Internship Opportunities

Overview

The internship - considered by many to be a summer of photocopying or paperclip counting - is really a key element of the career search and preparation. It is an excellent way to test your interest in a particular field. It can be an important step on the career path, and not just in terms of gaining requisite, on-the-job experience. Many internships can be parlayed into full-time positions, and should be considered a possible post-graduation option.

When you do go overseas for any extended period of time you need to keep in mind the fact that it can and often is a life-changing experience -- and adjusting back to life in the United States (with school, family, friends, work) can pose a host of challenges. For those returning to the UW, University Health Services offers a Reentry Adjustment Group (information about halfway down the page) for “students who are adjusting to their return after living, working, or studying abroad.”

 

University of Wisconsin-Madison Internship Opportunities

  • AIESEC Madison
    http://www.aiesecmadison.org/ or http://aiesec.rso.wisc.edu/

    • This is the local chapter of an international global exchange organization (found at http://www.aiesec.org). UW students and graduates up to 2 years past graduation can utilize AIESEC-Madison’s services, which include assisting individuals in finding overseas internships. Fee-based program.

  • Center for Interdisciplinary French Studies
    http://uwcifs.wisc.edu/workandstudy/

    • The CIFS offers information on a number of different overseas programs, including the Zuccaire Undergraduate Internship Program at the Institut Pasteur & Teaching Assistantships in France. CIFS also offers French Business Internships which is open to all students, regardless of discipline. Students must be fluent in French. The above link leads to more details on the program (credit is offered).

  • Division of International Studies - Undergraduate International Affairs Internship in Washington, DC
     http://www.intlstudies.wisc.edu/students/interndc.asp

    • “The International Affairs Internship Program in Washington DC is intended to provide an opportunity for eligible students to intern in an agency, corporation, non-profit or embassy with an international affairs focus and to receive university course credit. This program combines an internship (20 hours per week) with a regular seminar with speakers who are experts and prominent UW-Madison alumni working in professional, academic and diplomatic fields related to international affairs...”

    More information available by following the above link. Deadline for the Summer 2005 program is 18 March 2005.

  • EPICS - Engineering Projects in Community Service
    http://epics.engr.wisc.edu/

    EPICS is a “program based in the College of Engineering that places teams of undergraduate and graduate engineering students, as well as students from other disciplines (i.e. Business and Letters and Science) into a partnership with local community service agencies. Each team works with a community service agency to design and develop long-term engineering projects that meet identified agency needs.”

  • Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
    http://www.ies.wisc.edu/international/students.htm

    “The Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies currently sponsors three exchange programs and one undergraduate research program for University of Wisconsin-Madison students looking to study and/or participate in a research or internship experience in another country. Students must be enrolled in a degree program through UW-Madison at the time of the international experience.” More information available by following the above link.

    “Global Studies awards the Scott Kloeck-Jenson International Internship Grants to support doctoral students interested in undertaking practitioner internships on social justice issues - as Scott Kloeck-Jenson did -- outside the United States. Students awarded grants will receive approximately $2,500 to spend a minimum of 10 weeks during the summer working with a practitioner institution relevant to their research interests and to social justice issues...” More information available by following the above link.

  • International Academic Internship program (UW Study Abroad Office)
    http://www.studyabroad.wisc.edu/internship/iai.asp

    • The International Academic Internship (IAI) program places UW-Madison students with employers outside of the United States for work experience and academic credit. IAI is not limited to one academic discipline or profession. Virtually any major is eligible to participate and the internships available are in a wide variety of fields of work. Internships take place during the summer and typically last from 8-10 weeks.

  • International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience
     http://www.iaestemadison.org/

    IAESTE is a reciprocal exchange program allowing UW-Madison students in a technical field such as engineering, math, or physical and life sciences to work abroad. Its mission is “to develop global skills in tomorrow's technical leaders.” This is accomplished through sending students on internships, arranging housing and social activities for interns hosted in Madison, networking with local companies and professors to raise funds, and most importantly having a good time while learning more about the world.

    Weekly meetings are held on Mondays at 8:00 pm, M1092 Engineering Centers Building (1550 Engineering Drive). For additional information visit IAESTE-Madison’s website or email IAESTE-Madison’s President, Andrew Stevens.

  • Professional French Masters Program
    http://wiscinfo.doit.wisc.edu/pfmp/

    PFMP internships are arranged for the program’s students only and are not open to others. It is, however, an excellent example of the type of program that is becoming increasingly sought after, blending classroom study with specially-tailored work abroad experience.

  • Restoring the North American Ecological Landscape
    Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
    http://www.ies.wisc.edu/international/landscape/

 

Internship Postings

    You must log in to access this site (arranged through the L&S/School of Human Ecology Career Services Office at the UW-Madison). Among the titles available are “Human Rights Internships”, “Internships in International Affairs” and “Washington Internships in Law and Policy”. Click on the link that says “The Internship Series on line.” At the password prompt enter the following:

    Username: prof
    Password: exper

  • Standford University - Africa South of the Saharan Web Guide
    http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/internships.html

    Provides links to various organizations operating in and/or offering internships in or related to Africa.

  • United Nations Internship Opportunities
    http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/internships.htm

    A listing (not comprehensive) provided by the Youth Unit at the United Nations of internship programs offered through various UN agencies. Excellent resource!

 

Career center job post pages with links to international internship opportunities

 

Organizations Offering Internships

  • Center for Civil and Human Rights
    http://www.nd.edu/~cchr/programs/internship_rwanda.html

    • CCHR sponsors internships at truth commissions worldwide (with the tribunals themselves or participating Non-Governmental Organizations). These opportunities are open to trained lawyers and other professionals only. It does, however, provide a sense of the diversity and depth of opportunity available through intership programs.

  • Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (South Africa)
    http://www.csvr.org.za/interns.htm
  • Witness - “Using Video and Technology to Fight for Human Rights”
    http://www.witness.org/ - Click “Get Involved” on menu bar.