Internship Abroad : The Cost

Preparing for an internship already involves costs. The type and amount of these depends on the country in which the internship is completed. Interested parties must expect the following responsibilities, among other things.

Costs for Travel Health Insurance abroad: This is only a small amount, but should not be saved under any circumstances. As a rule, such insurance is compulsory for an internship abroad. According to Tarifcheck24.de, there are, however, considerable differences between the policies when it comes to the benefits and contributions.

Visa costs: The amount of these costs depends on the country of interest. However, this may well be several hundred euros.

Vaccine Costs: Again, the recommended measures differ depending on where you are. Those who spend their internship outside of Europe often have to spend more money.

Agency Fees: Those who find their internship through an agency or a corresponding program usually pay agency fees. The alternative is to go on the search yourself. In reality, however, this is anything but straightforward.

Travel Costs: It is not always possible to book a flight well in advance. Sometimes employers choose a trainee at short notice. Then those interested have to bite the bullet and pay more money for the journey.

All of these factors should be taken into account when planning an internship abroad. It is not always possible to estimate in advance exactly how expensive a flight will be, for example. It is therefore advisable to play it safe and plan a little more. Visa and vaccinations also require a certain amount of time in advance. If you do not take this into account and do not receive the necessary papers in time, you will face serious difficulties.

Abroad, interns first of all have to pay for an apartment and the necessary meals. Both do not always have to be paid entirely out of one's own pocket. Those who find a paid internship receive at least pocket money from their company, which is often enough for accommodation, sometimes even more. There are also internship programs, the services of which include meals and accommodation. The associated fees and conditions vary.

Apart from that, interested parties have the opportunity to apply for funding. There are a number of institutions in Germany that subsidize internships abroad. This usually requires an application and completion of a selection process. The providers of such support measures include:

DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)

Academic Foundation of the German People

Erasmus agency in Germany

In this respect too, the timely application is a key factor. Who can be funded in individual cases and for which services grants are paid differs depending on the institution and funding program. For example, some funding opportunities only apply to students in certain subjects. Others are based primarily on previous student performance. There are also some restrictions regarding the type of internship.

Incidentally, it is generally worthwhile, especially for students, to get an overview of funding. The selection of funding programs is larger than many people initially assume.

Once you have reached your destination, you usually want to not only work, but also enjoy life. Money is obviously necessary for this.

In any case, interns should consider the following factors in their planning:

Leisure activities, e.g. visits to bars, concerts, restaurants, etc.

Purchases of essential items such as additional clothing and work materials

Use of public transportation

Excursions on site

Expenses for cell phone and internet

Purchase of drugstore items and the like

It is not always easy to estimate the respective costs. It helps to obtain as much information as possible about the destination country beforehand and to inquire, for example, about the prices for using public transport. In this context, it is of course crucial how far your own apartment is from the job. Since German SIM cards do not work in all countries, it may be necessary to buy your own card abroad.

The cost of drinks and amusements of all kinds vary from country to country. At this point, it should not be underestimated. If you don't have the money to go abroad to explore the country and local nightlife with other people, this is usually a bitter disappointment.

Tip: Advice can be provided by people who have already completed an internship in the country in question. True to the maxim "Afterwards you are always smarter", they usually not only know how much money you should save, but also how you can save. Even insider tips for cheap and good restaurants at the destination can help to save money.

The fees for a visa can hardly influence interns. The same applies to the cost of vaccinations. However, there are many funding opportunities that can also help to keep the financial expenditure low. The same applies to accommodation and meals in the host country.

Timely and thorough preparation is essential to save money and exploit funding opportunities. Work is connected with this. In retrospect, however, this usually pays off - simply through a carefree feeling in the internship itself. So there is a good chance that this will be a special experience.