Internships abroad are one of the best ways to take your first major step in starting your career. Whether it is about gaining experience, networking, or defining your interests and orienting yourself for the future, internships abroad are a stepping stone into the working life.
Those who were looking for an internship abroad in 2025, according to Google Trends data, were mostly in the field of engineering, healthcare, law, marketing and psychology.
Those looking for an internship abroad also seem to worry about if they will be paid for an internship, and where to do a summer internship next year, in 2026.
“Internship abroad” top related searches in 2025. Google Trends data on rising topics and queries related to “internships abroad” for the past 12 months worldwide.
An internship in the field of engineering is one of the most vital in terms of gaining experience.
Most searched for engineering internship 2025 disciplines are mechanical engineering, software engineering and electrical engineering.
Here is a list of popular engineering disciplines:
An internship helps to bridge the gap between theory and practice, by putting you in situations that you would not be able to find yourself in if you were in a usual learning environment such as a classroom. Witnessing all the aspects of engineering in real time also gives you a better understanding of the how’s and the why’s, rather than just seeing things on paper.
Marketing internships have become increasingly popular in recent years, due to the increasing number of platforms where companies can share their marketing campaigns.
An important factor in the popularity of this kind of internship is the fact that many interns nowadays are at an age where they grew up with technology and these newer platforms. As companies want to use these platforms, many internship positions for this kind of role open up. Simultaneously, as many young adults know how to use these same platforms, there are enough interns to fill many of these roles.
Communication internships can be very similar to marketing ones at times in terms of the work undertaken, however the objectives and what you are working towards is what tends to differ.
While communication focuses on the crafting and distributing of messages to build brand reputation and manage relationships, marketing’s focus is on driving sales and business objectives through audience targeting and outreach. To put it briefly, marketing is more sales-oriented, while communication is image-oriented.
Similarly to engineering, the healthcare field is one where it is vital to get practical experience before starting your career. If you undertake medicine studies for example, it is rare that an internship incorporated into the studies isn’t mandatory. This highlights the importance of experience in the medical field. Healthcare internships abroad are a great way to deal with this challenge.
A required internship is likely to be the case for many types of medicinal studies. Clinical and patient care is the field where experience is most likely to be fundamental. Positions like nursing, specialty medicine, or emergency and critical care require medical staff to be in direct contact with patients and their medical issues, meaning there are certain expectations from them when doing their job. The best way to learn how to deal with and fulfill these expectations is to live the profession in real time with less pressure - or to put simply, as an intern.
There do exist other areas in the healthcare field that aren’t about working with patients. These tend to involve research and administration. Instead of treating patients directly, the work done is more likely to involve tasks such as testing, analysing data, and assisting with studies if the internship leans towards clinical research. Working in administration will help gain experience in the management and operational side of healthcare facilities.
Similarly to the previous categories of internships, the tourism industry has many levels to it. The sector that is most associated with tourism is hospitality. Internships in hospitality will include:
Internships in event planning are also pertinent to the tourism industry. These can take place in the form of assisting with the planning and execution of events such as festivals, conferences, weddings - any one-time event that requires organisation and coordination in order to host a large number of people.
Besides these two major areas of the tourism industry, a growing sector is ecotourism. This focuses on responsible travel to areas that are concerned with environmental conservation, well-being of the locals, and includes education on these topics. Ecotourism internships sometimes overlap with environmental conservation internships, especially in terms of their focus on sustainability and their impact on local communities.
As the tourism industry is focused on travel, undertaking any tourism internships abroad, especially in popular destinations, is the most immersive way to enter this field.
Environmental conservation differs from ecotourism when it comes to the primary goal: environmental conservation internships will focus directly on the protection of the environment, whereas ecotourism focuses on the interaction between tourists and the environment, therefore making it a method of environmental conservation.
The fields which involve working directly in environmental conservation include:
Summer is a very popular time to undertake internships, especially for students. Although the fact it is summer doesn’t change much about the internship itself, the benefit comes from the fact that for many, summer is the only time of the year where they can participate in an internship.
Since this is the case, many organisations purposely open up positions specifically in summer, causing there to be more opportunities for interns.
Europe has several popular destinations for summer internships. A summer internship in Europe is a great way to gain experience in the field of your choice, while making the most of the weather and the local activities of the place you choose to intern at.
Spain is known for its warm weather, its food and its lifestyle. In regard to an internship, it is a hub for tech and innovation start-ups. Smaller companies means less competition when applying and more active participation in the work undertaken, making it a great place to gain hands-on experience while enjoying your summer.
The UK, known for its history and world class education, is a hub for finance and consulting firms. As these are usually larger, established firms, interns can benefit from high-quality training, the opportunity to network and boost their CV, and an increased chance of landing a full-time job at the same firm. These all make a great way to take major steps in starting your career.
France and Italy are two very prominent destinations for those who are interested in fashion, design and luxury. Hospitality and gastronomy are also popular fields in these countries, coinciding with the fact that they are such popular tourist destinations.
If you are interested in undertaking a summer internship, check out more details and benefits in this article.
Remote internships are virtual work experiences where just like a regular internship, interns can gain professional skills as well as industry exposure by working on company projects, with the major difference being that it all happens from a distance.
Remote internships offer more flexibility, at least in terms of location and in some cases in terms of time, as you can undertake them from anywhere with an internet connection.
They are a great opportunity to gain professional experience while saving both time and money, as there is no need to relocate to the location of the internship, and they eliminate the need to commute every day.
As you are not physically surrounded by the people from your company, it boosts independence in one’s work. This also limits distractions and allows you to fully focus on the work you are undertaking.
There do exist some limitations in regards to remote internships. If your goal is to gain experience in a field which includes manual labour, a remote internship may not be the best way to do so, or it may even be unavailable for some specific fields of this kind.
If you enjoy working in a team and value face-to-face interaction, then an in-person internship is a more viable option for you.
A remote internship may be something you want to consider if:
RealStep offers the possibility to participate in internships abroad in NGOs across the globe in all of these fields.
Participate in this construction internship in the Krabi Province in Thailand. Here you will help the local community to build and renovate its various infrastructures, while discovering Thai culture and exchanging with locals. There are two main projects taking place: the restoration of the district’s oldest dwelling, and the creation of a cultural and memorial space on PhiPhi Island, marking the 20th anniversary of the Tsunami and the communities affected by it.
Find out more about the program here.
Take part in this technology internship in Córdoba, Argentina. Through this internship, you will join a foundation dedicated to improving the quality of life through technology. Tasks will include the mobilizing of resources, organizing training, conducting research, and providing support during meetings and events, among other things, all while working as part of a dynamic team.
Find out more about the program here.
Participate in a communication internship in Ponta Delgada, on São Miguel Island. Through this program, you will have the opportunity to contribute to NGOs by undertaking tasks such as: carrying out fundraising activities, organizing events, or creating visuals to promote the work of the NGO. It is the perfect opportunity to combine creativity and commitment to make a real impact.
Find out more about the program here.
This communication internship in Cape Town will allow you to acquire new skills in a humanitarian context with an NGO. Your missions may include the development of social media calendars, website development, SEO strategies, and blog and content writing.
Find out more about the program here.
Complete a business internship in Tokyo and experience a strong cultural exchange. The tasks are mainly geared toward interns interested in marketing. These include: creating content for various platforms, initiating and maintaining partnerships with agencies, assisting in the preparation of itineraries and programs for customized trips for clients and travel agencies, and many other possible tasks.
Find out more about the program here.
Join a local team in a hospital in Kathmandu to complete your nursing or medical internship. This internship is the opportunity to validate your academic year, as the hospital provides care in the following services: emergency care, surgical procedures, maternity services, and outpatient consultations.
Find out more about the program here.
Develop your skills with this internship in the city of Tangier, where you will train alongside qualified professionals in recognized hospitals and private institutions. You will be placed according to your skills and local needs, and will have access to many specialties including: medical, nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, osteopathy and dental surgery.
Find out more about the program here.
This environmental internship in the Krabi province focuses on maintaining ecosystem diversity. This project aims to create synergy between different natural environments through scientific studies and the implementation of concrete measures. It is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture while having a positive impact on the environment.
Find out more about the program here.
This marine biology course in the Canary Islands allows you to gain university credits while deepening your knowledge of the marine ecosystem. Here you will participate in the protection of whales and dolphins alongside experts, and gain real field experience by putting your skills and knowledge to good use.
Find out more about the program here.
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