became clear when she learned more about the hands-on experience our internships guarantee:
“I chose AIFS because it offered a hands-on experience with real professional development… I heard that AIFS was a reliable organization, and it delivered!”
Knowing she could rely on our trusted on-site staff made Adrian feel much more confident after she landed in Berlin:
“Once on the ground, the incredible on-site staff made a strong impression, as they led engaging group excursions and offered fantastic local recommendations for dining, hidden spots, and weekend travel. The combination of career preparation before departure and authentic local insights during the trip ensured I felt fully supported every step of the way.”
Reflecting on her intern abroad program in Berlin and all the people that made her experience so special, Adrian added:
“I am deeply grateful to AIFS Abroad, my supervisors at [my host company], and the incredible community of friends and interns who made every single day so special. Ultimately, this experience didn’t just give me incredible memories; it gave me a global mindset and a clear, excited vision for everything ahead.”
Are you a college student or recent grad who wants to intern abroad like Adrian did in Germany? We’d love to help you start your journey!
What makes a great intern abroad experience? For college students and recent grads like Adrian, it’s the combination of meaningful professional experience, career readiness programming, cultural immersion, comfortable housing, and a community of fellow participants who become part of the journey. At AIFS Abroad, those pieces come together to help students grow both personally and professionally while exploring the world.
We’ve helped more than 1.8 million students study and intern abroad with confidence. Now it’s your turn. Explore our programs and take the next step toward building new skills, expanding your perspective, and creating memories that will stay with you for years to come.
