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International Internships in Public Health

World Endeavors Public Health internships provide the chance to work with international communities and gain real-world experience. Depending on their placement, interns will participate in weekly rounds in public hospitals, assist doctors and nurses in private clinics, or collaborate with local organizations that focus on the promotion of healthier lifestyles and behaviors in their surrounding communities. Daily tasks will vary greatly, but may include shadowing health professionals attending to outpatient care, assisting with market research, or educating on the prevention of illnesses and diseases that may affect the local community.

WHAT TO EXPECT ON AN PUBLIC HEALTH INTERNSHIP

Prospective interns should have a strong interest in working in the public health sector. Interns should demonstrate patience, self-motivation, and the ability to adapt to unfamiliar conditions and cultures. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are key to a successful internship, as is eagerness to learn more about the field. Healthcare interns do not provide direct patient care or treatment but are there to observe and learn from local licensed professionals.

HIGHLIGHTS & BENEFITS

  • Completing a public health internship abroad provides the greatest opportunity to understand the real challenges faced by communities around the world.
  • By observing local doctors and nurses, interns will learn how different cultures approach their own healthcare issues.
  • Including an international internship on a resume indicates self-motivation and a commitment to the field of public health.
  • Interns are sure to gain greater cultural awareness and a broader perspective on the challenges and rewards of the field.

Every World Endeavors Internship Program Includes

Our internships are as unique as the countries that host them, but there are program features that unify all of our internship experiences.

YOUR INTERNSHIP

  • Professional customized internship placement
  • Year-round program availability
  • Flexible durations from 2 to 6 months

CAREER READINESS PROGRAM

  • Resume clinic and interview skills workshop
  • One-on-one coaching
  • Professional competencies development

ACCOMMODATION

  • Variety of options available – host family, shared apartment, student residence
  • Vetted and selected with quality, safety and proximity to your placement in mind

CAREER AND ACADEMIC INTEGRATION

  • Re-entry handbook and support
  • Academic credit facilitation
  • Post-program assistance with resume updates and completion certificate
  • World Endeavors Alumni Network

TEAM OF EXPERTS

  • Dedicated one-on-one advisor
  • Local on-site coordinator
  • Internship placement supervisor

PEACE OF MIND

  • Comprehensive travel medical insurance
  • Mental Health First Aid-certified staff
  • 24/7 emergency travel assistance
  • Professional liability insurance

Our Top Intern Abroad Destinations

World Endeavors volunteers support communities in several destinations in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania. Our programs are located in a variety of sites, including urban and rural, economically developed and developing, and English-speaking and non-English speaking.

How to choose the best Internship program

Choosing your internship program is easy when you evaluate your priorities. Follow these steps to guide you toward your ideal program.

Explore a New Career

Interning abroad offers a great opportunity to explore your professional and personal interests, and help define your career path. Peruse our internship fields and past examples to find the best fit.

Choose Your Dream Destination

Finding a meaningful way to combine interning and travel to your dream location is a big incentive. Carefully consider which destinations suit your interests and international internship goals.

Improve Language Skills

Immersing yourself in a language-rich environment is the ultimate method for developing fluency. If language-learning is your goal, favor destinations that use your language of choice.

Fit your budget

Explore scholarships and financial aid to determine if these may impact your destination options. Consider the overall cost of the program and cost of living in-country to identify the optimal match.

Try our program finder to filter based on your choices.

SEARCH

Intern Abroad FAQs

Where will I intern?

While some organizations have a list of open internships and place applicants in those positions, we work in the opposite direction. We first learn about you, your interests, goals and experience, and then actively pursue the internship that provides you with experience directly relevant to your future career. 

What will I be doing at my internship?

Our internships are customized to fit each individual’s goals, interests, and skill level. We consider all of these things and then make a placement accordingly. Therefore, we don’t have specific internships “set aside” waiting for people to fill them. We have placed interns in both small and large companies, but due to confidentiality of our host companies and organizations we are not able to provide a list of companies.

If I am accepted into the program, am I guaranteed an internship?

We are confident in our ability to find impactful,  skill-building internships. If you are accepted into our program, we guarantee that we will find you a placement in your first or second choice field.

Do I need to have experience?

We arrange rewarding internship placements for people with all levels of experience. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an expert in your field, a successful experience requires a positive approach and a mind open to learning, growing and strengthening your skills.

Are the internships paid?

We really wish we could offer paid internships, but all of the internships we coordinate are unpaid placements. Paid internships abroad are few and far-between, as they require a different type of visa that is difficult to attain, and they also require sponsorship by the host company, which is quite costly for them. The goal of our program is to provide meaningful, hands-on experience in your specific profession or field of study that will give you a competitive edge in the job market and make you valuable to employers who are globally minded. If you are seeking a placement to help you gain international experience, improve your skills in your field and enhance your resume, our program provides the perfect opportunity.

What companies do you work with?

Our internships are customized to fit each individual’s goals, interests, and skill level. We consider all of these things and then make a placement accordingly. Therefore, we don’t have specific internships “set aside” waiting for people to fill them. We have placed interns in both small and large companies, but due to confidentiality of our host companies and organizations we are not able to provide a list of companies.

Is there a cost to particiate?

We strive to provide immersive, life changing, and professionally rewarding programs for our interns. Our programs are designed as a comprehensive “program” instead of just the internship so that we can provide a full experience for our participants. The program fees we charge include the in-country expenses (housing, insurance, orientation, etc.) and also the dedicated work that goes behind finding a customized, one-of-a-kind, international internship placement.

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How to apply for an Internship Abroad

You’ve decided to intern abroad – congratulations! Applying for your World Endeavors program is easy and stress-free. Get ready to PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE!

STEP 1
EXPLORE & ASK

Research and compare. If you can’t decide on a program, we can guide you toward the best fit.

STEP 2
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

Fill out our online application form to share all your relevant details with our team.

STEP 3
ENROLL & PREPARE

Receive your official acceptance and enroll. We’ll give you all the info you need to get ready!

STEP 4
START YOUR ADVENTURE!

You’ve researched, planned and saved. Now you’re ready to gain skills and grow your network abroad!