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Internships and Volunteering Abroad for College Students

Make the world your classroom and focus on career development and experiential learning

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1-3 of 136 Projects

Projects Abroad Conservation volunteers build an eco-wall using recycled plastic in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.
Giant Tortoise & Sea Lion Conservation in the Galapagos Islands
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  • Price: $3,000 USD for 1 week
  • Extra Weeks: $500 USD
  • Start Date: Anytime
  • Minimum Duration: 1 week
  • Ages: 16 or over
Volunteer with rhinos in Nepal
Rhino Conservation in Nepal
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  • Price: $3,140 USD for 2 weeks
  • Extra Weeks: $470 USD
  • Start Date: Anytime
  • Minimum Duration: 2 weeks
  • Ages: 16 or over
Female Medical intern treats a local woman's finger at a Public Health Outreach programme during her Medical placement in Ghana.
Medical Internships in Ghana
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  • Price: $2,500 USD for 1 week
  • Extra Weeks: $400 USD
  • Start Date: Anytime
  • Minimum Duration: 1 week
  • Ages: 16 or over
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Can I get an internship with no experience?

Yes! Our internships abroad for college students are a great fit for undergraduates who have less experience, especially pre-med and pre-law. This is because we’ve designed our internships to provide a high-quality, supportive learning experience in an ethical environment. We have clear guidelines and codes of conduct for anyone working with children or animals. 

This is especially relevant for our medical internships for college students. We can easily accommodate pre-meds looking to learn in medical environments like hospitals, while ensuring that the work you perform is ethical and appropriate for your level.

In this way, our internships are similar to “externships”, a form of experiential education that’s become increasingly popular in the US. Speak directly to our friendly Project Experts to find the project that’s the best fit for your level. They’re well informed about the best internship programs for college students from every background. 

Some of our international internships for undergraduates do have requirements. You may need to speak a certain language like Spanish to communicate with people on the ground. Or, you may need a specific level of education under your belt. If there’s a requirement, we’ll state this clearly on the project page. However, many of our internships do not have requirements and are open to all experience levels. 

Regardless of your level, you’ll leave your internship with a set of practical skills you can’t get elsewhere. You’ll also get first-hand insight into issues affecting today’s world, and develop critical global competencies like cross-cultural communication.

"While volunteering in Ghana, I learned many skills that will help me with my future medical career. I was taught how to perform HIV and syphilis tests, CD4 counts, treat wounds, and to collect blood samples." Deanna K, HIV/AIDS Project in Ghana

Getting Credit for Internships Abroad for College Students

We can organize a professional evaluation and certificate of hours at the end of your internship. Our programs are flexible, so we can always accommodate any other credit requirements from your school. We can also help facilitate research for dissertations. This applies to our volunteer abroad opportunities for college students as well. 

Summer Volunteer Programs for College Students

Our summer volunteer opportunities for college students are among our most popular. Our programs are flexible, so you can make your project fit your schedule. Travel with us at any point over June, July, or August, from as little as one week. The more time you stay, the more you will learn on our summer abroad internships for college students.

For summer volunteer trips and internships abroad for college students, we strongly recommend Flexi Trips. This type of trip can be tailored to fit your exact needs, from travel dates to duration. 

If you’d prefer to travel with a group during the summer, then take a look at our Team Trips. These trips have set dates for college students looking to volunteer abroad in summer, so your group arrives and leaves at the same time. Our summer service trips for college students will excite, challenge, and empower you to see the world differently.

"As a rising senior at Dartmouth College, I wanted a summer experience that would allow me to help others and ground my college studies in real life experience.[...] I left Samoa with an enhanced understanding of my collegiate studies, a new perspective on aid, and a family and community of people I look forward to seeing again." Maisie I, Childcare in Samoa

What impact will my work have?

We track the impact of our programs in our custom Global Impact Database. For example, if you do health checks at a community outreach, doctors and nurses use this data to help diagnose patients. They refer them for further treatment if needed, and we’ll continue to monitor them at future outreaches.

Our Conservation Projects are another great example. We work with expert conservationists to tackle environmental issues like coral bleaching, and do scientific research. We share this data with scientists, and it’s often used to inform environmental policies at a governmental level. 

 

Because of our approach, you can be 100% confident your work has a tangible impact on the communities you work in.

Do we offer free volunteer abroad programs for college students?

We often get asked if we offer free volunteer abroad programs for college students. The short answer is no. There are several reasons why we ask all our participants to pay a fee for volunteering abroad. Read more about why our volunteer projects have a program fee

Benefits of Volunteering for College Students

The benefits of volunteering for college students are numerous. Here are some of the most common ones we’ve heard from former volunteers and interns: 

  • Growth as an individual in confidence
  • Challenge yourself professionally with new skills
  • Boost your resume and improve your employability
  • Get first-hand perspective of global issues
  • Become part of a global network of like-minded people

College is a time for discovery, both inside and outside the classroom. With Projects Abroad at your side, the journey can be even more incredible! Travel changes your life, but it's up to you to find out how.

"My time in Argentina shaped the direction of my future. While working at St. Mark’s, I realized that the adult classes were my favorite ones to teach. Consequently, I decided to pursue a career in post-secondary education." Robin G, Teaching in Argentina

Next Steps

Can't find what you're looking for? 

We’d be happy to talk about creating a custom project for you. Most of our staff have been volunteers themselves, so they’re ready to answer your questions, big or small.

(+1) 619 320 2424

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to start planning your project

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