2023’s best paid internships in Europe for international students

If you have always dreamed of living in one of the world’s greatest continents but are on a lowly student budget, apply for the best paid internships in Europe.

Not only will it boost your resume and what you learn in school, but you’ll also have a substantial salary to help you make the most of Europe’s finest, from Paris and  London to Berlin and Dubrovnik.

With the best paid internships in Europe, you’ll also stand to meet new people who can potentially hire you to work there after graduation.

Unlike unpaid or lowly paid internships, the best paid internships in Europe actually compensate interns — and compensate them well enough to afford studying, living and working in expensive cities.

A study found that university students who have completed an internship programme have a 15% chance of being employed after graduation as compared to those who have not.

You’ve nothing to lose and everything to gain by interning. Here are the best paid internships in Europe to apply to:

Five of the best paid internships in Europe:

The Premier TEFL is one of the best paid internships in Europe. Source: Denis Charlet/AFP

Premier TEFL in Spain

Here’s your chance to go to Spain and indulge in churros, paella and tapas. 

With the Premier TEFL programme, you can now travel to Spain for an internship programme like no other. 

The English teaching market in Spain is booming and they need teachers. You will get the chance to explore Spain whilst teaching English as a foreign language. 

But that isn’t the best part. During this nine-month internship, you will be paid and provided with accommodation. All interns will stay with a host family while teaching at a local school. 

The internship programme is open to native English speakers aged between 20 to 30 who have completed pre-university and are EU citizens or come from the US, Canada, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand. 

By the end of the programme, applicants would have completed a 120-hour Advanced TEFL Certificate and gained teacher training experience that will benefit them when choosing to further their studies or apply for jobs. 

Don’t miss out on this internship opportunity of a lifetime. Apply for the Premier TEFL programme here. 

Unlike unpaid or lowly paid internships, the best paid internships in Europe actually compensate interns — and compensate them well enough to afford studying, living and working in expensive cities. Source: David Gannon/AFP

CrossCulture Programme in Germany 

If you want to travel to Germany for free, the CrossCulture Programme could just make it happen for you.

This fully-funded fellowship is open to 120 professionals or volunteers from over 40 countries. 

Through this, you will be given the opportunity to deepen your skills and enhance your network by working with other individuals from around the world.

The German Federal Foreign Office established the CrossCulture Programme with the aim of strengthening civil societies.

It was designed to encourage students to think outside of the box and outside of their own cultural affinities. Plus, it gets them to participate in the growth and development of their communities. 

Spanning over two to three months, the programme will cover health insurance and refund visa costs

Applicants will be given a monthly stipend of 500 euros and an additional 550 euros for living expenses. 

Don’t miss out on your chance at this amazing opportunity in Germany. Apply for the CrossCulture Programme here. 

 

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H&M internship programme in Sweden

If you are passionate about fashion, this internship programme is for you.

Every summer, H&M opens its internship programme to students worldwide, allowing them to learn the ins and outs of how the multinational company operates. 

The company offers a three-month placement for students who are pursuing a degree in the field of business or engineering. 

Through the programme, you’ll be assigned a mentor who will guide you through your role as you build your network within the organisation, attend seminars and work as a sales advisor in the store. 

If selected, you’ll be given the opportunity to live and work in one of Europe’s premier cities. The programme is located in their head office in Stockholm. 

What’s even better, this internship could lead to an opportunity to live and work in Sweden permanently. Around 50% of their interns joined the company full-time once their internship ended.

Interested in working with H&M? Click here to apply.

The best paid internships let you live and experience work in some of the greatest cities in the world — and get paid well too. Source: Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP

OECD Internship Programme in France

The OECD Internship Programme in France was designed to bring highly qualified and motivated students into the organisation. 

Throughout the programme, interns get to improve their analytical and technical skills by working on projects that support the corporate function of the organisation.

This internship programme is open to all bachelor’s, master’s or PhD students who are currently enrolled in a full-time degree programme that is in the same field as the work done at OECD. 

While the internship takes place between one to six months, there is an option for applicants to extend it by an additional six months. 

Those selected will get a monthly stipend of 700 euros to cover living expenses. 

You can apply for this course throughout the year, as interns are recruited on an ongoing basis. 

IELTS is not required when applying for this internship. 

ISTernship Summer Programme in Austria

Every summer Austria allows 30 to 40 students to join their ISTernship Summer Programme, where they will work closely with a faculty member on a research project. 

This eight-week programme is designed to allow international students to experience research procedures in one of the top research centres in Europe. 

All interns get a monthly stipend, travel and visa assistance, travel allowance, free access to the IST shuttle bus and health insurance. 

“For me, the best part was to work with a supportive group of amazing researchers and the feeling that my efforts are valued. No doubt, I would do an ISTernhip again if I could,” shares former intern Ege Sarac. 

This programme is open to bachelor’s and master’s students who have completed at least the fourth semester of their course. IELTS is exempted for all student applicants. 

Find out more about the IST Internship Programme here.