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Global Experiences/AIFS Abroad

4.87 Rating
743 reviews
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Why choose Global Experiences/AIFS Abroad?

Global Experiences believes that everyone deserves a career they love, and their mission is to help young people find their paths sooner in life. Global Experiences internship programs open doors for young people to enrich their lives personally and enhance their futures professionally. Along with exciting placements in many different locations, Global Experiences internships abroad provide the support to assure students of great, safe and educational experiences, and an award winning career development program to connect the dots between school and the professional world.

Since 2001, Global Experiences has established a network of over 7,000 alumni and has given students and recent grads the chance to gain concrete skills in their desired industry, meet industry contacts, and experience the 'real world' in a new location. Global Experiences' staff are all world travelers and live to pay it forward.

Website
www.globalexperiences.com
Founded
2001
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Community Awards

  • Go Overseas Award
  • Go Overseas Award
  • Go Overseas Award
  • Go Overseas Award
  • Go Overseas Award

Scholarships

Global Experiences Generation Study Abroad Scholarship

Global Experiences offers scholarships for both summer and semester terms in any of the organization’s 11 global cities. Full scholarships are available for semester-long programs, with special consideration given to those who are underrepresented in study abroad programs. Global Experiences also contributes to those who receive a Pell Grant or Benjamin A. Gillman scholarship, for both in person and virtual programs.

Value
$500 - $3,000
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Reviews

Default avatar
Kat
20
Female
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Global Experiences Internships in Galway, Ireland

Why you SHOULD Study Abroad in Galway

Sep 6, 2023

Studying abroad in Galway was the best experience of my life. If you are looking for a beautiful, charming and fun city to live in, you've found it in Galway. This city is now my favorite place in the world and I tell everyone I meet that they have to go at some point in their lives.
The program itself was such a great experience and helped me grow both professionally and personally. The internship I was placed into was perfect for what I needed I learned so much from my supervisor. Additionally, the friends and connections I made while in Galway will last a lifetime.

Also, the location coordinator, Karen is the best and will make your experience abroad endlessly better.

Default avatar
Anzsia
21
Female
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Global Experiences Internships in Galway, Ireland

Interning in Galway

Sep 5, 2023

I can't imagine going anywhere else! Galway is truely such a unique and amazing city with so many places to go and things to see. I really think that the small town vibe of the city made me love it even more as I really knew my way around the city after the first couple of weeks. My program also had around 20 people, which meant that we all got to know each other very well and we all became close friends. I also loved my internship placement and thought it was a perfect fit for what I was looking for!

Pros
  • The people are so kind and welcoming
  • Not too expensive
  • Intimate small town
Cons
  • Gloomy weather
  • Harder to travel to other countries in Europe
  • Less food variety
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Sydney
21
Female
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Global Experiences Internships in Galway, Ireland

Galway is the best!

Sep 5, 2023

I absolutely loved my experience in Galway! It's such a unique place to study abroad in and I am so grateful I chose this location. My internship placement was so amazing and I was excited to go to work everyday. Exploring the city with other interns in the program was so much fun and the city is so welcoming and safe. The group is usually smaller here which helped me create close relationships with the other students. I cannot recommend this location and program enough. The program staff, Karen, is awesome! I promise you will love it here!

Pros
  • I learned and grew as a person so much!
  • I formed great friendships!
  • I got to experience a new culture where I felt so welcomed!
Cons
  • The time difference is a bit hard from the US!
  • It took a while to adjust to the food.
  • It was also hard to adjust to the accents at first, especially at my internship.
This is some of my cohort enjoying the Galway Art Festival!
Default avatar
Alex
21
Female
United States
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Global Experiences Internships in Rome, Italy

Overall amazing, internship could have been better

Aug 31, 2023

I loved the experiences, culture, staff and safety procedures. My one complaint would be that I was interning for someone in my field so they never had any advice or critiques for me. I think my favorite part was traveling to other places around the area, as well as the food and rich history of the location. The staff was so helpful and kind that they really helped and I’m so thankful. I would say this program helps the resume look better, but I didn’t learn a lot in terms of my field of study.

Pros
  • Food
  • History
  • Sights
Cons
  • Heat
  • Internship
Default avatar
Maxwell
23
Male
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Global Experiences Internships in London, England

London with AFIS

Aug 28, 2023

My time during AIFS's internship program in London was an unbelievable experience and one that I will never forget. London was a busy city with so many places to see and things to and do. Big shoutout to Gregg in London, who was an amazing tour guide and a great advisor to have along the way. He recommended us to many beautiful markets, delicious bakeries and several pubs as well as many other events and places to visit. Overall this trip was an incredible experience, and I look forward to visiting London again!!

Pros
  • Gregg!! He was a great resource to have on the ground.
  • Location of housing accommodation
  • Transportation
Cons
  • Housing accommodations
  • Commute to internship
  • Internship seemed to be more entry level than expected.
Thames River near London Bridge
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Programs

Displaying 1 - 9 of 19

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Taylor Courtney

Program
Global Experiences Internships in Sydney, Australia

Why did you choose this program?

I joined this program for a billion reasons but for the sake of the people reading this I’ll try to shorten it down. After traveling to Spain on a family trip over the summer, I developed the travel bug. No one in my family had ever studied abroad but I couldn’t find a reason not too. Besides traveling, making new friends, and living my life to the fullest...I’ll be attending grad school in a year and they rank international work very high. Just a little added bonus :)

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Salisbury University does a fantastic job taking most of the organization out of my hands. My only tasks consisted of getting a few forms signed, a few phone calls with the global experiences team (resume prep, skill building, etc.), and then completing an interview for my internship. The school was very supportive and made sure I was on top of my tasks. They were always there to answer my questions and put me at ease.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I have 2 big pieces of advice
1. SAY YES TO EVERYTHING! Even if something isn’t up your alley, try something new. That being said, try to cross one big thing of your To Do list every week. Also, download the “Pin Drop” app. It marks everything you want to do on a map. SUPER CONVENIENT!
2. Don’t except an internship if it’s not exactly what you’re looking for. I personally loved my internship but one of my roommates didn’t step up and say that she didn’t like the internship they lined up for her. This program is extremely accommodating and will find an internship you’ll love. They’re really big on having a 10 out of 10 experience.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

My internship was very different in hours compared to everyone else. Most internships are 9-5 from Monday-Friday. Most days after work, I’d try to get together with the other people in the program and grab dinner or do a small activity. On the weekends I always tried to do something BIG. By doing this, I crossed off everything on my list!

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear was actually commuting to my job. I found out a month before going to Australia that my internship was 2 hours away by transit (most are local). I didn’t find out until the week before I got to Australia (when my boss emailed me) that she picks me up and drops me off from work 3 days of the week. Global experiences knew this too but I didn’t ask. I simply uberpooled (HIGHLY RECOMMEND) the other days. Most of the time I saved 50% off my Uber fee and they didn't pick anyone else up. I realized that commuting to work wasn’t even worth fearing. If you’re uneasy about something, talk to the global experiences staff or email your employer.

What were your favorite things you did in Australia?

-Camping in the Blue Mountains
-Figure 8 Pools
-Sydney Bridge Climb
-Great Barrier Reef (a little piece of advice, you’ll want 3-4 days here at least!)
-Melbourne Cup in Melbourne!
-Glow worm caves
-Holding a Koala and Feeding Kangaroos at the Gold Coast
-Grounds of Alexandria
-Wine tasting in Hunter Valley
-Chinese Garden of Friendship

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Lydia Theologus

Program
Global Experiences Internships in Florence, Italy
Lydia spent her senior year of college interning abroad in Florence, Italy for a Tuscan Wine Touring company. After graduating, she wanted to help other young professionals have the same life-changing experiences. At GE, Lydia's favorite job tasks are showcasing their interns' amazing experiences abroad on their platforms.
Lydia Theologus

What is your favorite travel memory?

When thinking of my favorite travel memories, an array of breathtaking new sights, laughter, stepping out of my comfort zone, and spending time with unforgettable people flashes through my mind. One memory that combines all four aspects was during my time interning abroad in Florence, Italy.

My roommates and I took a day trip to visit Cinque Terre, the string of centuries-old villages on the Italian Riviera coastline. After exploring Riomaggiore (picture the famous shot of colorful houses on a seaside cliff), the beach town of Monterosso al Mare was next on our list. The furthest villages away from each other, there were two options for methods of transportation: the train, or a strenuous 7.5 mile hike that could take up to 5 hours. While most of the group opted for the train, my roommate from Amsterdam was feeling adventurous and asked me to join her in the hike.

Together, we braved through climbing, descending, narrow passages, and steep, uneven stone steps. Though it was exhausting, the trek was well worth it as we discovered incredible views of the coast, lush olive groves, and exotic plants and flowers.

My favorite part was coming across a quaint stand selling limoncello during one of the descents, manned by a sweet old Italian man. While I may have regretted thinking that taking a limoncello shot in the middle of a 5-hour hike would be refreshing, I’ll never regret that I said yes to a new adventure that would turn into a cherished memory.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I started working at Global Experiences fresh out of college, eager to learn and take on responsibilities. While I've gained technical skills such as learning how to code and Photoshop, I've also learned valuable soft skills that I'll have with me for the years to come. I've gained organizational skills and become more confident in my decision making. Through being welcomed to give new ideas and input, my creativity has also been able to grow.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

I'm lucky to be able to work with many of our alumni and interns while they're abroad and capturing their stories and experiences. I get to hear a lot of awesome perks that our interns receive from working hard at their internships, but my favorite was when our Barcelona Fashion Business intern, Olivia V., attended the 080 Barcelona Fashion Show for work. She was interviewed by Elle Magazine, and was featured on their next issue!

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

This question is perfect for me because I have gone on one of GE's internship abroad programs!

Fall of my senior year, I had a marketing internship abroad in Florence, Italy for 3 months. Studying abroad in Italy had always been a dream of mine, and Florence seemed like the perfect choice for many reasons. I wanted to experience a different culture, and knew that Florence had so much art, history and architecture to offer for me to learn and explore. For my first time living abroad, I wanted to live somewhere that was easy to get around in, yet was also an easy gateway to explore the rest of the country and Europe. The language barrier did not bother me either because I heard that Italians were friendly and just appreciated you trying to speak their language.

Upon arriving, these reasons proved to be right on all accounts. Interning in Florence, Italy was everything that I could have dreamed of and more!

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

I find Global Experiences to be unique because of how passionate every member of our team is about our mission. We've all had life-changing experiences abroad, and want to help young professionals gain a worldly perspective while enhancing their career path. We truly care about every single intern that goes through our program and are dedicated to finding the best possible match for them from pre-departure to when they're on the ground. I felt that myself as I was going through the Florence program, and was confirmed once I started working behind the scenes at GE.

I was especially proud of my team when we pledged to donate $20,000 every year in scholarships to interns. We want to make this experience accessible to as many students as possible, and to make this official was really exciting.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I believe that the biggest factor in being a successful company is to value your customers and always put their best interests first. It's important to ask for their feedback, listen, and act on it. No one knows their customer journey better than they do. Using their data to create useful, personalized experiences for others is okay, but it's important not to abuse their data. A successful business starts and ends with valued customers.

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