Internships in German-speaking Countries

Doing an internship in a German-speaking country usually requires excellent, advanced German language skills. For your internship to fulfill the German Studies Major study abroad requirement it needs to be at least three months long. A shorter internship may count for some credits but will have to be in addition to study abroad. Contact Dr. Braunbeck for more information and the internship contract for FLG 499. 

1. Cultural Vistas
Check out "internships abroad" and "work abroad". There are several different opportunities for Germany and Switzerland.
We've had many successful participants in these programs.

2. Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals
There have been three successful NC State participants who spent a year in Germany on this prestigious program.

3. US Commercial Service Germany
The US Embassy offers internships at the US Embassy in Berlin and the US Consulates in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, and Munich. These are at least 3 months and need a positive security check by the US Government. There has been one successful NC State applicant.

4. Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Abroad Program 
There have been three successful NC State applicants.

5. Austrian Fulbright 
The Austrian Fulbright commission offers additional Teaching Assistant opportunities. There have been two successful NC State applicants, one of whom extended it to two years because he liked it so much!

6. German American Chamber of Commerce
Internships mostly in the areas of business and engineering.

7. Intern Abroad in Germany
Website listing various internship opportunities in Germany.

8. Google "German internship" 
Depending on your set of skills there may be additional opportunities available.

9. Check out other NC State spots to assist in your search

The Study Abroad Office has materials about internships which you can peruse.

The Career Center has info on international internship opportunities.

10. Find your own - we will help
Some of our students have been successful finding their own internship opportunities, e.g. by contacting German professionals in the fields in which they would like to work. Having a second major and/or some work experience in those fields was probably helpful. However, work experience in a certain field from summer jobs may also be useful. For ideas and help especially for your particular situation talk to your German Studies Major adviser. 
Three successful NC State applicants: working for a German veterinarian near Stuttgart; working for an architectural firm in Stuttgart; and working in a dentist's office in Munich.

Summer Research Internships in Germany

(German skills not required, research done in an English language environment)

1. RISE - Research Internship in Science and Engineering
Provided by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) for undergraduates in biology, chemistry, physics, earth sciences and engineering.

2. UROP - Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme of RWTH Aachen University
Targeted at sophomores and juniors in all fields. You need a 3.2 GPA to apply. Any level of German (even: NONE) is welcome, they provide German instruction in the first two weeks of the program and during the 10 week program. You can develop your own research project or participate in one that is in the project database available online. This database is continuously being developed, with new additions, so check it often. Full Scholarships are available for strong applicants, but even without a scholarship this is a great opportunity since they charge no tuition if you get in.

German-related Internships in the United States

These will obviously not count for the study abroad requirement of our major but may provide nice internship opportunities related to your field of German Studies.

1. German Historical Institute in Washington, D.C. 
Internships of a minimum of two months (three preferred) for students of history, political science, and library studies.

2. AICGS - American Institute for Contemporary German Studies in Washington, D.C. 
Three internship cycles throughout the year, each 3-4 months. For details visit:
http://www.aicgs.org/about/internships.aspx

3.  Goethe-Institut in Washington, D.C.
Internships of 3 - 8 months. They require a level of German that is "near-native" (Muttersprachlerniveau) if you are not a German citizen. Check out all the links on the left, under the heading "Praktikum", on this site.

4. The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, Washington D.C.
They provide internship opportunities for ALL majors, you'd have to see if they have anything that is German-related and fits your interests.

5. NC State Career Center
For info visit the website or visit the Career Center on campus. 
Your College of Humanities and Social Sciences career contacts are Sara Concini (A-H) and Woody Catoe (I-Z), and appointments can be made by calling 919-515-2396. The UCC is located at 2100 Pullen Hall.