AIFS Abroad Internships in Barcelona, Spain

Name: AIFS Abroad Internships in Barcelona, Spain
Brand: AIFS Abroad
SKU: 20212
Rating: 4.99 (70 reviews)

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4.99 Rating

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Location

Spain
- Barcelona

Length

8 to 12 weeks

Industry

Accounting Advertising Anthropology Architecture Art History Arts Biology Business Communications Computer Science Culinary Arts Design Economics Education Engineering Film Finance International Business International Relations Journalism Marketing Media Relations Music Sports Science Tourism +15

General grants/scholarships, BIPOC funding

Health & Safety

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Program Details

Compensation

Non-Monetary Benefits

Timeframe

Fall Spring Spring Break Summer

Housing

Apartment

Language

English

Weekly Hours

Age Min.

Pricing

Price Details

Program fee includes: guaranteed internship placement, award winning career development with one-on-one coaching, social events & excursions, Spanish language courses, centralized housing, local support from staff, personalized career development and pre-departure, and medical/travel insurance.

What's Included

Accommodation Some Activities

What's Not Included

Airfare Meals

Last Updated: Feb 21, 2024

Last Reviewed: Aug 04, 2022

Wish List

89 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Barcelona is home to miles of sandy beaches, one of the world's most well-known soccer teams, and an endless number of experiences to have. The economic center of Catalonia offers a wide range of internships in nearly every career field. As an international intern, you’ll have the chance to immerse in everything about Spanish culture.

You’ll have the opportunity to work in your approved career field all while enjoying everything Barcelona has to offer. We do our best to tailor your internship to match your background and future goals. We’ll support you every step of the way to make sure your Barcelona internship is an experience you’ll never forget.

Included in the cost of your tuition is a guaranteed internship, housing, social events, our career development program, and more.

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Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

At AIFS Abroad, we want to support all participants in their study/internship abroad journey, inclusive of gender, race, religion, age, physical ability, or sexual orientation. Everyone has a complex identity, and faith, spirituality, and religion are important factors when deciding on a program location.

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LGBTQIA+ Support

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Accessibility Support

Everyone’s experience is unique. We recognize the location you choose can have an impact on your sense of belonging. We encourage you to use the information below as you review your options to select the program and location that will be the best choice for you. If you do not hold the identities that are amplified here, this information is still a great resource for you as well. It will give you a better understanding of those who have this identity.

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Impact

Sustainability

In response to the overwhelming global climate crisis, AIFS Abroad is pleased to make Sustainability a key priority when considering organizational, operational, and programming decisions. We understand that the only way to effectively combat this crisis and mitigate the effects of climate change is to drastically reduce our environmental impact. Therefore, AIFS Abroad has committed to reaching carbon neutrality by the year 2025. AIFS Abroad is proud to announce we have signed the CANIE Accord, becoming the first US provider to make this commitment.

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Program Highlights

Guaranteed Internship: As part of the AIFS Abroad program you are guaranteed an internship in your host city. We do our best to tailor your internship to match your background and future goals.
Personalized Attention: We want this experience to be as fulfilling as possible. From the first phone call, we support you and give you all the resources you need to make sure your internship is a success.
Centralized Housing: You’ll be living in accommodations centrally located in Barcelona with other AIFS Abroad interns. Your housing will have access to public transportation, ensuring it is easy to get to and from your internship.
Professional Development: Through one-on-one coaching and webinars, we assist you in improving your professional documents, prepare you for an interview with potential employers, establish internship goals, and discuss your strengths.
Local Staff and Social Events: Our Location Coordinator lives in Barcelona year-round and provides interns with an insider's glimpse of the city. The LC is there to provide 24/7 emergency support and takes all the interns on a range of social events.

Popular Programs

Business Internships

Experiencing and understanding business in a global context is essential for long-term career success. An international business internship is the best way to expand your horizons and learn necessary professional skills. Our business internships abroad are tailored to your prior experience, education, and future goals.

Economics/Finance Internships

Your dream career in the world of finance and economics is within your reach with an international internship through AIFS Abroad. Our interns are placed in firms where they gain invaluable career experience in a competitive industry. Finance internships can include everything from projects in asset management, investment banking, financial services, and private equity.

PR & Marketing Internships

AIFS Abroad provides opportunities for students and young professionals looking for internship experience in the competitive career fields of marketing, public relations, sales marketing, and advertising. Interns are matched through our one-on-one placement process with employers around the globe who are excited to give you hands on experience.

Program Reviews

4.99 Rating

based on 70 reviews

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Rating Spread Intern

5 rating 98.57%
4 rating 1.43%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Growth 4.9
Support 4.95
Fun 4.95
Housing 4.85
Safety 4.95

Good for Students, Building your resume, Photographers

Showing 65 - 70 of 70 reviews

Global Experiences is THE program for you! This experience is an investment that will give you the opportunity to work in an awesome company as an intern, have fun in a new city, learn a new language, meet new people and have the best team to help you before and during the program. Finding an internship and a good place to stay is an easy and fun process with Global Experiences! What else can you ask for? If you wonder if you should sign up or not, I say do something for you and your future...Challenge your limits, don't miss this opportunity and sign up! It's so worth it! The last 12 weeks have been perfect and every single day was an adventure! I loved it!

It was a great program! one of the biggest things was our location coordinator! she couldn't have been more amazing or more helpful ... i had a problem with my housing and she talked to me multiple times a day keeping me updated on stuff and got me moved to a apartment that was 10 times better then my first one! She was so great and when it comes down to it, Location Coordinators are everything when it comes to picking a program!

What would you improve about this program?

I would change the process for signing up, it uses drop box which i was un familiar with but after you learn how to use drop box it was fine!

My semester with Global Experiences was the perfect way to gain international business experience, improve my Spanish, live in a new culture, and make incredible friends from all over the world. My internship placement was ideal and really suited my request for public relations/event planning. It was a great opportunity to learn more about the industry, while also gaining a global business perspective. I think it will be the perfect addition to my resume and will stand out to future employers.

I really appreciated having a staff member on location in Barcelona to help with any issues. We were definitely given freedom and expected to take care of ourselves as young professionals, but knowing I had someone who spoke the language fluently and knew the culture better than me was a huge relief. Plus, our social outings were always a blast!

Overall, I had an incredible experience. Compared to typical study abroad programs where students are basically exchanging one college atmosphere for another, I really appreciated getting to live and work as a professional in a new place. I think it was more immersive and propelled my professional growth. Also, it was a perfect transition after graduating, but before entering the (paid) work force! I would recommend Global Experiences to anyone, especially recent graduates, for a semester you will never forget.

What would you improve about this program?

Language school was one of my favorite parts of the semester, and I wish it could have lasted longer!

Finding a program you can trust through the internet is always difficult, however, when there is great staff like the staff at Global Experience you can tell you've found a quality program! I sent out multiple requests for various programs throughout Europe and Global Experience was the best at communication and had the best deal for the money. The staff gave me personal feedback on my resume and cover letter multiple times, which was extremely helpful. They always were prompt to respond to my emails and helped me prepare for my interview with my future employers. Upon arrival, I discovered I had been placed in a beautiful apartment in the city with a short trip to work. My internship was in the center of the city and I grew exponentially through the tasks I was given. I learned many new things about sustaining a company as I had the privilege to work directly with the founder of the company. Along the way, the staff I had originally coordinated with in the US kept in contact to ask about how I was doing. The lady in Barcelona was amazing. I could call her at any time and find help and the excursions she planned were unbelievable. We went to a beautiful beach, Casa Batllo, a Flamenco show, a bike tour around the city, and did many other things. Global experiences description of these events on their website as "social outings" did not do them justice. I almost did not want to go when I heard we had option "social outings," but I am so glad I did. They were so much fun and the lady on site was easy to talk with and we had many great times together! Overall, the program was one of my favorites (I've done many different study abroad programs).

What would you improve about this program?

I would definitely change how they market the "social outings." -That name is horrible and does not do it justice. We were out sightseeing and having so much fun! It wasn't an old lady in a room trying to make the interns play games together... It was things I would have done on my own anyways, but was able to do with all of my friends!
Also, making the language school in the beginning optional for a reduced cost. I would have love to taken the class, but unfortunately my study abroad program in France directly before did not allow me to arrive on time for the class & I was not given a reduced rate. They were extremely kind to let me arrive late and still do an internship and for that I was thankful.

Read my full story

I must say that making the decision to become an intern in Barcelona, Spain has been the best yet! I have had an amazing experience in all aspects. I have amazing roommates who will become lifelong friends and live in an amazingly located apartment walking distance to everything. My internship is coming to an end, which is sad but exciting because I have the opportunity to travel beyond Spain for a couple of weeks and actually be a tourist for a while. I have enjoyed the company in which I have been working for and have learned so much about the event industry that will be a huge benefit down the road. I have had the opportunity to work the largest Mobile World Congress trade show to date, which brought the city 85,000 people and an untold amount of revenue. With that being said, I thank Global Experiences and their staff for making this internship amazing and an experience that I will never forget.

Global Experiences is by far the worst company I have ever dealt with. From the start there was little to no helpful communication. Once they got their money.. all $7,000 of it, the communication seemed to slowly disappear. There was no help coming into Barcelona either. No help on how to get to the residence, what was expected, etc. To start, our accommodation was bottom level garbage. The rooms were unfairly small, the kitchen was full of mold and the bathroom was always flooded, muddy or left with no toilet paper, there was no food provided even though most of the other students in the building received food that was made in the building. The Spanish school only cost about $200 so I don't understand where my money went. The only thing about my program that I loved was my job. It was amazing and I couldn't have asked for a better company. Once I told my bosses about my experience with Global Experiences they declared they would never use Global Experiences again.

The problems got so bad that when we (we being all 10 students of our program) complained about our accommodation and how we were being treated, they ignored us, treated us disrespectfully and in the upmost unprofessional manner. They threatened my job only because I asked for the cost breakdown. From then I had not spoken one word with the Global Experiences home office. I feel mistreated, taken advantage of and robbed of $7,000. With the extensive amount of programs offering internships abroad I would rank Global Experiences on the bottom.

Response from Global Experiences

We're sorry that you had some troubles during your experience with some of the supplemental parts of the program. GE's previous housing was a highly recommended building on par with student housing in Barcelona, but we've since moved our housing to a nicer facility with better amenities. Things like no AC are common in Barcelona and were communicated beforehand, though we have moved to ensure it is now part of the program.

Our intensive 2-4 weeks of Spanish language training included in the programs at a top school remain intact, and is absolutely a greater cost than stated.

As for responsiveness, the Global Experiences team is comprised of world travelers ourselves, and we're here to pass along great experiences, and overcome any obstacles with our 24/7 staff and support structure. Our primary focus is a fantastic customized internship, and we're glad that you had a great professional work experience!

We have an extensive pre-departure preparation stage to give students the right expectations before they go, and unfortunately we find that students who do not participate have differing expectations about what life will be like abroad. Maturity and the right expectations are key to success in any endeavor, and thousands of Global Experiences alumni can attest to the big picture benefits of the GE program. We're sorry that you had some hiccups along the way, and we're constantly striving to improve our programs!

By Global Experiences on February 22, 2013

Questions & Answers

How old do you have to be?

Answer this question

Do you meet the people on facebook or anything before you go?

When you enroll in the program, you are added to a private Facebook group for your specific program location and session. This means that you have a way to communicate to other interns in the group before your departures, and for some locations you can even arrange to meet up in the airport and take a taxi to your housing together. Hope this helps!

By Global Experiences on June 5, 2019

is it a paid internship?

Hi Alyssa! As with many internships, the vast majority of our internship placements are unpaid. We look for opportunities that allow our interns to gain the best possible experience while adhering to local laws and visa restrictions. If an employer offers you a stipend or other form of compensation you are welcome to accept it. We hope that this helps! - Lydia T. | Student Experience & Marketing...

By Global Experiences on June 4, 2019

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Alumni Interviews

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

Tell us a little about your experience working with Global Experiences.

I am currently an Account Manager at Go Overseas. Recently, I was able to shadow the Global Experiences program in Barcelona. This interview is a reflection of my experiences during the site visit.

I’ve worked with Global Experiences for the past three years and have met a lot of their stellar employees at various conferences, over Skype calls, etc. The majority of the time, I liaise with the marketing team as my role at Go Overseas encompasses partner success.

Being able to visit Global Experiences in Barcelona provided an excellent opportunity to learn more about their day-to-day programming (an area I’ve been very intrigued to know more about!). I learned a lot from their Barcelona staff -- as their areas of expertise are completely different from my own. There is so much to know within the areas of student development and program operations.

What stood out to you about this program specifically?

Being able to step away from my desk and see what it’s like to manage and nurture interns while they’re abroad opened my eyes a lot. As I’m in touch with hundreds of organizations (dozens of intern abroad companies alone) I had a hunch that there was an immense amount of heart (and sweat!) that went into these programs -- from the initial interview, to the placement, all the way through to job references in the future. I had no idea just how much, though.

What stood out to me about Global Experience’s program in Barcelona was the amount of care and concern that their team pours into their participants. Even well beyond their internship abroad -- these students are supported and have a lifelong network to reference.

View Entire Interview

What were your observations about the current interns in Barcelona?

To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect meeting the current interns. Would they be mature? Hardworkers? Travel-savvy students? Or the opposite? One of the many takeaways that I learned from the GE Barcelona Director was how much work goes into their intern selection process prior to even interviewing for the internships.

When an intern is selected for the program, the GE team works incredibly hard to find an internship placement in the student’s field of interest AND matches the type of work that they want to do day-to-day. On top of that, they’re vetting organizations that will provide a nurturing and positive experience for their interns.

GE doesn’t want to partner with an organization in Barcelona that gives their interns “busy work” or doesn’t foster a learning environment to further their students’ professional development skills. The Barcelona Director consistently takes advantage of local networking opportunities and events to find great organizations for her interns to be placed in.

To further this -- if the intern doesn’t have any Spanish skills, Global Experiences seeks to find a supervisor whom the student can effectively communicate with.

Once an intern is placed in a company, the GE Barcelona team checks in on the student's and supervisor’s progress and assists where they can, while fostering the intern’s independence and professional development skills.

Throughout the internship, the GE students have opportunities to participate in several cultural events around Barcelona. I had the privilege to experience Gaudí's famous Park Güell with the current cohort.

Needless to say, the GE team works very hard to meet all their participant, placement and program criteria. Thus, the type of student that this program attracts is typically driven, culturally-sensitive and mature. I personally experienced this with the cohort that I met.

Any advice for future interns based on your site visit?

Learn a little Spanish! Even better, if you’re able to hone basic conversation skills ahead of applying for the Global Experiences program -- the internship placement opportunities will be even greater. Spanish is not a requirement for this program by any means, but I wanted to mention this as advice I’d want to know so I could maximize my planning process and my time abroad.

Not to mention, getting around Barcelona and traveling throughout Spain is a lot more fun when you can talk to the locals in Spanish. It’s a great ice-breaker and being bilingual is a very advantageous skill to acquire (or hone) regardless.

Alexandra Grund

2014 Alum

Staff Interviews

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

Brian Brinkman

Program

AIFS Abroad Internships in Barcelona, Spain

Job Title

Internship Program Consultant

After living in South Korea for a number of years, along with extensive travels through SE Asia and Western Europe, Brian returned to the States with a goal to "pay it forward." Travel is one of his favorite things in the world, and he feels incredibly fortunate to help college students discover the benefits of travel. In his free time, Brian can be found sampling the local cuisine in whatever city he's currently living in, training for the nextmarathon, and seeing as much live music as possible.

What position do you hold at Global Experiences? What has been your career path so far?

Brian Brinkman

I am a Program Consultant at Global Experiences. I work with students who are interested in our internships to ensure we can provide them with the experience they're seeking. I get to chat with students from all over the world, and help them to achieve their own personal and career-based goals! It's incredibly rewarding.

My career path has been unique. Upon graduating college, my number one goal was to travel. I held a lot of odd-jobs in various locations around the Pacific Northwest, where I learned how to cook in a seasonal/farm-to-table restaurant, and then spent two years teaching English in South Korea.

After completing a five-month backpacking trip through SE Asia, India, and the US, my wife and I decided to settle down. I came to work at Global Experiences because I know how fortunate I was to have the opportunity to travel and follow my passions. It's my hope to help today's college students gain the skills needed to follow their own dreams, while also experiencing everything our big ole' world has to offer!

What country have you always wanted to visit?

It's impossible for me to pick just ONE country, so these are my top 3 :)

Boating

1. Iran: I was an Islamic Studies minor in college, and had the great benefit of learning about the fascinating and misunderstood history of Iran. From its megalomaniac Persian past, to its cosmopolitan east-meets-west mid-60s & 70s, to today's fractured state, Iran is one of the most mysterious places on Earth, and one I feel I have to see to really understand.

2. Russia: I was born at the tail-end of the Cold War. Russia has always been this ominous no-man's land my whole life. It's vast and beautiful and so similar to America, and yet so different all at once. Another one I have to see to really grasp and understand.

3. Myanmar: After spending three months in SE Asia last Spring (2014), my itinerary forced me onward to India. Myanmar, having just opened its borders, is the last untouched gem of SE Asia. More similar to Laos and Cambodia than it's more popular neighbors, Thailand and Vietnam, Myanmar will surely explode with tourism before long. I have to see it before that happens!

Why is language learning and cultural immersion important to you?

I grew up in a small suburban town just SW of Chicago. It was as white-bred middle class as a place could be. While I was thankful for the safety and security as a child, as I grew up I began to resent coming from such a place that increasingly felt sterile and boring.

Camel Safari

Cultural immersion showed me how different, yet, at the same time, how similar the rest of the world was. It showed me how many different ways one could live in this world. It showed me the varying definitions of success. It showed me how critical love and understanding and acceptance is. It showed me how much could be overcome simply through conversation and listening. It also showed me the true benefits of community and family.

Upon returning from my travels, I always feel even more fortunate for the family I have, the love I've been surrounded by, and rich with understanding for the interconnected human community we're all apart of.

What unique qualities does your company possess?

Here are two key qualities I see here at Global Experiences that make us an effective and special organization.

First and foremost, we are a group of experienced travelers. At every level of our company, we are staffed with people who have lived and worked abroad.

This kind of experience gives us a first-hand understanding of both the benefits of international travel, and the importance of overcoming the challenges that inherently come with international travel.

Boating

Moreover, we all love the revelations and learning opportunities that come from travel. That's something that can reach our interns and the larger community within International Education.

Secondly, we are dedicated to innovation which has shaped and defined us since our inception. We are the original international internship provider, and we continue to redefine this aspect of our larger field.

Our office is a constant incubator and laboratory for what is possible within International Internships. This dedication to constantly making the experience of International Education better and more effective, is one that will have far-reaching implications on this generation of college students!

Location

Location:

Barcelona

Currency:

Euro

Weather:

Jan-Mar

61 F / 41 F

Apr-Jun

77 F / 48 F

Jul-Sep

84 F / 57 F

Oct-Dec

72 F / 43 F

Airports:

Barcelona–El Prat

( BCN )

Whether you prefer beaches, buildings, or history, Barcelona is the place to be. Spend your time admiring Gaudi's work at La Sagrada Familia, walking down the Mar Bella beach, or learning about the history in Catalonia.

About AIFS Abroad

AIFS Abroad is a leading provider of study abroad programs. Since 1964, more than 1.5 million students have traveled abroad with AIFS Abroad. Comprehensive program fees make it convenient for students to study abroad and intern abroad to experience all that the world has to offer. Celebrating 60 years of service in 2024, AIFS Abroad has the...

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Response from Global Experiences

Alumni Interviews

Anna Morris

Tell us a little about your experience working with Global Experiences.

What stood out to you about this program specifically?

What were your observations about the current interns in Barcelona?

Any advice for future interns based on your site visit?

Staff Interviews

Brian Brinkman

What position do you hold at Global Experiences? What has been your career path so far?

What country have you always wanted to visit?

Why is language learning and cultural immersion important to you?

What unique qualities does your company possess?

Business Internships

Economics/Finance Internships

PR & Marketing Internships