Interning abroad is an incredible chance to gain hands-on experience while immersing yourself in a new country - but sharing the experience with a friend can take it to the next level.
From feeling more confident in a new environment, to easing the nerves that come with stepping into the unknown - having someone you trust by your side makes the transition smoother and more enjoyable. You’ll support each other through the challenges, celebrate the wins, and create memories you’ll be talking about long after the internship ends.
Here are our top 5 reasons why interning abroad with a friend is such a great idea!
🤝 Bring your support system with you
Starting an internship in a new country can feel overwhelming. From adapting to different cultural norms and workplace expectations, to navigating language barriers, new environments, and even unfamiliar cuisine - having a friend by your side provides a built-in safety net.
You’ll have a trusted person to talk through both the highs and the lows, share challenges, practice new skills together, and tackle professional situations as a team - making it easier to settle in, feel confident, and truly thrive abroad.
💖 More confidence, less stress
Having a friend (or friends!) by your side can provide an instant confidence boost. You’ll have someone to board the plane with, bounce ideas off, and plot an ambitious series of weekends abroad. Shared experience can reduce stress, ensuring you’re able to invest in your internship experience with better focus and perspective.
Experienced interns always repeat the same advice to others: be open-minded, patient, and respectful. With stronger confidence setting you up for success, you’ll be primed to maximize the commitment you’ve made to the internship, to thrive and feel your best.
✨ Memories of a lifetime
Time with friends is precious when you’re in college - they’re like your home away from home. Before your careers kick off in earnest, take advantage of the opportunity to create truly priceless memories. Interning abroad isn’t just about resume development - while you can absolutely give your professional development a boost; you’ll also want to see the world as a young adult, and get an education that no classroom will provide.
From African safaris, to Machu Picchu, hiking in the Himalayas, or learning to surf in Costa Rica - you’ll combine your international experience with so much more than just the internship placement.
🛜 Enhanced social opportunities
Unless you’re a true social butterfly, networking in real life (not just through a computer) can be a little tricky. Social skills don’t necessarily come naturally to everyone - you have to work at it, practice your conversational skills, develop your confidence, and build cultural intelligence.
If you’ve got a friend by yourself, it can be easier to make new introductions and start including others within fresh social opportunities. Widen your circle, encourage one another, and reflect on how social inclusion can be positively fostered with others. Use your internships as a platform to broaden your networking horizons - you’ll never know where it could take you next!
🥰 Ready to intern abroad with a friend?
If this sounds good to you, tell your friends! Our application process is user friendly and will directly ask if you want to invite friends to share the experience with. The Intern Abroad HQ application process is straightforward. Get started here and you’ll be able to send your invites (or add them at a later date).
Ready to start your own internship experience?
Apply online now for free.
FAQs
It’s easy peasy. Get your application underway and you’ll have the option to create a group. This lets you invite friends to join you in interning abroad in your chosen destination, and as a bonus, you and each friend will get $50 off when you apply together. Not ready to invite others just yet? No problem. You can come back to your group plans anytime when you’re ready to send invites. Already applied? Simply let your Program Manager know you’d like to have friends join you on the program so everyone can enjoy the discount.
Yes! As long as you are planning to intern in the same destination, for the same start date, you can select differing internship fields, and even durations.
We always do our best to prioritize accommodating friends together, however, this is always subject to availability. To give you the best possible chance of being placed in the same accommodation, it is important you secure your spots well in advance of your start date. Have a chat to our team to let us know what your accommodation preferences are as well - we want to take a customized approach and provide you with recommendations, so don’t hesitate to reach out.
Yes! We can work on a case by case basis depending on the size and specific requirements of your group. Get in touch directly as we would be happy to provide advice and recommendations.
If you have a friend interested in interning alongside you, let your Program Manager know. They can provide you with a personalized referral code to share with your friend, which can be applied toward their deposit fee at checkout. Once your friend officially registers, you’ll receive a credit to your Intern Abroad HQ account. Learn more here.
350+ internship programs across 27 countries
Placements tailored to your academic requirements or career interests
Exclusive experiential learning curriculum
We help you develop and articulate the soft skills most favored by employers
Most affordable & flexible
We organize everything, including local accommodation, from only $1129 USD
