Paid Internships Abroad 2027 for International Students (12 Open Now)

These 12 paid internships abroad are open to international students for 2026 and 2027. Each one pays a stipend, salary or allowance, and most also pay your flights or housing, at the United Nations, top research institutes and companies in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Japan and the USA.

All of them accept applicants from any country, including African students, unless we note a limit. Every internship has a full guide on our blog with eligibility, documents and how to apply. Click any name in the table for the details.

Paid UN internships for international students

1. UNHCR Internship Programme 2027

The UN Refugee Agency pays a monthly allowance for food, transport and living costs, and refunds return travel if you come from outside the country. Open to students and graduates of the last two years, any nationality, with English at B2 level. Read the UNHCR guide.

2. UNICEF Internship Programme 2026/27

A monthly stipend, plus a one-time travel and visa lump sum when funding is available. Internships last 6 to 26 weeks and are open to students and recent graduates of any nationality. Read the UNICEF guide.

3. WHO Internship Programme 2027

A monthly living allowance for interns who need it, plus insurance, at World Health Organization offices. Each internship is advertised with its own deadline. Read the WHO guide.

Paid research internships in Europe

4. CaCTüS Summer Internship 2027 (Germany)

Three months of AI and neuroscience research at the Max Planck Institutes in Tübingen. The salary covers living costs, health insurance and housing, plus travel compensation. It gives priority to students facing barriers, especially from low- and middle-income countries. Read the CaCTüS guide.

5. EPFL Life Sciences Summer Research Program 2027 (Switzerland)

Eight weeks of lab research with CHF 3,600 for housing and living costs, and flights reimbursed up to CHF 1,000. For bachelor’s and first-year master’s students. Read the EPFL Life Sciences guide.

6. Summer@EPFL 2027 (Switzerland)

Two to three months of computer science research with CHF 1,800 a month and a travel refund. For students in computer science, computer engineering, telecommunications and electrical engineering. Read the Summer@EPFL guide.

7. CRG Research Training Fellowship (Spain)

€700 a month plus a return ticket for a research placement in Barcelona, for enrolled undergraduate or master’s students of all nationalities. Read the CRG guide.

8. Salzburg Global Seminar Internship 2027 (Austria)

Round-trip airfare, accommodation, airport transfer and insurance for an internship in Salzburg. Read the Salzburg guide.

9. DW Traineeship 2028 (Germany)

An 18-month paid journalism traineeship at Deutsche Welle in Bonn and Berlin, with a monthly salary. Any nationality, no age limit. It needs English and some German. Read the DW guide.

Paid internships in Asia, the Middle East and the USA

10. KAUST VSRP Internship 2027 (Saudi Arabia)

A research internship with a stipend of about US$1,000 a month, return airfare and private housing. Open all year to STEM students worldwide. Read the KAUST VSRP guide.

11. HENNGE Global Internship 2027 (Japan)

Four to six weeks of software engineering in Tokyo, with round-trip flights, a monthly subsidy and insurance. No Japanese needed. Read the HENNGE guide.

12. LPI Summer Intern Program 2027 (USA)

Ten weeks of planetary science research in Houston with at least $13,639 for stipend, travel, housing and living costs. For undergraduates with 50+ semester hours. Citizens of NASA Designated Countries cannot apply. Read the LPI guide.

How to get a paid internship abroad

• Apply early. Rolling internships at UNHCR, UNICEF and WHO fill places as they go.
• Match your degree. Research internships want students in their field: CS for Summer@EPFL, life sciences for EPFL Life Sciences, STEM for KAUST.
• Prepare a short, clean CV. Many calls set page limits, like 2 pages for CaCTüS.
• Write a one-page motivation letter for each internship. See our guide on how to write a motivation letter.
• Ask for recommendation letters early. Professors need at least two weeks.

Do paid internships abroad give visa support?

Many do. UNHCR gives visa documents, LPI and KAUST support travel, and the Max Planck CaCTüS team helps with the visa process. Each guide explains the visa support for that internship.

Can I apply if I already graduated?

For some, yes. UNHCR and UNICEF accept graduates of the last two years, and DW has no age limit. Research internships like CaCTüS, EPFL and KAUST are mostly for current students. Check each guide.

Have a question?

Tell us your field of study in the comments, and we’ll suggest the best paid internships for you.

Related reading

• Fully Funded Scholarships for African Students 2027 (12 Open Now)
• How to Write a Motivation Letter for a Scholarship (Sample and Template 2027)
• UNHCR Internship Programme 2027 (Paid Allowance + Fully Funded Travel)
• CaCTüS Summer Internship 2027 in Germany (Fully Funded)

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