UVA Global Internships: Expanding Your World Through Experiential Learning
The University of Virginia (UVA) offers a wealth of opportunities for undergraduate students seeking to broaden their horizons through international experiences. UVA Global Internships, a unit within the Education Abroad division of the International Studies Office, facilitates academic experiences of global work, connecting students with meaningful internship opportunities in diverse international locations. These summer-term programs provide direct UVA credit and allow students to connect their experiences of international work to broader global themes and trends.
The UVA Global Internship Experience
UVA Global Internships provide a framework for students to engage in academic experiences of global work. These programs are designed to be academically rigorous, personally enriching, and professionally beneficial. The structure of these programs allows students to earn direct UVA credit while gaining practical experience in their chosen field. Each program is offered within an academic framework. This framework is designed to connect your personally enriching experience of international work to broader global themes and trends.
Academic Integration: GSGS 3220: Making Culture Visible
To further enhance the education abroad experience, UVA offers GSGS 3220: Making Culture Visible, an asynchronous, short summer course. This course is designed to deepen education abroad, helping students reach the full potential of what can be a transformational learning experience.
Program Locations and Opportunities
UVA Global Internships feature exciting international locations and a diversity of meaningful internship opportunities. The programs are offered during the summer term, allowing students to gain international experience without disrupting their regular academic year. Some examples of programs include:
- UVA in Ireland & N.
- UVA in St.
- UVA Exchange: University of St.
Student Perspectives: The Transformative Power of Education Abroad
The impact of education abroad experiences is best illustrated through the stories of students who have participated in these programs. These experiences often lead to personal growth, academic discoveries, and career inspiration.
Read also: Internship at GlobalFoundries
Discovering New Passions and Perspectives
One student who studied abroad in Valencia and Copenhagen shared how those experiences left a huge impact on their personal and academic life. Through time abroad, they were immersed in cultures, dialogues, and perspectives, they would not have otherwise experienced. They initially went to Valencia to fulfill graduation language requirements but fell in love with the Spanish language, culture, and people, ultimately returning as a Spanish Major. Studying in Copenhagen gave them an appreciation for new ways of living, learning, and collaborating, reinvigorating their passions for their foreign affairs major. They emphasized that without participating in education abroad, they would have missed out on meeting some of their best friends, making lifelong memories, and discovering areas of study that they are passionate about.
Another student highlighted the impact of UVA in Buenos Aires: Global Internships, where they taught at a local K-12 school. They created lesson plans relating to their major, Environmental Sciences, using basic English to help introduce the students to bilingual learning. They truly loved this experience and made many personal and professional connections through the school, discovering a passion for youth education.
Academic and Career Growth
A student who participated in UVA in Italy: Florence: General Studies (in affiliation with ISI), Spring 2025, shared how their education abroad experience propelled their academic and career growth in so many valuable ways. They took courses centered around art history, Italian language, and psychology. As a cognitive science major, studying abroad and forming connections with local Italians enabled them to better understand the cultural differences in how we process information and perceive the world around us. Additionally, as an artist and designer, becoming immersed within the visual culture of Florence was incredibly empowering. They learned the value of education abroad in broadening global perspectives as well as sparking creative inspiration.
Navigating a New World
One student reflected on the valuable lessons learned through immersion in a culture different from their own. They learned many valuable lessons about how to navigate the world and specifically a new environment very different from what they are used to. They also highlighted the simple joys of trying new foods and connecting with people from different backgrounds, such as playing soccer with strangers in Valencia. Communicating on the field with them in their native language and sharing the love of a sport really showed them how even though we may often think others are very different from themselves, we are all a lot more alike and able to connect with each other than we may think.
Experiencing Healthcare in a Global Context
Alicyn, a fourth-year student studying kinesiology and French, studied abroad in Strasbourg, France through the Institute of Field Education (IFE) program. The IFE program is set up to allow students to go through 6 weeks of immersion classes in their target language to prepare for a local internship catered to their interests. Because of this program, she was able to greatly improve her conversational French and intern at la Maison Sport-Santé de Strasbourg. The internship allowed her to see how exercise was literally prescribed as medicine to the Strasbourgeoise population. As someone planning to go into the medical field, the experience was eye-opening in how health-care works in countries other than the United States.
Read also: Global Internship Programs
Immersing in a New Landscape
In the class, Visual Cultures of Cities, one student was able to fully immerse themselves in the landscape of Copenhagen. From the people to their ways of living to the architecture that shapes the city, they were able to take on an interdisciplinary view of an unfamiliar culture. Taking on new challenges by themself taught them flexibility, self-reliance, and allowed them to gain an appreciation for exploration.
Financial Support: Global Studies Scholarships
Recognizing the importance of accessibility, Global Studies awards at least two undergraduate scholarships for travel and research abroad, up to $7,500 each. This financial support helps make these transformative experiences possible for a wider range of students.
Important Information for Prospective Participants
Entry Requirements for Europe: The Entry/Exit System (EES)
It is important for students planning to study abroad in Europe to be aware of the upcoming changes to entry requirements. The Entry/Exit System (EES), an automated system for registering non-EU nationals travelling to most European countries for a short stay, will start operations on 12 October 2025.
Immigration Policy
Students should also be aware that St. immigration policy could affect them. This includes guidance on the June 4th Presidential Proclamation restricting entry to the United States for nationals of 19 countries.
Getting Involved
Intern with the ISO
The International Studies Office also provides opportunities for students to get involved.
Read also: Global Cool Scholarships
Education Abroad Social Media Intern
tags: #UVA #Global #Internships #programs
