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International Opportunities Resources

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  • Columbia University in the City of New York enjoys one of the foremost international reputations of any academic institution in the United States.  In order to help Columbia students take advantage of all the international opportunities available to them, CCE has compiled this selection of resources for students looking to volunteer, intern, or work abroad.

Volunteer Opportunities

  • International Research Programs: An extensive list of programs where Columbia students can pursue research in international centers across the globe.
  • Cross-Cultural Solutions: A leading organization which creates many opportunities for students to volunteer or intern internationally.
  • Abroad China: A service-oriented company offering internship and volunteer programs to study language and culture in the world's fastest-growing economy.
  • Cultural Embrace: An organization that designs opportunities for individuals to volunteer, work, teach, and intern in programs across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Oceania.
  • Development Foundation Worldwide: A not-for-profit NGO supporting volunteer development programs that help local organizations and promote cross-cultural learning.
  • InterExchange: Aims to promote cultural understanding through a diverse suite of work and volunteer exchange programs.
  • International Education Programs: Promotes global experiences by engaging students and faculty in study, internship, and volunteer programs.
  • International Studies Abroad (ISA): Hosts a series of distinct and exciting volunteer programs that contribute to international community development.
  • Mundo Español: Offers internships, volunteer, exchange, and Spanish language programs combined with cultural activities for university students.
  • Peace Corps: Provides technical assistance in the fields of Health, Education, Urban Youth Development, NGO Development, Social Work, Community Development, and Business, in over 75 countries around the world.
  • Princeton in Asia (PiA): Places 150 young Americans in service fellowships in 18 Asian countries, immersing them in service-oriented projects and contributing to the development of Asian communities. 
  • Projects Abroad: This leading volunteer abroad organization offers a diverse range of international service projects in areas like medicine, journalism, human rights, teaching, business, environmental conservation, archaeology, and more.
  • Youth Challenge International (YCI): A global youth development organization promoting youth innovation to drive positive change.
  • Amnesty International: Frequently recruits volunteers to assist across the globe with the pursuit of human rights for all.
  • U.S. Department of State Teaching Overseas: The US' State Department provides a list of organizations offering volunteer and work positions to teach overseas.
  • Volunteer Abroad: A central website offering many opportunities to explore international volunteering in places like Nepal, Mexico, Ghana, Costa Rica, and more.
  • United Planet: An organization that offers volunteer-abroad opportunities in over 40 countries focusing on cultural communication, female empowerment, and poverty alleviation.
  • Institute for Field Research Expeditions: Offers opportunities to volunteer abroad while performing field research in over 18 locations internationally.
  • Idealist.org: A central website where some of the best ideas for working and volunteering worldwide are shared.
  • A Broader View: Offers volunteer work in humanitarian missions in exotic (and worthwhile) locations all over the world.

Intern Opportunities

  • Going Global: A provider of wide-ranging career and employment resources for evaluating, selecting, and transitional into a successful career in a foreign country.
  • International Research Programs: An extensive list of programs where Columbia students can pursue research in international centers across the globe.
  • IAESTE Internships: IAESTE offer to students a provision of paid, technical work experience abroad for skill enhancement; a safe experience through IAESTE support network and support with practical arrangements i.e. work permits/visa, accommodation and travel to and from work.  You will have to pay for your own travel costs to your receiving country and for personal insurance for the duration of the traineeship.  Most sending countries require you to pay a placement fee.
  • United Nations Internships: The relationship between SIPA and the UN system has increased considerably in recent years; take advantage of new opportunities.
  • Columbia University Partnership for International Development (CUPID): This group coordinates abroad internships, especially in the summer, for Columbia students.
  • Cross-Cultural Solutions: A leading organization which creates many opportunities for students to volunteer or intern internationally.
  • U.S. Department of State Internships: The U.S. Department of State offers worldwide career opportunities providing an experience where you will connect with the global community, conduct diplomacy through communicating U.S. foreign policy, and explore different cultures while living and working overseas.  Even the internship program offers the opportunity to live and work overseas, while exploring new career possibilities.
  • Search Associates -- Teaching Abroad: A placement firm for teachers, administrators, and interns looking for international schools.
  • Abroad China: A service-oriented company offering internship and volunteer programs to study language and culture in the world's fastest-growing economy.
  • Center for Cross-Cultural Study (CC-CS): Academic organization providing unique international internship programs in Spain and Argentina.
  • Cultural Embrace: An organization that designs opportunities for individuals to volunteer, work, teach, and intern in programs across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Oceania.
  • Educational Programmes Abroad: Offers academic semester and summer internships in London, Edinburgh, Brussels, Madrid, Berlin, Bonn & Cologne.
  • InteRDom: An internship program sponsored by the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development dedicated to fostering exchange between the Caribbean, the US, and Latin America.
  • Mundo Español: Offers internships, volunteer, exchange, and Spanish language programs combined with cultural activities for university students.
  • Abroad View: Work and internship opportunities from a wide variety of resources online.  A great place to start.
  • Terra Intern Abroad: Offers internships focusing on international development with the goal of developing internationally-minded development-focused professionals.

Work Opportunities

Columbia-Specific Resources

  • The Alliance Program: France -The Alliance Program is a non-profit transatlantic joint-venture between Columbia University and three French prestigious institutions, The École Polytechnique, Sciences Po and the Université of Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne. Alliance is an innovative program whose aim is to initiate and accompany new initiatives in the fields of education cooperation, research collaboration, and policy outreach.  Every year, the Alliance Program offers a wide range of scholarships, grants, and internships.
  • Columbia Experience Overseas (CEO): Have you considered CEO? It offers a set of fantastic internships in locations like Amman, Shanghai, Beijing, London, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
  • Columbia Global Centers: East Asia (Beijing), South Asia (Mumbai), Middle East (Amman and Istanbul), Africa (Nairobi), Europe (Paris) and Latin America (Santiago) - The Columbia Global Centers are a network of seven interdisciplinary research hubs located on nearly every continent.  Promoting research, service, and teaching, the centers offer opportunities to faculty and students, at both the graduate and undergraduate level of study.
  • Columbia International Expo: Another popular CCE event aimed at expanding students' sights to international opportunities.
  • Columbia University's International Community: A webpage that provides a nice big-picture view of Columbia's international presence, as well as helpful links to get you started.
  • Columbia Partnership for International Development (CUPID): CUPID is a student-led effort across Columbia University focused on international development.  It serves as a channel for students interested in international development to take advantage of the University’s wide ranging human and institutional resources.  CUPID offers a series of summer programs in cooperation with organizations in the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Zambia, among others.
  • Columbia University Research and Collaborations: Columbia University’s international focus is reflected in the wide array of research and scholarly activity in its schools, departments, centers and institutes.
  • Dept. of Germanic Languages & Literatures: Germany -The department offers two programs for study abroad: 1) Berlin Consortium for German Studies Program - An academic-year or a spring-semester program for study at the Freie Universität in Berlin; 2) FUBIS Program -4-week intensive summer language program at the Freie Universität Berlin
  • Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures: Spend a semester studying abroad in East Asia through various programs offered through Columbia’s Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures
  • Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures: For study abroad opportunities in Slavic, East European and Central Asian countries, consult the Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures. 
  • The Earth Institute: Various Regions -The Earth Institute, Columbia University provides funding for students to undertake fieldwork research related to their degree studies, through the Travel Grant and Global Fellows in Sustainable Development Program.  To learn more, please e-mail us at ei-students@ei.columbia.edu
  • The Fu Foundation School for Engineering and Applied Science: Various Regions - We aim to stimulate an international flow of ideas, students, faculty and researchers leading to cooperation with universities, companies, NGOs and governmental bodies around the world.  The office supports and encourages students and the Columbia engineering community to actively pursue a global perspective in their studies and work.  We believe that an international study, and/or research dimension, is essential in order to raise the visibility of Columbia Engineering in the international arena and that overseas study and work experience is a vital element that enhances the career potential of our students. 
  • The Harriman Institute: Russia, Eurasia, and East Central Europe - The Harriman Institute offers a number of fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students conducting research in Russia, Eurasia, and East Central Europe.  Language study funding is also available for graduate students.
  • How to Fund an Internship: CCE's resources on how to fund an ideal internship, including an excursion abroad.
  • International AIDS Family Program: Dominican Republic -The Columbia University International Family AIDS Program (IFAP) is a non-profit organization that supports clinical services, research, education and training in experiences for medical students, residents, MPH candidates, pre-health undergraduates, and post-graduate fellowships.  Program activities focus on improving direct care and treatment as well as preventive health education and services for HIV-infected children and families and other vulnerable populations in the Dominican Republic.  IFAP provides internships, rotations, and other experience opportunities both at the local New York City Office and in La Romana, D.R. Command of the Spanish language is required for the experiences in the Dominican Republic.
  • International Alumni Clubs: A terrific opportunity to network with Columbia alumni who have successfully pursued employment opportunities abroad.
  • International Organizations Day: One of CCE's most successful career fairs, this day brings to campus a whole host of international-minded organizations.
  • Office of Civic Action & Engagement: Various Regions -CAE’s Alternative Break Program (ABP) is a student-driven, proposal-based, experience that is designed to help support and guide teams of students to develop and implement comprehensive domestic and international service trips over winter, spring and summer breaks.  Founded on the CAE’s Five Pathways of Service, these projects will allow teams to work with communities facing challenges by exploring the social, economic, political, historical and cultural variables of those communities. 
  • Office of Fellowships: Various Regions - The Office of Fellowships is committed to helping Columbia students apply for national and international fellowships.  We educate students, faculty, and staff about scholarships and research opportunities and aid students in determining the best scholarships for their intellectual, professional, and personal goals.
  • Office of Global Programs: Various Regions - The Office of Global programs supports the University’s overall goal of internationalizing our campus and engaging scholars, students and institutions in creating a deeper understanding of our globally interdependent and culturally diverse world.  The office aims to ensure international opportunities for undergraduate students that combine cultural immersion, intellectual challenge and individual growth through expanding their world view.
  • Weatherhead East Asian Institute: East Asia and South East Asia -The Weatherhead East Asian Institute offers funding for research, language acquisition, unpaid internships, and dissertation write-up during the summer and academic year to selected students committed to professional and academic engagement with East and South East Asia.

Additional Resources

  • Study Away Programs: A University-generated list of opportunities for all students looking to study internationally. 
  • Cyborlink: Highly and widely regarded as the Web's leading resource for international business etiquette and manners.  
  • Transitions Abroad: A broad collection of resources for teaching internationally.