For business school students , having completed an internship of several months abroad is a real asset for their professional integration, even an essential step for young graduates whose professional project is focused internationally . Despite the health crisis and waiting for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to give the green light for expatriations, you can already prepare your project.

Why do an internship abroad?

We can never say it enough: to learn a foreign language, nothing beats immersion for several months in a foreign country. You will definitely improve your language level, both at work and outside of the professional context.

Doing an internship in a company abroad also means discovering other ways of working , other concepts of management or even other approaches to communication, marketing or management… in short, international career.

Finally, living abroad for 6 or 12 months is an opportunity to create an international professional or friendly network , to open up to other horizons and discover another culture.

Where to go for an internship abroad?

The choice of country of destination will obviously depend on your objectives but also on your ability to live more or less far from France and your loved ones. You can absolutely do your internship in Europe , in a country participating in the Erasmus program for example, but why not go further afield ( internship in Canada , internship in Australia , etc.) or leave the Western world and go for an internship in China , in India or in the Middle East?

Don’t forget either that to learn Spanish, an internship in Spain is not the only solution, think of Latin America, just as to learn English, an internship in London or an internship in USA will perhaps be less exotic than a stay in South Africa, New Zealand or Malta.

What help is available for finding a student internship abroad?

Doing an internship in a foreign country often entails higher costs than if you stayed in France, but European institutions can grant you an Erasmus scholarship under certain conditions . Do not hesitate to contact the international relations office of your school to find out everything about the Erasmus internship, the conditions for obtaining the scholarship, etc. Please note that these scholarships can be combined with your internship allowance, so you can both complete a paid internship and receive this aid. Good news, right?

Is it possible to find a paid internship abroad?

Of course, but the intern’s remuneration depends on the legislation in force in the host country, the company’s policy in this area but also your level of studies and the duration of the internship : it is obvious that completing an end-of -studies internship of 6 or 8 months will be more remunerative than an observation internship of a few weeks in the first or second year. In any case, most internship offers clearly indicate this information and you can check it in the internship agreement before signing it.

How to prepare for an internship abroad?

Many foreign companies are looking to recruit French students , but many of you also want to do internships in companies abroad. So put all the chances on your side by refining your applications , participate in CV and cover letter design workshops in a foreign language, do not hesitate to highlight any international experience in your career (travel, language stays). , etc.), prepare well for your interviews and if necessary… take language lessons.

Finally, doing an international internship requires a lot of preparation in advance; you will need to find out about the internship visa , the work permit and worry about many administrative details of this type. Contact your school’s mobility service, they will be able to give you good advice and can put you in contact with other students who have gone on internships abroad.