Discover what you're capable of with Projects Abroad!
With Projects Abroad, we provide hands-on work experience that will add real value to your studies. Our internships and volunteer opportunities for college students are built around experiential learning and embedded cultural exchanges. With our internship opportunities for college students abroad, we'll prepare you for a future of global awareness and international expertise.
Our internships and volunteer experiences provide you with the same level of engaging international experiences. The only difference is that you choose which one best fits your interests!
This is what you can expect from our volunteer programs and international internships for college students:
- Work directly with professionals on the job, like doctors or lawyers
- Add relevant and practical work experience to your resume
- Hone global competencies in organization and time management
- Develop new skills professionally and personally
- Collaborate with diverse groups of people from around the world
- Give back through an ethical and sustainable project
No matter what internship or volunteer abroad program for college students you choose, you can be assured that you’ll have full support from our staff every step of the way, with 24/7 backup if you need it. Your safety is our priority. We’re also extremely flexible, and you can choose your own travel dates at any time of the year, including during a semester. Finally, our programs are guaranteed to make a real impact.
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Teaching volunteers prepare games and activities to enable education opportunities to communities around the world.
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Conservation volunteers collaborate with local governments and NGOs to enact sustainable long-term action plans.
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Medical volunteers observe in a variety of departments, specializing in areas of their preferred interest.
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Microfinance volunteers take part in enabling women entrepreneurs with suggestions on how to improve their business models.
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Marine conservation volunteers complete animal surveys in the field and help with plastic pollution and coral propagation.
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Travel the world and discover new cultures with new friends, all while improving your professional skills and creating further opportunities in international environments.
What are the best programs for college students?
We offer a diverse range of international volunteer programs and internships for college students, with your professional goals in mind.
- Medicine and Healthcare Internships in nursing, dentistry, physical therapy
- Pre-Med Programs to boost your medical school application
- Law and Human Rights Internships with law firms, charities and NGOs
- Microfinance and Business Development internships to support entrepreneurs
- Social Work Internships to assist individuals overcome serious challenges
- Teaching Volunteering to provide educational opportunities
- Coaching Volunteering in various sports from soccer, basketball, surfing
- Journalism Internships in radio, print, tv or digital
- Veterinary Internships in medicine and animal care
- Wildlife Conservation Internships protecting endangered species
- Marine Conservation Volunteering to protect marine life and coral reefs
Read more about our volunteer abroad and intern abroad programs.
The opportunities that await are yours to discover.
Choose a Program
1-3 of 136 Projects
Giant Tortoise & Sea Lion Conservation in the Galapagos Islands
See this project- Price: $3,000 USD for 1 week
- Extra Weeks: $500 USD
- Start Date: Anytime
- Minimum Duration: 1 week
- Ages: 16 or over
Rhino Conservation in Nepal
See this project- Price: $3,140 USD for 2 weeks
- Extra Weeks: $470 USD
- Start Date: Anytime
- Minimum Duration: 2 weeks
- Ages: 16 or over
Medical Internships in Ghana
See this project- Price: $2,500 USD for 1 week
- Extra Weeks: $400 USD
- Start Date: Anytime
- Minimum Duration: 1 week
- Ages: 16 or over
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.
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Request Infoto start planning your project