Internship Information

International Programs offers internship opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students in Sydney, Australia; Shanghai, China; London, England; Florence, Italy; Panama City, Republic of Panama; Iquitos, Peru; and Valencia, Spain. Students earn from 6-16 undergraduate academic credits during the internship through their academic department. Internships are generally unpaid, full-time or part-time work assignments. While we cannot guarantee specific placements, International Programs seeks to accommodate every qualified student with an appropriate internship.

In accordance with the University’s Policy on International Experiences, students are able to receive academic credit for internships arranged independently and conducted in locations other than those where FSU International Programs provides internships. All students must register their internship through the International Programs office to receive credit for the internship. This applies to all majors and departments. Students interested in pursuing an internship in a location other than the aforementioned locations can apply to receive credit as Independent Interns.

Why Intern Abroad?

These experiences can be invaluable in shaping and defining an education and a career. Internships help students to:

• Gain professional experience and skills for future advancement.
• Enrich academic study with practical application.
• Increase opportunities for future employment and admission to graduate programs.
• Experience personal growth as a global citizen.
• Establish international professional contacts.

Conditions and Eligibility

• Applicants must be full-time, degree-seeking students with at least a 3.0 GPA (3.5 for British Parliament and DLA Piper Rudnick Carey and the U.S. Embassy).
• Interns in Valencia and Panama must have a strong background in both Spanish comprehension and conversation. Any placement that requires proficiency in a certain language will necessitate an interview with a native-speaker, arranged through International Programs.
• Florence interns must complete Elementary Italian I prior to departure. Shanghai interns must complete Elementary Chinese I prior to departure.
• Florida State social work students interested in interning should initially contact: Neil Abell, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., Director of International Programs, College of Social Work, 850-644-9753, nabell@fsu.edu.
• Non-Florida State students must obtain approval from their home university.

Visas and Work Permits
Interns may be required to obtain a work permit and/or entry visa to participate in the Internship Program. Interns are responsible for completing the necessary steps to obtain the work permit or visa in a timely manner, and may be responsible for associated costs.

U.S. citizens requiring visas will receive guidelines and assistance from International Programs. Interns not holding U.S. passports must contact the appropriate consulate to obtain necessary visas. International Programs does not take on the responsibility for obtaining non-U.S. entry work permits or visas.

The visa application processes and requirements are constantly changing, and vary greatly from location to location. Failure to complete the visa application process within the stated timeline will possibly result in late arrivals or inability to participate in the program. Any financial penalties associated with delayed arrivals or cancellations will be the responsibility of the intern. Because of variables that are beyond their control, interns are strongly encouraged to purchase travel insurance when purchasing their flights.

Any applicant who intends to participate on a program that requires a visa and will start in a fall semester should be made aware that they will be required to give International Programs their passport for an extended portion of the summer. This is because International Programs will apply for the necessary student visa on behalf of the applicant. A visa is a seal that is affixed to a page in your passport, therefore we must collect your passport. Consequently, interested students are advised against making international summer travel plans since they will be without their passports for a period of time.

Credit Hours and Academic Requirements
Interns are required to be enrolled in a minimum of 6 academic credit during the internship. The number of credit hours earned varies based on term, location, and discipline. Academic requirements, including assignments during the internship, will be specified by the student’s department, the instructor of record, and the International Programs Internship Coordinator. Students must meet with their advisor and/or departmental intern coordinator or professors to obtain academic approval for their internship. Non-Florida State students must obtain approval from their home university.