Full-Time Semester Internship

• 18 years of age
• In good standing at your home school
• 2.5 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale (GPAs under 2.5 will be considered on a case-by-case basis)
• At least sophomore standing prior to application; rising junior status at time of program departure. (Students who have completed one year of undergraduate study may apply and will be considered on a case-by-base basis.)
• Non-U.S. citizens must refer to their local consulate to learn about visa requirements and determine eligibility; IES Internships cannot advise on visa regulations for non-U.S. citizens.
• Non-U.S. citizens attending school outside the U.S.: Native English fluency or IELTS score of 6.0 or above, taken within the last two years.
  • Visit the IELTS website to find a test location near you. IES Abroad reserves the right, in its sole discretion, not to accept students who it believes do not have the necessary English language competency to succeed in an Internship Program, irrespective of the applicant's score on a language proficiency exam.
• Students may be enrolled in a full-time degree program, or a graduate intending to begin their internship no more than 5 years after their graduation date (solid academic credentials related to studies or experience in desired field of placement required); graduate students enrolled in a full-time degree program may apply and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Submit Your Online Application 

• Applications may be considered after the published deadline on a space available basis. Please note that late applicants may be required to submit a non-refundable confirmation deposit upon acceptance in order to secure a place in the program. Please contact us with questions about applying after the deadline. 

After your Online Application is processed, submit the following in your MyIESabroad account: 

1. Home School Authorization — Your on-campus study abroad advisor can either complete the Home School Authorization electronically through IES Abroad’s PartnerPortal system, or by filling out the PDF form. Consult your study abroad advisor to determine how they would prefer to complete your Home School Authorization. 
2. Academic Credit Acknowledgement Form — This form allows you to select whether you plan to enroll in the internship program for credit. Consult with your advisor on campus to understand your school's requirements for earning credit for your internship. 
3. Cover Letter — This letter should not be addressed to IES Internships. Instead, it should be targeted toward prospective internship hosts in the field in which you would like to work. Your letter will allow potential host organizations to better understand your interest, skills, and background experience. 
4. Placement Interest Form — This form will ask you about your goals and objectives for the internship placement, as well as information about how to best contact you throughout the placement process. Our internship staff will use this as a starting point for matching you with a host employer. 
5. Transcript(s) — Submit transcripts for each college/university you have attended since high school. If you have multiple transcripts, IES Abroad will average the GPAs for all colleges/universities you have attended and use that cumulative GPA when reviewing your application. (Students attending higher education institutions outside of the U.S. must obtain a professional course-by-course transcript equivalency report. You may choose any organization that provides professional international transcript equivalencies.)
6. Résumé 
7. Professional Letter of Reference (optional) — Submit a letter of reference from a previous employer or supervisor. 
8. (If Applicable) English Language Proficiency Exam — Students attending higher education institutions outside of the U.S. may need to submit English language proficiency exam results. Contact your IES Abroad Representative for more information. 

If your cumulative GPA is below 2.5, submit the following in your MyIESabroad account: 

1. Professor Recommendation — Although there is no length requirement, the recommendation must indicate a professor’s opinion of the applicant’s academic ability to pursue university-level coursework in a foreign country, in addition to any information that would help IES Abroad gain a better understanding of the applicant. 
2. Personal Academic Essay — Although there is no length requirement, the essay must address your GPA, any particular academic challenges faced, reasons you chose this IES Abroad program, and how it fits into your academic career. 

Apply Now

Renew (or Apply for!) Your Passport ASAP 

Passport applications and renewals are taking longer than normal these days. Save yourself from the last-minute stress by making sure: 

1. You have a passport 
2. The expiration date is at least six months after your study abroad program ends

Visit  travel.state.gov  to locate U.S. passport agencies in your area. 

Visa Requirements 

Italy requires U.S. citizens to obtain a student visa before studying abroad for a semester or longer.  

Learn more about applying for a student visa for Italy and whether or not you are eligible for Italy ACCeSS. 

Not a U.S. citizen? Consult the consulate website of your passport country and  contact your IES Abroad Advisor.

New Visa Process Starting Fall 2025

The Italian Senate recently approved a Legislative Decree introducing key changes that will significantly impact the visa application process for students planning to study abroad in Italy for longer than 90 days.

Starting January 10, 2025, students must appear in person at their consulate for fingerprinting. Batch processing like IES Abroad's ACCeSS program will no longer be allowed.

We're looking at interim solutions for our Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 programs, including possibly modifying the length of our programs. We expect to have more information soon and will keep all applicants, students, and school partners informed.