Internships in the US

Although internships are not usually a regular part of the US curriculum, most American students do gain practical experience, either during the summer months or after they complete their education. The purpose of such an internship is usually to increase job opportunities. The internship is not considered an integral part of the program. Therefore, the term internship as it is known in the Netherlands does not really exist in the United States. The initiative to find an internship lies entirely with the student, and this is even more true for foreign students.

Finding an internship placement independently

Finding an internship position in the US on your own is difficult, so start looking for an internship position well in advance of your planned departure date. There is more to it than just calling or writing to a company or organization. First think about what kind of internship you are looking for, then you can start looking for contacts.

Research internship at an American university

Would you like to find a research internship at an American university during your undergraduate or graduate studies? This requires your own initiative and perseverance. In such a case, it may be helpful if your college or university has a cooperation agreement with an American university or if your professors have contacts with professors at American universities. You must propose your own topic for your research. You will also have to arrange your own accommodation and supervision, and there are usually no scholarships available at American universities for doing a research internship.

Internship with a company

Finding an internship with an American company can be arranged either independently or through an agency. If you want to approach companies independently, it is useful to make contact through your own connections.

• Ask your Dutch internship coordinator for addresses in the US.
• If you do not have an internship coordinator, your institution’s Foreign Office may be able to help.
• Also ask teachers if they have contacts in the USA.
• If your institution has no or insufficient contacts in the US, ask family, friends, and acquaintances if they can help you.

You can also contact companies directly. For example, contact institutions and non-profit organizations that have contacts in the US or professional organizations of your field of study in the Netherlands and the US. You can also call or write to subsidiaries and large companies (multinationals) in the Netherlands for addresses in the US, or go to your local Chamber of Commerce for addresses of Dutch companies in the US.

Approaching internship sites

Once you have a list of addresses of possible internships, pick out at least forty of them and write to them in the following way — all in English, of course:

• email requesting internship placement
• curriculum vitae (short, no more than one A4)
• letters of recommendation from companies or institutions where you have worked or from teachers

Do not send passport photos, diplomas, awards or certificates.

CV

An American CV has a different standard layout than a Dutch CV. It may also contain different information. Find out which requirements a US CV must meet.

It may also be useful to include an explanation of the Dutch education system with your application. Nuffic offers good English descriptions of the Dutch education system.

Visa

Most interns will go to the US on a J-1 visa. You will then have to deal with a so-called designated visa sponsor. This is an American organization that has permission from the US Department of State to host students on a J-1 visa and issue the appropriate documents to do so. Organizations such as government agencies, schools, hospitals and private educational exchange organizations are included. Each sponsor must adhere to a certain program description stating what participants are allowed to do during their internship. Currently, the number of sponsors with J-1 visa authorization that allow internships is very limited. In that case, the sponsorship will have to be done by a sponsoring company. These can be found through BridgeUSA.

Funding/financing

Internship sites do not always offer an internship stipend. Consult with your internship site about what the options are.

Beursopener

De Beursopener from Nuffic provides an overview of scholarships, loans, and funds for internships abroad.

Dutch2USA Internship Program

Are you a student with limited financial resources and do you have a migration background, a lower socioeconomic background, a disability, or otherwise belong to a minority? The Dutch2USA Dekker-Padget Internship Program offers financial assistance to interns from minority backgrounds.

NAF-Washington DC Internship Program

The Netherland-America Foundation sponsors five summer institutes annually in Washington, D.C., for Dutch undergraduate students. More information can be obtained through the NAF.