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Ireland is known for its rich culture and long history reaching back millennia, but did you know it’s also at the forefront of many professional fields? With booming finance, marketing, business, social work, and STEM industries (to name just a few!), Ireland is an ideal place to do a full-time internship and gain hands-on professional experience. AIFS Abroad offers internship programs in Dublin, Ireland’s largest and capital city, and Galway, the cultural heart of the Emerald Isle. Want to learn what it’s really like to intern abroad in Ireland?
Hear from four people who did an internship abroad in Ireland with AIFS Abroad!
Rikako: Business Administration Internship in Dublin
Rikako, a third-year economics student at UC San Diego (UCSD), did a business administration internship in Dublin at Trinity Business School with a student startup incubator. As she explains, her role spanned multiple departments, giving her the chance to take on a range of tasks and learn several new skills:
“As an administrative intern, my main tasks revolve around updating the website used to help students keep track of this week’s events and any other communication things that my mentors might want me to do!… I’ve been helping the marketing department as well as one of the student start-ups with social media and video editing as well… I’m having a lot of fun learning new programs to support teams and other divisions that need it.”
Besides the world-famous culture and friendly locals, one of the reasons college students like Rikako choose to intern abroad in Ireland is because it’s an English-speaking country. And while many AIFS Abroad programs don’t require you to speak a second language to study or intern abroad, some people are more comfortable in an English-speaking country, as Rikako explains:
“I was already looking into overseas internships, and for Dublin specifically, there’s a UCSD program associated with it… I thought it was really convenient because it’s outside my comfort zone, but it’s an English-speaking country, so not too far outside my comfort zone… I highly recommend it, the weather’s really nice too, and it’s a good place to start because you don’t need to learn a new language…”
Every AIFS Abroad program includes safe and central housing, which is one less thing for you to worry about as an intern abroad! Hear Rikako briefly describe her student residence in Galway, and how spacious it is:
“There’s one pretty long desk with an office chair, bedside table, bed, and this whole closet… there’s a lot of space… I also have a [private] bathroom attached inside with a built-in shower and… everything you need.”
In addition to providing housing, AIFS Abroad includes trips and excursions that take you to notable sites around your host city and country. A popular AIFS Abroad excursion in Ireland is to the Cliffs of Moher, which Rikako remembers as one of the highlights of her program:
“My biggest highlight so far was when I went to the Cliffs of Moher with… my program… the view is really nice even though it was a little foggy… it was just a really nice walk along the cliffs.”
Parker: Communications Internship in Dublin
Parker interned abroad after graduating from SUNY Potsdam with a speech communications degree. This was his second program abroad. For this internship program, he went to Dublin to gain professional experience as a communications intern at a local radio station.
Parker’s internship in Dublin involved pre-recording, broadcasting local news stories, doing live radio shows, and covering stories in person, including an international baseball tournament, which he describes below:
“You’re able to get these really cool opportunities outside of [your internship]… Being able to travel to Ashbourne and cover the baseball tournament has been something that I’ve been looking forward to for six weeks now. Honestly, it’s one of the coolest experiences I’ve gotten here in [Ireland].”
Whenever Parker did get to travel for his internship or during his free time, he always appreciated how easy it was to get around the country:
“One of the best things about Ireland is the fact that you can literally take a bus for three hours and be all the way across from the east coast to the west coast. It really makes traveling a lot of fun and kind of gives you time and options to get outside of Dublin and enjoy the space.”
In addition to traveling across Ireland, as Parker explains, getting around Dublin is also convenient, thanks to the city’s walkability as well as the comprehensive and easy-to-use public transportation system:
“Dublin is a pretty great city because you can basically walk wherever you want. The bus system here is great… You want to get yourself a little Leap Card, then you can ride the Luas (tram), the train, and the buses.”
Annie: Social Work Internship in Galway
Annie from the University of North Carolina (UNC) Wilmington interned abroad in Galway during the summer before her senior year. As a social work major, choosing Galway, a city that’s well known for its strong social services, was a great fit for Annie. Below, she provides some more details about her experience as a social work intern in Galway:
“[The internship] was great. I think it exceeded my expectations… it was a great experience with AIFS and also the people that I worked with… I worked right in the city… [so during my lunch hour] I would have plenty of time to… see some other parts of the city or try out a [new restaurant]. After work, depending on how busy the day was, I would just stay home and cook [or] I would go out [with the other interns in my program] and find a new spot to try out… and hang out, which was really fun. It was great to have those other people around me who enjoyed doing [the same] things as well.”
Ireland’s location makes it a great launching point to explore the UK and the rest of Europe, which is just a short flight away, as Annie explains:
“I was able to make it up to Northern Ireland (part of the UK) and also to Scotland. And then I also did a little weekend trip to France, which was really nice… Me and some of the girls I stayed with just up and went… That was something I thought I’d never be able to do because getting a flight from [the U.S.] to France is extremely expensive, but once you’re over in Europe, you can kind of go anywhere you want.”
Hear Annie describe one of her favorite parts of her internship program in Galway—the support of her on-site Program Director:
“The thing that I loved the most and that really helped me out was having the AIFS [Program Director] with you… wherever you’re at. That’s your point of contact while you’re there; you can go to that person no matter what. For me [in Galway], that was Karen. She was amazing, she helped me out so much… If there was anything around Ireland that we wanted to do or see, or if we didn’t know how to do certain things, like [use] the transportation systems or anything like that, she would help us. It was wonderful to have somebody there… I don’t know what I would have done [without her].”
Carin: Human Kinetics Internship in Galway
Carin, a human kinetics (exercise science) major from the University of Ottawa, did an internship abroad in Galway as a rising senior. Below, she explains why she chose a program in Galway and what this seaside Irish city is like:
“I chose Galway because I heard it was the cultural capital of Ireland [and] I [wanted to] get the genuine Irish cultural experience… Galway has beautiful scenery with a river running through it (which makes walks and runs extra calming). The University of Galway is also not far from the city center, and Galway itself is a very popular location in Ireland, so often you will find a mix of university students, locals, and tourists. Galway is also a very green city (beautiful plants everywhere), as [is] all of Ireland. The people are also welcoming.”
Carin’s full-time internship was pretty unique—rather than interning at a single host company, she spent a few days a week at one host company and the rest of her work week at a second. This opportunity allowed her to make even more professional connections and get exposure to a wider range of methodologies and professional experiences. Hear Carin describe her two internships in more detail:
“[My first host company]…where I [am] a human kinetics intern… uses a LiDAR system… providing real-time feedback and analysis on exercise technique to help maximize athletic performance and rehabilitation outcomes… [My second host company] provides health and safety training as well as ergonomic assessments and feedback for workplaces.”
While interning at two host companies may sound like a lot, Carin spent a total of 30 – 40 hours each week between both of her internships, providing plenty of opportunities to enjoy her time off:
“I definitely have so much time to get up to things after work ends. I try to find fun things to do after work, especially since it’s the summer. The other night we celebrated a birthday, and we’ve been to a couple of restaurants and pubs in the city! I also like to run and work out, so I try to do that after work.”
Finally, on the impact of her internship in Galway, Carin said the following:
“One of my goals this year was to put myself out there, and being here has really allowed me to do so. I’ve been able to meet people, engage with the cultural aspects, and [apply my] skills [to] the workplace, so that’s been a great experience… I plan to continue my studies post-grad, so my internships have provided good practical experience.”
Discover all Ireland has to offer—intern abroad in Dublin or Galway with AIFS Abroad like these college students and pre-professionals did!
AIFS Abroad offers many intern abroad programs in Ireland, each tailored to meet specific academic, personal, and professional preferences. Wherever you intern abroad, go with AIFS Abroad and take advantage of our valuable program inclusions (which really take the stress out of planning!), such as housing, trips and excursions, social and cultural activities, 24/7 emergency support, integrated career readiness, and the support of our trusted on-site staff.
