The Office of International Affairs and other departments at Ohio State sponsor a number of credit bearing international internship programs. Work experiences abroad are not facilitated by the Office of International Affairs, and it is your responsibility to conduct any and all research on potential employers.
Ohio State-approved internship opportunities
Ohio State offers several opportunities for Ohio State students to gain internship experience abroad. These include:
- The Office of International Affairs offers multiple education abroad programs that include an internship option. These programs allow you to gain academic credit while completing your internship experience.
- The Office of Global Business offers students in the Fisher College of Business the option to pursue an internship in multiple countries.
- The Office of International Affairs also offers a variety of approved programs through third-party providers that give students internship and field-experience.
All of these opportunities are officially approved by Ohio State and provide students with a dynamic array of opportunities to pursue an internship abroad. Students going abroad on Ohio State approved programming, Office of International Affairs third-party programs or Office of Global Business programs can earn Ohio State graded credit and retain access to Ohio State grants and scholarships as well as federal financial aid. In addition, all students participating in these programs will be automatically enrolled in Ohio State’s required supplemental insurance for international travel.
If you have selected an internship through the Office of International Affairs you can directly apply for your program. You can view applications for internships sponsored by the Office of Global Business. Applicable credit approval, financial aid disbursement, insurance registration and other details will be available through the application and admissions process.
External internship opportunities
If you are searching for an internship abroad or have already identified a potential host for a non-Ohio State sponsored option, we encourage you to use these questions adapted from the Work, Internship and Volunteering Abroad (WIVA) Subcommittee of NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
Questions to ask your program:
- How many students per year do they send on their internship program?
- Have they ever worked with Ohio State students? Do they have Ohio State or other internship alumni you can speak with?
- How are interns placed? Are there pre-set placements to which students apply or is the internship “customized” for the student?
- What is the application process? Application fee? Program fee?
- Is there a program fee? What costs are students responsible for?
- Is academic credit offered? If so, how many credits? If so, is the transcript from an accredited U.S. university (see information below on transferring credit)?
- Are there any prerequisites that the students need to complete an internship?
- Is the experience paid or unpaid?
- Is the internship experience full-time or part-time?
- Does the program provider handle work permits/visas (it many countries it can be illegal to work, intern or volunteer, even without pay, without the proper visa and immigration paperwork)?
- Average length of internships/timeframe?
- Do you need to speak a language besides English?
- Is housing provided? Are meals provided?
- In-country support? Do you have access to a 24/7 emergency contact in the country of your internship?
Most forms of Ohio State financial aid are not applicable to non-Ohio State approved options. For credit-bearing experiences, students may be able to access some forms of federal financial aid if the program can sign a consortia agreement. For non-credit service programs there are generally no forms of Ohio State or federal financial aid that apply. We encourage you not to make immediate payment if an organization recruiting interns on campus asks for money to reserve a placement or secure a spot.
If your internship offers academic credit, it is not guaranteed that the credit will transfer to Ohio State.
- Consult with the Ohio State Transfer Credit Center to determine if a) the institution is recognized by that country’s Ministry of Education or other recognition body and b) determine credit type (GENERAL or SPECIAL) and credit conversion to U.S. semester hours. Pay close attention to the instructions provided by the Transfer Credit Center to ensure transfer credit is awarded for your program abroad.
- Work with your academic advisor to determine if the courses you wish to take will are applicable to your degree plan at Ohio State.
When applying, you may be required to submit:
- Education Abroad Advisor Form (contact Jenny Kraft in OIA to complete this form)
- Course Selection Form (If an advisor's signature is required, please see your academic advisor)
While you await your admission decision:
- If seeking credit, meet with your academic advisor to discuss transfer (K) credit and whether it may be used toward your degree requirements, as well as assistance with program course selection and help manually opening your Ohio State registration for the term following your studies abroad.
Working abroad
For Ohio State students seeking additional international experience upon graduation, the Office of International Affairs encourages you to explore the options available with Ohio State’s Peace Corps office, located in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. If you are looking for a career abroad, we encourage you to access the Buckeye Careers Network. The various college career offices will have advice on pursuing an international career (e.g. Using Going Global and USA/Canada City Career Guides in FutureLink) and workshops on developing your international resume and career.
Ohio State Travel Policies
All Ohio State students pursuing internship experiences abroad that are related to their Ohio State academic or co-curricular objectives (regardless of its affiliation with the university) are required to adhere to the policies and guidelines set forth by the University’s International Travel Policy Committee.
- Be sure to check the status of your prospective host country with the list of Ohio State Risk Designated Countries. If your host country is currently listed as a Risk Designate Country, you must submit a petition to the International Travel Policy Committee.
- Students traveling to international locations for academic or co-curricular purposes are required to enroll in the university's supplemental travel insurance. Visit supplemental travel insurance for detailed steps on how to register for the supplemental insurance online.
Pre-departure Checklist
Once you have been accepted to your program, be sure to review the pre-departure checklist.
