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How to Get Scholarships for Interning Abroad: What You Need to Know

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Written By
By Munira Maricar
Travel Writer
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Traveling abroad to intern is a life-changing opportunity, but the costs of flights, visas, and program fees can be daunting. 

The good news is that there are many scholarships, grants, and funding strategies specifically for young travelers passionate about volunteering. In this guidebook, we’ll explore how to find scholarships and funding, highlight top internship programs, and showcase exciting destinations across all continents.

Top Internship Programs to Consider

Here are some leading organizations and programs you can pursue for scholarships or funding. They offer a broad range of causes and locations to match your interests:

Maximo Nivel

Focusing on Latin America, Maximo Nivel operates locally in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru, offering volunteer, intern, and study-abroad programs that often include academic credit. Internships are available in fields such as hospitality, micro-business, and medical care

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Maximo Nivel is committed to accessibility and awards several scholarships and grants each year. The Nicholas Epstein Memorial TEFL Scholarship is a full-ride opportunity for their TEFL Certification program, covering tuition, housing, and meals. 

The Veterans’ Scholarship Program awards $1,000 to two U.S. military veterans annually to fund study abroad experiences, while the Audrey B. Jones Memorial Scholarship provides $1,000 to university students majoring in journalism, art, or conservation-related fields. 

Participants can also earn the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award through Maximo Nivel’s programs. With their strong reputation and bilingual staff, volunteers and interns benefit from meaningful projects and local support throughout their journey.

Intern Abroad HQ

Intern Abroad HQ offers some of the most affordable international internship programs, making career-boosting global experiences accessible to students and young professionals worldwide. 

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Most programs include accommodation, meals, airport pickup, and 24/7 in-country support, contributing to Intern Abroad HQ’s reputation as a top provider. Flexible payment plans and zero-fee installment options make budgeting for your internship easy, and you can even choose remote internships for added convenience and flexibility.

In addition to their commitment to low program fees, Intern Abroad HQ occasionally offers scholarships, competitions, and exclusive funding opportunities to help reduce costs even further. The organization also shares extensive guidance on how to find external scholarships and grants, such as the U.S. Gilman Scholarship, Fund for Education Abroad, and Erasmus+ in Europe, as well as financial aid and government programs for participants from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. Explore our top program picks here:

GoEco 

GoEco runs eco- and humanitarian-volunteer programs in 40+ countries. To help make their programs abroad more accessible, GoEco provides a range of fundraising resources and scholarship connections

Pre-vet interns providing medical care to a sedated wildlife patient, illustrating hands-on veterinary internships overseas.

Their third week free grant is available for select projects, and partnerships with organizations like the Ambassadors Scholarship Foundation and Fund My Travel support both scholarships and creative fundraising. GoEco also helps students access discounts and university grants and offers guidance for independent fundraising campaigns. 

Explore our top program picks here:

Projects Abroad 

Projects Abroad is one of the world’s largest providers of international volunteering, internships, and meaningful travel, with over 130,000 participants since 1992. 

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Projects Abroad helps participants fund their journeys through a personalized fundraising page, a detailed fundraising guide, and social media tips. Although Projects Abroad does not directly offer financial aid, its website features a comprehensive list of scholarships and funding resources from various organizations. Their dedicated team is available to help you navigate options and make your dream trip possible, offering 24/7 support and professionally vetted placements. For a limited time, get $650 off when you reserve a Gap Adventure departing in September 2025 to Peru, Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand, and more. Book by July 31, 2025!

Explore our top program picks here:

  • Physical Therapy in Sri Lanka: Intern alongside local physiotherapists, assisting with the rehabilitation of patients recovering from injuries and neurological conditions. 
  • Medicine in Mongolia: Shadow doctors in Ulaanbaatar hospitals and community outreach clinics, while developing basic medical skills. 
  • Nursing in Nepal: Provide hands‑on healthcare support in hospitals and rehabilitation centers, conducting basic health screenings. 
  • Dentistry in Mexico: Observe dentists in Guadalajara, participate in rural dental outreach, and support patient education efforts. 
  • Micro‑finance in Tanzania: Empower female entrepreneurs in Arusha by helping secure essential funding and business development.

African Impact 

African Impact offers projects across Africa. To help make internships possible, African Impact provides practical fundraising advice

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With multiple awards for innovation and sustainability, African Impact is recognized for its commitment to meaningful, ethical travel. Here are our top picks for African Impact internship programs: 

  • Medical & Nursing Internship in Kenya: Gain hands‑on experience in Limuru hospitals and clinics, rotating through departments such as ICU, emergency care, obstetrics, and HIV counselling—backed by wrap‑around support and local accommodation.
  • NGO Internship in Zambia: Work with local nonprofit partners to bolster community initiatives through program development, outreach, and empowerment efforts.
  • Wildlife Photography Internship in South Africa: Hone your wildlife photography skills in the Greater Kruger area while contributing to conservation monitoring and species documentation. 

Involvement Volunteers International (IVI) 

IVI (Involvement Volunteers International) is an Australian nonprofit established in 1989, dedicated to affordable, impactful experiences globally. As a nonprofit, IVI directs your program fees straight into local communities — not shareholders — ensuring your contribution creates real, sustainable impact.

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Fees are kept as low as possible: there’s a one-off application fee covering unlimited placements within a 12-week window, and all program fees are transparent and go toward meals, accommodation, local support, and project costs. IVI also guarantees the best price on comparable programs, offers group discounts, and provides full support from application through your time overseas. 

Furthermore, IVI’s medical and public-health programs qualify Australian-registered doctors for CPD points accredited by CPD Home. Participants complete accredited learning while volunteering, meeting AMC standards and earning official credit.

  • In Kandy, Sri Lanka, the nursing and midwifery internship offers cultural orientation and shadowing in a government hospital. 
  • In Kathmandu, Nepal, the hospital internship lets you observe and possibly assist local doctors and nurses. 
  • In Accra, Ghana, interns support medical teams in urban and rural clinics. 
  • In Leyte, Philippines, the rural medical internship involves vaccination and public health outreach.

Volunteering Solutions (VolSol) 

Based in the UK, Volunteering Solutions (VolSol) offers affordable short-term and gap-year programs across the globe. VolSol ensures transparent, low-cost fees starting at around $200/week for fully hosted trips.

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While scholarships aren’t available, VolSol actively supports fundraising, offering guidance, templates, and documentation to help volunteers cover program and travel costs. They also partner with StudentUniverse to help volunteers find affordable flights.

Here are our top internship picks with VolSol:

  • Nepal – Medical Internship: Work in local government and private hospitals and clinics in Kathmandu. Gain hands‑on clinical exposure by observing and assisting doctors in various wards—an excellent opportunity to understand healthcare in a developing country.
  • Ghana – Medical Internship (Accra): Based in Accra, interns shadow healthcare professionals 5 to 6 days weekly. Placement is near accommodation, providing insight into Ghana’s medical system and contributing positively to local care.
  • Peru – Dental Elective Internship (Cusco): For dental students, this program offers hands‑on dental experience working alongside professionals. Participate in oral hygiene campaigns, dental check‑ups, and learn in settings ranging from clinics to rural schools.

Global Vision International (GVI) 

GVI (Global Vision International) is a global leader in sustainable development, running award-winning volunteer, internship, and professional apprenticeship programs since 1998. Participants can join impactful projects in over 15 countries. The organization partners with leading NGOs and local authorities, and is committed to rigorous ethics, impact measurement, and child protection standards.

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GVI supports accessibility through fundraising resources, scholarships, grants, and flexible payment plans. UK residents may be eligible for bursaries. Referral bonuses and combo deals help participants save on program fees. Explore a few detailed programs here:

  • Global Health Internship – Fiji: Work side‑by‑side with local health workers in coastal Dawasamu. Lead hygiene and disease‑prevention workshops to improve community wellbeing. 
  • Coastal Conservation Internship – Ao Nang, Thailand: Based in Krabi, contribute to biodiversity research near the Andaman Sea. Help identify species, monitor coral and turtle habitats, and collect data under expert supervision.
  • Seychelles Environmental Conservation Internship: Live on an island research station and snorkel to survey corals, seagrass, fish, invertebrates, and mangroves. Gain hands-on marine and terrestrial conservation experience in a lush tropical setting.
  • Teaching Internship – Cambodia: Teach English to diverse age groups in Siem Reap. You’ll design lesson plans, lead classroom activities while gaining teaching experience.

Dream, Fund, Go!

To maximize your chances of funding an internship or volunteer trip abroad, start by searching for scholarships and grants from universities, NGOs, and foundations — many of which offer awards from $500 to $5,000. If you need additional support, consider creating a fundraising campaign using crowdfunding platforms or local events. Every contribution helps offset expenses and makes your experience more accessible.

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Choosing reputable, affordable programs can further reduce costs and strengthen your scholarship applications, as grant committees often favor well-established organizations. As you apply, pay close attention to eligibility criteria, highlight your motivation and relevant experience in essays, and secure strong references. 

Remember to budget for extras like flights, visas, and insurance. Subscribe to newsletters for updates on new funding opportunities or discounts, and take advantage of any provider bonuses or grants. With the right mix of research, planning, and initiative, meaningful global experiences can be within reach, transforming your ambitions into reality.