Internships Abroad

Internships abroad provide students with the opportunity to combine experiential learning and academic theory as a means to gain professional experience and develop a new perspective on a career field. You will experience what it's like to navigate the work culture in your host country and have the chance to expand your international network all while earning academic credit. 

Education Abroad offers several types of internship programs. Please use the links below to explore our internship options abroad.

Full-Time Summer Internships

These are full-time internships that take place over the summer, with an accompanying course that complements your internship experience.

Explore Full-Time Internship Programs

Comparing Summer Full-Time Internship Options

Part-Time Internships

These are part-time internship experiences completed alongside regular coursework. You would also complete an internship course.

Explore Programs with Part-Time Internships

Additional Info for Part-Time Internships

Internship Credit

In order to earn credit for an internship completed on a CU Boulder study abroad program:

  1. The host university or overseas program must offer a corresponding academic course attached to the internship
  2. Please reference the applicable school or college below for credit information.

In rare cases, it may be possible to complete the optional internship not-for-credit. Depending on the major, you will need to complete the Education Abroad Internship Credit Approval Form*.  Arts & Sciences students who do not obtain departmental-specific approval may apply the credit hours to general/overall, non-A&S degree hours. 

*CMCI: IES internship is pre-approved for Upper-Division elective. Approval Form is not required.
*IAFS: Internship counts for off-campus requirement. Approval Form is not required.

Arts & Sciences

By default, your internship course will apply towards your general/overall degree hours (towards graduation). It will NOT count towards your A&S total hours nor your major-specific hours unless you get additional approval from your major department by completing the Education Abroad Internship Credit Approval Form to your Academic Department.

  IAFS Students:

Your internship will count toward your Off-Campus Requirement unless this requirement is already filled, in which case the credit will count toward general elective hours only. You do not need to submit the Education Abroad Internship Credit Approval Form.

There is no default credit for business students on internships. In general, Leeds supports international internships, and if approved the course will be listed on your degree audit as INBU 4910. Complete the Internship Credit Approval form to receive this credit.

CMDI has pre-approved all Education Abroad internship credits. Students will receive general elective hours within CMDI. Internships abroad cannot be used to fulfill any internship requirements for your major (as applicable). Approval form is not required. If you have any questions about how this credit fits into your degree plan, contact your Academic Advisor.

  ENVD Students

Students within ENVD should talk to their Academic Advisor about their internship plans before moving forward.

Engineering students will receive the default COEN 4950 for IES Summer internship programs only and do not need to submit an internship credit approval form. If the student wishes to receive departmental-specific credit, then they must complete the internship credit approval form and submit it to their academic advisor. For all other internship options on programs, engineers need to complete the internship credit approval form to receive credits. 

Please make an appointment with an academic advisor or faculty member in your department or college who is authorized to approve internship credit and discuss your plans with that person.  Attach a description of the internship and course description/syllabus to the Internship Credit Approval form. If approved, the internship credit will be transcripted by CU Boulder under the department listed on this form. 

  If you do not complete and submit the Education Abroad Internship Credit Approval form you will not receive any credit for your internship. Not receiving credit for your internship could also mean you are under-enrolled as a full-time student in the program. This could impact your financial aid and scholarships back at CU as you are required to be a full-time student.

Comparing Summer Full-Time Internship Options

 Global InternshipsIES & CIEE Internships
Internship Placement
 		Customized to the student around skills, classes, & experience
 		Customized to the student around skills, classes, & experience
 
AcademicsRemote class to complement the internship to your degree. Taught by a CU ProfessorOn-site, in-person course for one evening each week. Taught by IES faculty
Credits

5-6 major credit hours

See Global Internship Academic Equivalencies

IES - 3 credit hours. Complete the Internship Credit Approval Form*. Optional 3 credit language courses in some locations.
CIEE - 6 credit hours

CMCI: IES internship is pre-approved for Upper-Division elective. IAFS: Internship counts for off-campus requirement. Approval Form is not required for either.

Program Cost$$$$
EligibilityOnly available to select majorsOpen to all students & majors
On-Site SupportOn-site provider for health, safety, & orientation
 		On-site provider for health, safety, & orientation
ActivitiesOccasional weekend cultural activities and excursions around the host cityOccasional weekend cultural activities and excursions around the host city
Time/WeekFull Time (32-40 hours/week)Full Time (32-40 hours/week)
Program Length8 - 9 Weeks8 Weeks
Paid Internships?NoNo
Programs AvailableGlobal InternshipsIES/CIEE Internships

Comparing Summer Full-Time Internships

 

Global Internships

IES & CIEE Internships

Internship Placement

Customized to the student around skills, classes, & experience

AcademicsRemote class to complement the internship to your degree. Taught by a CU ProfessorOn-site, in-person course for one evening each week. Taught by IES faculty
Credits

5-6 major credit hours

See Global Internship Academic Equivalencies

IES - 3 credit hours. Complete the Internship Credit Approval Form*. Optional 3 credit language courses in some locations.
CIEE - 6 credit hours

*CMCI: IES internship is pre-approved for Upper-Division elective. 
*IAFS: Internship counts for off-campus requirement. Approval Form is not required for either.

Program Length8 - 9 Weeks8 weeks
EligibilityOnly available to select majorsOpen to all students & majors
Program Cost

$$

On-Site Support

On-site provider for health, safety, & orientation

Activities

Occasional weekend cultural activities and excursions around the host city

Time/Week

Full Time (32-40 hours/week)

Paid Internships?

No

Programs Available

Global Internships

IES/CIEE Internships

Provider Part-Time Internships

Please see below for information on additional steps by provider for part-time semester or summer internship options.

CEA CAPA

Internships are available through the CAPA London & Sydney Study Centers, please follow the above instructions. CU Boulder students may NOT participate in the CAPA Florence internship program.

Not approved for credit internships outside the college of A&S, will not count towards the minimum credit requirements for your program. Therefore you must enroll in a full load of other credit-bearing courses in addition to your internship. For the London semester program that means you must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits in addition to your not-for-credit internship

CIEE will accept the Education Abroad Internship Credit Approval form in lieu of the CIEE form.  Please have your academic advisor complete the form and upload it to your MyCUAbroad portal.

IES Abroad strongly discourages students from doing both an internship or service-learning placement and an outside course, as these both require a time commitment that is very difficult to schedule. If you choose to do both (and are able to work both into your schedule), you will be occupied Monday through Friday with no day off. Please contact your IES Program Advisor for more information.

Most ISA program internships only need to follow the above information, if applicable, please note the information below.

Note about University of Westminster internships: if you do an internship that the University of Westminster offers for credit (in conjunction with the required Professional & Personal Skills Development course), you can only enroll in two additional courses during your semester in London. Therefore, if you do not receive written approval for your internship from an academic department or college at CU Boulder before your program, you will only earn 8 CU credits abroad, which means you will be under-enrolled for the semester and not counted as a full-time student.

Note for non-A&S College students, if the internship is 5-6 credits and you do not get it pre-approved, you should opt for the ISP (otherwise, you will be under-enrolled for the term). 

  (in order) Spain by Olivia Mahony; Australia by Katie Jung