Beyond the Classroom:
Internships and Research Abroad
The UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) is the gateway to your future!
International experience is a prerequisite for success in the global
job market. An internship or research experience through EAP will
enhance your résumé and provide you with valuable
skills and knowledge in your field. Below are some examples of what
EAP students have done in the past. It’s up to you to apply
your specific interests and imagination in arranging an unforgettable
experience that will help you achieve your goals.
Internships
Gain professional experience and provide services to your host
community by working with corporate, governmental, public, or private
organizations for academic credit. Past EAP students have interned
with:
- Greenpeace, Amnesty International, TBWA\, Mercedes-Benz, Samsung,
Frost & Sullivan, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Siemens, and CNN
- Australia’s Federal Parliament; the
Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Hungary; and the
Northern Ireland Assembly, United Kingdom
- Microfinance, environmental protection, and women’s rights
organizations in Chile
- The Commercial Service offices at US embassies in China,
New Zealand, and Spain
- An organic farm in France
- Art museums, galleries, and performing arts venues in Hungary
- Rescue and social services organizations in Italy
- A software development company in Japan
- Correctional facilities in Spain
"I was an election monitor for the Ibn Khaldun
Center, an NGO in Cairo, and contributed to their research on government
practices. Studying abroad made me a stronger person and changed
the way I see life and other people. I would do it again in a heartbeat!"
—Samia Elshafie, Egypt
Research or Independent Study
Receive academic credit for research or independent study projects
conducted under the supervision of local faculty mentors. Past EAP
students have done special projects on:
- Emissions trading schemes as a response to climate change in
Australia
- Effects of tourism on the natural environment in Barbados
- Mummification techniques in Egypt
- Traditional drum making and textile printing techniques in Ghana
- Excavating Etruscan ruins in Italy
- Building an Artificial Intelligence Robot for a university Robocup
in Japan
- The incorporation of indigenous medicine into Mexico’s
Western health care system
- The relationship between Spain’s autonomous
communities and the European Union
- The role of Natural Killer T cells in diabetes in Sweden
- Rural development in a village in Thailand
"The experience gained in Costa Rica studying
conservation and tropical biology and conducting an individual research
project helped me prepare for grad school. Through visits to a fishing
village, farms, and conservation areas, this program provided a
unique perspective on local and governmental efforts to conserve
tropical ecosystems."
—Lacy Smith, Costa Rica
Research-focused Programs
Participate in programs where independent research projects are
a core part of the curriculum. These programs provide introductory
training or course work in culture, language, and research methodologies.
Research projects are overseen by local faculty mentors.
- Spend a quarter conducting research on a topic in tropical
biology and conservation in Monteverde,
Costa Rica
- Devote the semester to independent research, working one-on-one
with a Mexican specialist in your field at one of several sites
in Mexico’s
Field Research Program
"I want to teach and do research and the Field
Research Program gave me the opportunity to develop my own questions,
to understand the ramifications of those questions, and to try and
answer them; something I need to have experience with given my career
goals. What I got out of the program was an intellectual independence
that isn't provided by a classroom setting, and so I have to say
this was one of the best social experiences in my life and best
academic experiences of my university career so far."
—Jason Padoan, Mexico
Undergraduate Research Awards
EAP undergraduate students who have distinguished themselves through
their excellence in research conducted while on EAP can apply for
$1,000 awards in each of the humanities, social sciences, and sciences
and engineering fields (three separate awards). More
information
Academic Policies
In order to receive academic credit for any internship, independent
study, or research effort, the project must be regularly supervised
by a faculty sponsor. In most cases, students plan their projects
in conjunction with the EAP Study Center Director and/or a host
university faculty member. All students must complete a substantial
academic paper or series of reports. Before departure, interested
students should consult with their major department about the kinds
of studies that are acceptable for credit in their major.
For additional information, review EAP's
policies governing academic credit for internships and independent
study. |
Opportunities are
currently available for EAP students in:
Australia
Barbados
Brazil
Canada
Chile
China
Costa Rica
Denmark
Egypt
France
Germany
Ghana
Hong Kong
Hungary
India
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Korea, Republic of
Mexico
South Africa
Spain
Thailand
Turkey
United Kingdom
Vietnam |
