What are the Best Internship Programs in the World (And What You Can Learn From Them)?

Why should you investigate the best internship programs in the world?

An international internship gives you the opportunity for adventure and interesting cultural experiences. You’ll get practical job experience, allowing you to finally put what you’ve learned into action. Real-world experience, along with guidance and mentorship, gives you an idea of where your knowledge and education can take you within a certain field.

While working through your internship program, you’ll confirm that you’re on the right path – confirmation that can provide you with immense confidence.

Additionally, finishing an internship provides you with valuable experience that will make you a better hiring prospect for future employers.

Where you intern is imperative. It should allow you to gain all of these benefits, plus lead to helpful connections or even a permanent position with your dream company. And you’ll have some fun in the process.

Top 11 Best Internship Programs in the World

Are you ready to discover the best internships of 2020 and 2021? Below are just 11 of the best internship programs in the world. The internships on this list are ideal for those in business, healthcare, tech, and legal sectors. Some offer virtual programs, some are full-time, some are paid, and some are year-round, while others are summer programs. Which program will fit your needs and goals the best?

1. VACorps Internship in South Africa

South Africa is one of the top countries to visit in Africa. The food, culture, wildlife, and people will make you want to stay forever.

The VACorps offers various internships in Cape Town. They can point you in the right direction when it comes to the best companies to intern for in marketing and business, medicine, law, and more.

In this time of global pandemic, it might not be possible (or safe) for you to travel outside of your country, even if it is to participate in one of the best internship programs in the world. Fortunately, many VACoprs internships (and others on this list) are remote. Virtual internships give you the benefits without the risk.

2. Project Everest™ Ventures Social Impact Program in India

Project Everest™ Ventures offers programs and services that aim to solve the world’s social issues one community at a time.

You can apply for their Social Impact Program in India which includes 4-, 8-, and 12-week internships. During your time with them, you’ll work with other social entrepreneurs to develop one of Project Everest™ Ventures’ projects that include tackling issues such as:

• Sustainable energy
• Sustainable fuel  
• Food security
• Micro-financing
• Access to safe hygiene

Your work and the environment you do it in will be both unique and challenging – but it will be an experience you’ll never forget. You’ll gain valuable insights and experience to take with you as you progress in your career. And you’ll feel good knowing you did something that will positively impact people in the developing world.

3. Capital One Technology Internship Program

Think Capital One is just a credit card company? Think again! Capital One is one of the best companies to intern for in engineering. They consider themselves “the bank a tech company would build.” Capital One is all about innovation, providing the best resources to their customers so they can manage their finances with confidence and ease.

A Capitol One software engineer has access to the best AI and technology, allowing them to transform real-time data and algorithms into software applications that offer financial clarity for their customers. They’re looking to hire software engineers for their Technology Internship Program, during which you’ll work on:

• Customer-facing web
• Open-source framework software
• RESTful web services with high availability
• Various mobile applications
• A Java-based back end

The 2021 summer internship program will be in:  

• San Francisco, California  
• Plano, Texas
• Chicago, Illinois
• McLean, Virginia
• Richmond, Virginia
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Wilmington, Delaware
• New York, New York

4. Novartis Swiss Pharmaceutical Internship Program

Novartis is a pharmaceutical company based out of Switzerland. Their focus is on gene therapies, and their goal is to heal and change the lives of those affected by rare, life-threatening neurological diseases.

You can travel to Switzerland for one of their internship opportunities, or you can do your important medical work in San Diego, California. Novartis is currently looking for interns who are interested in biostatistics and analytical development.

5. Authentica Virtual Internship eXperiences in Asia

Looking for the best companies to intern for in business? Authentica Virtual Internship eXperiences offers a way for you to link up to the best companies for business and sustainability careers.

The great thing about these programs is that they’re virtual, so you’ll be able to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

The Authentica Virtual Internship eXperiences allows you to work from anywhere. You can even combine it with your campus study program. During your internship, you’ll also get to immerse yourself in local culture. You’ll have access to virtual tours, cooking classes, Bollywood dance lessons, and more.

6. Bates White Summer Consultant Program

Vault has ranked the Bates White Summer Consultant Program the #1 economic consulting internship. Bates White (located in Washington, DC) offers services to Fortune 500 companies, law firms, and government agencies.

The program is 10-weeks long. During this time, you’ll learn about all the work consultants do, plus you’ll have an opportunity to give back to the community and learn valuable technical skills that will serve you years into your career. Bates White is also offering a virtual program for safety reasons.

In this internship program, you’ll work on real cases with full-time consultants, economists, and project managers. During the 10-weeks, you’ll:

• Conduct industry research
• Review deposition testimonies  
• Draft portions of expert reports
• Create client presentations
• Process data
• Create data visualizations

7. Nokia Internship Program in Belgium

Nokia is one of the global leaders in phones, networks, and 5G. Located in Antwerp, Belgium, they offer an internship program that is ideal if your area of study is:

• Telecom
• Electronics
• Computer science
• ICT engineering

Interning with Nokia will provide you with challenges to test your knowledge and skills so you can advance your career in software development or research.

8. SAP Internship Experience Project

You might think that the best internship programs in the world would be with companies like Google or Apple. Actually, in a 2019 poll of over 100,000 students, the #1 internship program is through SAP, a German software company. The company has over 1000 interns from 18 cities worldwide. They have one of the highest offer-acceptance rates for interns who end up with full-time offers.

SAP truly is one of the best companies to intern for in marketing and business. The internships offered range from a summertime stint or one that’s up to a year-long. Through their program, you’ll gain experience in:

• Development and technology
• Finance
• Sales
• Human resources
• Consulting services
• Corporate operations
• Marketing and communications

9. AICS Year-Round Internship Program in Taiwan

AICS is an AI company that provides innovative solutions to companies, as well as individuals.

Their internship program can provide you with experience in:

• Computer vision
• Speech recognition
• NLP
• Cloud services
• Big Data analytics
• Machine learning

They’re one of the best companies to intern for in engineering, marketing, and business. They offer roles for:

• Software engineers
• UX/UI designers
• Product managers
• Marketing managers

10. World Bank Legal Internship Program

“Improve your legal skills in a multi-cultural environment.” This is the promise of the World Bank Legal Internship Program. The program is open three times each year. The maximum duration of each internship is three months. You can gain your real-world experience at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC, or selected country offices.

During the program, you would perform a variety of legal tasks under the supervision of a World Bank attorney. You’ll conduct research and legal analysis, assist in the preparation of organizational conferences, and perform ad hoc assignments for the legal team.

11. Lawyers in Palestine

Located at the Palestinian Center in Hebron, the Lawyers in Palestine internship program is ideal if you want to familiarize yourself with the Palestinian legal and court systems. During your internship, you’ll learn from judges, lawyers, and prosecutors. You’ll even have the opportunity to be a guest lecturer and conduct workshops at the Hebron legal clinic or the Hebron University’s College of Law.

Reach Your Goals and Gain Real-World Experience

Not everyone gets the opportunity to travel abroad. With this list of best international internships to consider, you not only get the opportunity to travel, but you get to enhance your skills and practice what you’ve learned in school.

It’s now time to take your education to the next level with the right international internship program. Competition may be fierce, but with the right resources – like Intrax Global Internships – you can find the best opportunities for your needs. Intrax provides support through every step of the process, from choosing the best program (including virtual internships) to applying for a visa.

If you’re considering applying for the best internships for 2021, now is the time to take action. Partnering with a top company can help you reach your goals and gain experience that will benefit you throughout your career.

Need help finding the right internship program? We can help! Contact us today to learn more.