The World Endeavors Intern in Italy program is an excellent choice for anyone hoping to expand their knowledge of the Italian language and culture, all while gaining valuable work experience. Visitors have flocked to Italy for centuries to experience its lively food, language, art, architecture, and music. Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, has a trading reputation that dates back to medieval times. Italy today retains much of its historical charm, while also being a modern and dynamic center for many industries.
World Endeavors offers internships in a wide range of professional fields in Italy, and our advisors are proud of their ability to find great internships in unique and highly specialized fields.
Featured Fields
Architecture
Architecture and Landscape Architecture interns work in architectural firms and assist professionals with a wide range of projects at various stages of design and construction.
Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts interns work side by side with professionals in the kitchens of fine restaurants, gaining firsthand experience with the culture and cuisine of their host country.
Wine
Interns join a family-run wine shop, cellar and tasting room located in the heart of the Florentine old town, a stone’s throw away from the Duomo. The wine cellar contains over 2,500 different labels of wines from all over Italy. Interns gain a wealth of hands-on experience in wine business and sales while expanding their understanding of the global wine industry by:
- Conducting market research and trend analysis;
- Designing wine marketing strategies and campaigns;
- Managing social media and other digital marketing channels;
- And developing strategies to expand clientele and increase sales.
Other fields offered in Italy include:
Advertising interns work with creative teams in agencies as well as company advertising departments, learning about local and global markets as well as business strategy.
Agricultural Sciences interns work to analyze the impact of farming practices and help to employ new, more sustainable, and cost-effective models.
Placements may be located outside of Florence. Contact World Endeavors for more information.
Coaching and Sports Management interns help with marketing and promotion efforts, plan events, and manage facilities for athletic teams as well as learn about the business side of sports.
Communications interns design websites, plan marketing campaigns, organize publicity events, write press releases, or develop and implement communications strategies.
Education interns assist local educators in primary and secondary schools and other institutions to promote learning in the classroom and in the local community.
Engineering interns work on public and private projects in a range of fields learning how to create effective, real-world solutions that benefit society.
Environmental Conservation interns work on a wide range of projects to protect habitats, study soil, air and water quality, define environmental policies, and promote conservation through community education.
Event Management interns work with professional coordinators to plan and manage events ranging from weddings and celebrations to festivals, conferences, concerts, and exhibitions.
Fashion interns work in companies and design houses assisting with design, styling, production, marketing, merchandising, and business.
Healthcare interns assist health professionals in a range of projects from public health initiatives to medical research or healthcare administration.
Hospitality Management and Tourism interns assist management and work in reception, marketing, and communications in internationally-recognized hotels and resorts.
Interior Design interns assist design professionals in architecture and design firms as well as in property and construction companies by researching materials and products, working with suppliers, gathering spatial and other site information, preparing presentations for clients, and a number of other activities.
International Business interns are placed in a range of businesses spanning a wide array of industries with both local and global markets.
Journalism interns work with journalists to liaise with the public and research stories, write articles, and/or report on local events for magazines, newspapers, or other print or digital media companies.
Marketing interns work in advertising agencies or in the marketing departments of a wide variety of companies, planning and managing campaigns, analyzing market information, assisting with websites and social media, and interfacing with clients.
Media Studies interns work at radio and television stations, film production companies, newspapers, magazines, advertising or public relations agencies, and other print or digital media companies gaining professional experience in a wide range of job duties and picking up a host of valuable practical skills.
Museum and Cultural Management interns work with professionals in museums and at historical sites, gaining hands-on experience in a variety of activities, such as research, curation, archiving, analysis, restoration, and administration.
Nonprofit Management interns may prepare and write grants, research and report on issues, engage with supporters, or assist with promotions for fundraising or community outreach events.
Gain experience in a group occupational therapy setting, shadowing the OTs and assisting in leading groups. Therapy is carried out in Italian but your supervisor can speak English so they will explain patient interactions and talk with you about the Italian approach to Occupational Therapy.
Performing Arts interns may assist actors, stage managers, directors, stage crew, front of house staff or back-office management with the preparation, management, and promotion of drama, music, or dance productions.
Physical Therapy interns work in the offices of physical therapists and sports trainers, learning about patient care as well as the business and administrative aspects of their field.
Public Health interns work with public health officials in government agencies and nonprofit organizations on projects focused on disease and injury prevention, assessment of community health requirements, addressing environmental challenges, and creating public policy.
Public Relations interns work in PR agencies or in company PR departments learning about strategic communication, brand management, and market perceptions.
Social Work interns work with nonprofit or government organizations, aiding individual clients and assisting with community outreach initiatives and public health and safety programs.
Urban Planning interns work in governmental agencies or businesses assisting with projects related to growth and capacity, community building, and urban revitalization.
Veterinary Sciences interns assist veterinarians as they work with domestic livestock or exotic animals, gaining experience with the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of animals and learning how these professionals engage with the local community.
Visual Arts interns work in galleries and museums planning and maintaining exhibits, creating and distributing publicity materials, coordinating special events, communicating with artists, and organizing art auctions.
Web and Graphic Design interns work with creative professionals in design firms, marketing agencies, or the design departments of larger companies to create marketing materials, web pages, logos, and other visuals for corporate clients.
Do you want to earn academic credit for your international internship? Nearly half of World Endeavors participants earn credit while interning abroad. Many students are required to participate in an internship to fulfill a requirement for their degree program. World Endeavors works closely with students and their academic advisors to ensure that our program meets those requirements. If you don’t fall into that category there is another exciting option for you. Through our collaboration with University of California Berkeley, students can earn UC Berkeley credit by taking one of two online courses while interning abroad.
Internships are available year-round, with flexible start dates and durations. Public holidays and seasonal work availability may impact certain start dates in some locations.
Please wait until after you are accepted into the program and you have received the confirmed arrival and departure dates before you book your flight
| Program Name | First Month | Each Additional Month |
|---|---|---|
| Intern In Italy | $3,790 | $1,690 |
Through our collaboration with University of California Summer Sessions, World Endeavors interns can earn academic credit alongside their international internship. Alternatively, interns can arrange for credit through their home institution. Learn more here.
INCLUDED FEATURES
- Dedicated Program Advisor
- Customized Internship placement
- Flexible durations from 2 to 6 months with year-round start dates
- Academic credit facilitation
- Local On-site Coordinator with 24/7 availability; pre and post arrival orientation
- Personalized Program Success Plan with ongoing coaching
- Re-entry Handbook and Support
- Italian language instruction
- Airport reception
- Flexible housing accommodations (dependent on location)
- Homestay or Shared apartment accommodations
- Comprehensive travel medical insurance
- 24/7 Emergency Travel Assistance
- Travel protection
OTHER BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS
- Round-trip airfare to Italy
- Meals
- Visa expenses
- Optional trips and excursions
- Daily transportation
- Personal expenses
- World Endeavors interns should be 18 years or older and should have a passport valid for at least 6 months from the start of their program.
- Keep in mind that all countries have different visa restrictions for varying types of passports.
- It is recommended to have a background in your desired internship field, but not absolutely required. Internship placement opportunities increase with experience or relevant coursework.
- For programs of more than 90 days, interns must apply for a student visa.
Congratulations on your decision to embark on this one-of-a-kind, life-changing experience abroad! We look forward to working with you to make your trip memorable and meaningful. We recommend that applications be submitted at least 16 weeks in advance of the intended program start date. If your intended start date is less than 16 weeks away, please contact World Endeavors for more information.
World Endeavors interns in Italy live in centrally-located apartments in their placement city. Participants live in apartments shared with other international interns and students, or Italian students, with shared bathroom and kitchen facilities. Depending on availability, other housing options may also be available for an additional fee.
ABOUT FLORENCE
Florence is truly a living museum imbued with a sense of history that can be felt everywhere in the city. Here, visitors walk the same streets as the greatest artists of the Italian Renaissance. The beauty of the city is in its architecture, which dates back centuries to the greatest period of Italian history. The people of Florence take pride in their city and are excited to show visitors what makes it so great.
We strive to provide immersive, life changing, and professionally rewarding programs for our interns. Our programs are designed as a comprehensive “program” instead of just the internship so that we can provide a full experience for our participants. The program fees we charge include the in-country expenses (housing, insurance, orientation, etc.) and also the dedicated work that goes behind finding a customized, one-of-a-kind, international internship placement. You can find more information about the costs and inclusions in the “Dates & Costs” section on this page.
We really wish we could offer paid internships, but all of the internships we coordinate are unpaid placements. Paid internships abroad are few and far-between, as they require a different type of visa that is difficult to attain, and they also require sponsorship by the host company, which is quite costly for them. The goal of our program is to provide meaningful, hands-on experience in your specific profession or field of study that will give you a competitive edge in the job market and make you valuable to employers who are globally minded. If you are seeking a placement to help you gain international experience, improve your skills in your field and enhance your resume, our program provides the perfect opportunity.
Our internships are customized to fit each individual’s goals, interests, and skill level. We consider all of these things and then make a placement accordingly. Therefore, we don’t have specific internships “set aside” waiting for people to fill them. We have placed interns in both small and large companies, but due to confidentiality of our host companies and organizations we are not able to provide a list of companies.
All of our internships are customized, and we work with each intern to make sure we find a placement that fits their specific interests, background, experience, and goals for the internship. Your specific responsibilities during your internship will be determined further in the enrollment process and will depend on your skills and goals for the program.
Gina is from Bloomington, Minnesota and went to Florence, Italy to complete an internship in Engineering.
“Anytime I got frustrated, I just reminded myself where I was and how I would always look back on this summer as one of the highlights of my life.”
- Marguerite, Intern in Italy
