HLS offers summer internships abroad that provide students will the opportunity to use their knowledge and skills to create social change. Internships abroad are unpaid and co-curricular, and at least two interns will be selected for each internship opportunity.
For questions about the International Internship program, contact HLS Careers at hlsopd@iu.edu.
Applications will open on December 1 for summer 2025 internships.
Applications are due February 1.
Individual internships may have additional eligibility criteria
All interns are required to:
As an HLS intern, you are a representative of our school. We expect that you will:
For the international internships, you will complete the following:
We strongly encourage you to draft these short answers in a separate document and take time to review and revise them.
You can find the application below:
Internships run for 8 weeks during the summer
Internships must take place between mid-May and mid-August. Interns at each site are required to have the same program dates and will work with the internship partner to identify the exact dates.
All interns will work with HLS and the international internship partner during the spring semester to prepare for the summer internship. Information ranging from cultural norms, housing, safety, emergency contact information, and more will be provided to assist with preparing the student for the cultural context they are entering.
All interns will participate in the HLS international internship group orientation during the spring semester and host organization orientation upon in-country arrival.
Interns will communicate regularly with HLS during the internship, submit reflection prompts and complete a re-entry workshop at the beginning of the fall semester. These avenues provide interns with a space to both reflect on the internship and learn how to effectively market themselves to future employers.
The cost of each internship varies, and information is provided below.
Interns should consider applying for the following funding opportunities:
HLS scholarship:
Students may enroll in SGIS X373 to receive academic credit for your internship. This credit may apply to your degree requirements.
For more information about the HLS internship course, click here.
Global Mamas is a fair trade network of nearly 400 women in Ghana who produce handmade products using traditional methods and sell their goods locally and overseas, with the mission of creating prosperity for African women and their families.
This internship in Cape Coast, Ghana could include projects focused on:
Interns can expect to work an average of 40 hours per week for the eight week internship.
Interns will live in Cape Coast, Ghana, with an optional visit to the new Global Mamas Fair Trade Zone in Kpong. Cape Coast is the original and largest Global Mamas production location. Cape Coast is a fishing port on the Gulf of Guinea. There is plenty to do in the city, but there is also time to travel on weekends. Popular activities include doing a Canopy walk in the Kakum National Forest or visiting a nearby beach town.
Interns will homestay in the private home of one of the Mamas. The homestay Mama will provide breakfast for about $2/day; if wanting to eat with the family for other meals that can be worked out with the Mama directly. Each lunch and dinner at the home range $4 to $5 daily. The interns will have access to the kitchen in the homestay and all utensils to cook for themselves should they wish to purchase and cook their own food. Housing accommodations are simple, but clean and comfortable. Rooms and bathrooms are shared with other interns. The bathroom includes a shower, but only cold water. There is running water most of the time, but unreliable infrastructure can sometimes result in disruptions. When running water is not available, water will be provided for bucket showers and flushes, which are easy to learn to use. There are regular power outages, but Global Mamas has a generator so devices can be charged during the day at the office if outages extend beyond a few hours. Lanterns will be provided at night as needed. Wi-Fi is available at the Global Mamas office, but it also experiences outages from time to time.
Program Fee for 8 Weeks: $1810
This cost includes:
Students will be responsible for covering the following:
HLS has scholarship funds that will be available to supplement the program fee.
Roots Interns offers internships with nonprofits and social enterprises in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. This internship will pair HLS students with one of three community organizations:
Interns can expect to work approximately 30 hours per week during the internship and may occasionally have weekend tasks.
Interns will stay at an ecolodge in the northern town of Nkhata Bay. This lodge has an idyllic location and a relaxed vibe with a private beach (with snorkeling and paddleboarding included), beautiful permaculture gardens, and several communal spaces. The rooms are comfortable dormitories, although there are options of upgrading to a single chalet. The lodge is a hub for people who are volunteering their time at different community and environmental projects in the area. The lodge is the office for Butterfly Space and MSPC.
Two meals a day are included for the first month. For the second month, interns will be able to eat out in town, shop for food at a local market, or opt in to a package for two meals a day for an additional fee. Roots Interns has found that most interns want the first month of food provided and then look forward to meal planning on their own for the second and final month of the internship, once they are more settled.
Malawi is small (roughly the size of England) which makes it relatively easy to travel around in terms of distance. Malawians are known for their friendliness. The country is landlocked with borders to Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia. Lake Malawi consumes a fifth of the country’s land mass, making Malawi strikingly green during the rainy season that lasts from November to May. There are five main cities: Lilongwe (the capital), Mzuzu, Karonga, Zomba, and Blantyre. In most parts of the country, public facilities are limited, and a lack of infrastructure can cause irregularities in electricity, roads, water supply, and telecommunications, although this is gradually improving.
Nkhata Bay is a small, busy port town in the north of Malawi and is located on the banks of Lake Malawi. Interns will be encouraged to explore and seek out activities outside of work hours. There are opportunities for visiting The Mushroom Farm, Usisya via the Ilala ferry, boat trips, kayaking, hiking, village tours, cooking lessons, market trips, and more.
Program fee for 8 weeks: $2049
This cost includes:
Students will be responsible for covering the following additional costs:
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