Frequent questions about internships abroad

Frequent questions regarding internships abroad

Here are students’ most frequently asked questions regarding internships, accommodation and other services offered by Internship Makers. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any other questions. We’ll be happy to help you.

Internship Makers’ process

How long does it take for Internship Makers to organise an internship placement abroad?

Usually between 2 and 4 weeks.

However, we recommend you start the internship process two months before the starting date of your internship (4 months when a visa is required) to be on the safe side in case of any unexpected delay.

If you are in a rush, do not worry, register online and we will do everything we can to help you make the deadline.

How long does it take for Internship Makers to find my accommodation abroad once I have my internship agreement?

We need about 2 weeks to arrange everything according to your specific housing requests.

However, as stated earlier, if you are in a hurry, we will do our best to shorten delays. Don’t hesitate to tell us about your situation and we’ll find the right solution for you.

Your internship abroad

What’s the minimum duration for a work placement in a foreign country?

The minimum duration of an internship is one month.

Indeed, at Internship Makers, we really want you to improve your language skills while interning abroad and we truly think that going abroad for 1 month or more is the best way to make significant progress. However, depending on the destination or the host company the minimum duration might vary. Some companies will prefer your to stay for a minimum of 3 months. Just contact one of our agents and we will advise you according to your situation.

What’s the maximum duration for an internship in a foreign country?

There maximum duration for your internship abroad would be of 12 months.

According to the course you are enrolled in, you may be looking for an internship lasting 3 to 6 months or even one year, and that’s totally fine for us! We have internship offers of any duration, so do not hesitate to browse them. We are pretty sure we will have at least one that perfectly suits your needs.

Will I be paid for my internship overseas?

The truth is: it depends.

According to the legislation of the country in which you take your internship in, your skills and the length of your internship you may or may not be paid.

For example, in France, companies must pay their interns at least 554 € per month. In London, companies are required to refund their trainee’s commuting expenses. However, in many other countries there is no minimum allowance for internships and, therefore, students and companies are used to discuss the financial options directly together during the interview.

To help you finance your stay, Internship Makers will advise you on the various scholarships available (Erasmus, Socrates, local, regional or international scholarships, etc.) and make sure that the documents you need to apply for them are duly filled out and signed by your host company.

How many hours per week will I spend at my company during my internship?

Usually: 40 hours.

This number depends on the laws that apply in your destination country. Indeed, during your internship you will assist and shadow a team of employees, most of them working full time. So, if you want to take the most out of this work experience, it is better if you observe the company’s usual working hours.

In France the number of hours per week is 35 hours; in the UK it is 40 hours, in Malta it is 40 hours, in Spain it is 40 hours, in Australia it is 40 hours and in New York it is 40 hours. Don’t worry, you will still have time to write your internship report or thesis and explore the area while interning abroad. Many did it before you!

If the internship doesn’t match my expectations, may the host company be changed?

Yes, in certain cases.

If you’re having difficulties with your tasks, we recommend that you first talk to your manager in order to share your concerns about your internship. Do not hesitate and do it early so you won’t lose precious time. If things don’t seem to be going in the right direction, we’ll contact the company directly to discuss the problem and find a solution. If for any reason we are unable to obtain a satisfactory agreement, we will find you another internship as soon as possible AND without any additional cost for you.

I’m no longer a student, am I still eligible for an internship placement abroad?

It is possible, but it depends on some conditions

Internship Makers provides internships and accommodation for students enrolled in universities and schools, or any other type of education and training institutions, as all our internships are linked to the interns’ curricula, allowing them to put their theoretical knowledge into practice. Depending on the country we also help people who are no longer students, as part of special programmes for mobility abroad and vocational training.

If you are no longer a student and really want to improve your professional skills abroad but have difficulty finding a job, we can help you, but under certain conditions. According to the legislation, in some countries you will have to have an internship agreement, others will only require that the internship takes place within 12 months of graduation, others will allow you to do an internship but only for observation. If you are in this situation the best thing would be to contact us, we will analyse the situation for you and advise you as best we can so that you respect the legalisation of each country.

Your accommodation abroad

What kind of accommodation will Internship Makers offer me?

Shared flats, host families or full flats.

According to your wishes and within the constraints of the available accommodation, we’ll propose you a room in a shared flat, a full board at a host family.Although our clients are usually very happy with our flats and partner families, there is no obligation for you to accept the place we propose you. If you prefer to look for a place on your own, we‘ll be totally okay with that.

How close will my home be from my workplace?

As close as possible!

Internship Makers does everything possible to keep your commute time to a minimum, offering you accommodation close to your workplace. The average commute time in big cities such as Dublin, London or Paris for instance is about an hour, but at Internship Makers, we try to keep it the shortest as possible!

Flat sharing: how many people will I live with?

Usually 2 or 3.

Internship Makers’ flats are generally 3 bedroom-apartments but there can be 2 bedroom-apartments or 4 bedroom-apartments too. Your flat mates will be between 20 and 30 years old, so do not hesitate to talk to them, it will be a good opportunity for you to make new friends and improve your language skills!

Will I have to share my bedroom?

Only if you request it!

At Internship Makers, we completely understand that people need privacy and we respect this wish. Therefore, unless you specifically want to share your room with someone, we will offer you a private single or a double room.

Do I have to clean?

Cleanliness is important

Tenants must maintain a clean room and the common areas with other flat mates. If you don’t have time or if you simply prefer it, you can subscribe to a housecleaning service via our additional services.

What if my accommodation doesn’t match my expectations?

We can find another housing solution for you, in certain cases.

We do everything we can to find a housing solution that meets your expectations. However, if for a valid and justified reason your accommodation does not suit you, we can find alternative accommodation for you (subject to availability). Requests must be justified and a notice, whose duration will depend on your destination, will be required.

Payment and refund

Will I have to pay booking fees or other fees which will not be refunded if Internship Makers can’t offer me an internship that matches my expectations?

You don’t pay anything unless we have results for you!

After contacting Internship Makers, one of our agents will contact you to better understand your expectations and profile. Once you have chosen your preferred internship opportunities from a list, we will send your CV to our partner companies. As soon as an interview is scheduled, a first payment of 80 euros will be requested. Once the host company decides to accept you as an intern, you will be asked for the full amount of our service. Then, you will receive your internship agreement signed by the host company.

In short:

The first payment of 80 Euros will only intervene once an interview is lined up.

This payment of 80 euros will allow you to conduct up to 3 interviews depending on the companies that will respond favourably to your application (the 1st interview is guaranteed, the other interviews will take place in case you are not selected after the first interview. This situation is quite rare since 90% of our students sign their internship agreements after the first interview).

The second payment (the package price minus the previously paid 80 Euros) will be requested once the internship request is met with a positive answer by the company.

So, technically there are no refunds as you only pay when a company wants to interview you and when the company accepts you for your internship

If you didn’t do it yet, do not hesitate to have a look at our process. You will find all the detailed information you need there

After paying the deposit of 80 € when do I pay the balance of the provision?

When the company accept you for your internship

Once the company confirms your internship placement, we will ask you to pay the remaining amount of the Internship Package. As soon as we receive your payment, we’ll send you your internship agreement signed by the company and all the necessary documents.

If you wish to subscribe to the Accommodation Package and to other complementary services, you will be able to do it at this time of the process.

What if I decide to withdraw after paying the deposit?

We will not be able to refund the 80 euros. The 80€ will be due for the work done and time spent on your application by our team (answers to all your questions, Skype interview, correction of your CV, sending internship offers corresponding to your profile, sending your application to companies, company reminders, planning an interview with a company…).