Internships Abroad

RMU students love internships! By doing an internship in another country, you’ll gain intercultural skills that students interning in the US don’t gain as easily. Experiencing a work environment in a different country can help make you much more adaptable and flexible when it comes to working in the US.

Internship opportunities vary based on your major and language ability. Contact a study abroad advisor for more information about any of these opportunities.

Internships as part of a Semester Abroad

Many of our Global Approved Programs include the option of an internship in their semester abroad offerings. In this case, you would do your internship alongside the other courses you take during your semester abroad, including a 3- or 6-credit internship seminar. The Global Approved Programs with internship options include:

• American University of Rome in Rome, Italy*
• Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences in St. Gallen, Switzerland
• Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata, Japan*
• TU Dortmund University in Dortmund, Germany*
• Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand
• CIS Abroad’s program in Sorrento, Italy

*Internships in these programs are only available for students who study abroad for two consecutive terms in the same location, because the program will work with you during the first semester to find your placement. In Italy or Germany, this would be two consecutive semesters. In Japan, this would be a Spring semester and Summer internship.

Not all internship options listed above are open to all majors. Please contact a study abroad advisor for more details if you are interested in an internship during a semester abroad.

Note: Some majors are required to register for an RMU course for a semester-long internship. This would limit you to taking a maximum of 15 credits abroad. If you are interested in an internship abroad, contact your study abroad advisor to learn more about this requirement.

Summer Internships Abroad

RMU students can participate in a wide variety of options for summer internships abroad. You can do a 3-credit or 6-credit internship with an accompanying academic seminar, or you can do an internship and seminar alongside a course that applies to your checksheet.

Most are unpaid internships that require payment by the student in order to secure the position, though some are fully-funded or even paid. These options include:

• CAPA
• CIEE 
• CIS Abroad 
• ISA
• CareerUp
• Use your own resources to identify opportunities that you're interested in. Ask your professors, personal contacts, or even Google to find something that appeals to you.

Note: Some majors are required to register for an RMU course and pay RMU tuition in addition to the cost of the internship program. This can add approximately $3,000 to the cost of a summer internship abroad. If you are interested in an internship abroad, contact your study abroad advisor to learn more about this requirement.

Research Abroad

Students who are thinking about graduate school would benefit from doing research abroad. Check out your semester abroad opportunities for research below:

• Euroscholars
  • Participate in research abroad with faculty at internationally renowned research universities throughout Europe
  • Apply to a particular research project based on your interests rather than applying to a specific university
  • Honors students complete HNRS 4911 Honors Thesis Research (1 credit) and HNRS 4912 Honors Thesis Completion and Presentation (2 credits) through participation in Euroscholars. Note that you will still need to present your thesis once you return to RMU.

Service Learning Abroad

Service Learning is doing community service while earning academic credit through an accompanying seminar course. Some semester abroad programs offer a 3-credit service learning course alongside 9-15 credits for courses that fit into your checksheet. A service learning course would most likely apply to your checksheet as an open elective.

Semester abroad programs with service learning options include:

• University of Limerick in Limerick, Ireland
• ISA's program in Valparaíso/Viña del Mar, Chile
• ISA's program in San José, Costa Rica
• ISA’s program in Prague, Czech Republic
• ISA's program in Meknes, Morocco
• ISA's program in Cusco, Peru
• ISA’s program in Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Summer abroad programs with service learning options include:

• ISA
• CISAbroad in Thailand

TEFL Certification

TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. If you are an Education major who wishes to get TEFL certified or if you’re any major considering teaching English abroad after you graduate from RMU, there are opportunities to earn your TEFL certification either during the summer or after you graduate from RMU. Contact a study abroad advisor for more information.