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High school volunteer program abroad group photo in South Africa.

Best Summer Internships Abroad for High School Students in 2024

Find the best internships for high school students and gain work experience abroad!

By Zach Mason | 28th January, 2020
Updated on 18th December, 2023
Projects Abroad High School Special volunteers play games with children at their Care and Community placement in Fiji.

Before applying for university, wouldn’t it be awesome to try out the subject you’re interested in? We can help you create an unforgettable experience with our summer abroad programs for high school students.

Jumpstart your career with an internship abroad where you’ll gain valuable work experience while exploring the globe and making new friends. We offer work programs for teenagers, where you can develop hands-on skills in potential career paths such as:

  • Medicine
  • Conservation
  • Social Work
  • Human Rights
  • Law & Business
  • Journalism

We’ve crafted our high school summer travel programs with your professional and experiential growth in mind. Designed for 15-18 year olds, our travel abroad programs bring volunteers from around the world to learn and explore together. Here’s what you can expect during one of our internships for high school students abroad

Volunteers outside the temples in Siem Reap.
  • Safe, inclusive, and supportive environment with in-country staff available to you 24/7
  • Itinerary-driven experiences, with organised social and cultural activities
  • Leadership and skill development in the area of your professional interests
  • Airport transportation and coordinated accommodation with fellow volunteers
  • Three meals a day provided

Our high school travel programs run on fixed dates for two weeks or more throughout the summer. These include numerous destinations around the world so you choose which one fits best with your schedule!

Read more about how it works, what you can expect from our hassle-free travel experiences, and how we measure our impact. Also check out our frequently asked questions for parents.

Medical Internships Abroad for High School Students

Public Health volunteer doing basic checks during a medical outreach.

Are you wondering if medicine is the right career path for you? Through our programs, you’ll gain hands-on experience in the field trying out various paths from dentistry, physical therapy, and public health.

What can you expect during our medical work experience abroad for 15, 16, 17, and 18 year olds?

  • Participate firsthand in delivering basic first aid care
  • Gain skills in measuring vitals and practise administering injections and stitches
  • Shadow medical professionals and observe as doctors diagnose and administer treatment
  • Participate in outreach programs and awareness campaigns in communities about disease prevention
  • Assist doctors and gain nursing work experience on routine health checks and provide basic medical services to underserved communities
  • Have the time of your life during social activities, cultural events and weekend trips

Through our medical internships you’ll meet a standard of universal medical ethics that we uphold. Your time and energy will be invaluable to the communities you serve and your professional growth. Want to know more? Read our blog on everything you need to know about our medical programs for high school students.

Conservation Internships Abroad for High School Students

Volunteers get into their vehicles after working in Soysambu conservancy.

There is no better time than now to get involved in environmental activism! Our high school summer travel abroad programs will place you in beautiful environments around the world to help protect endangered animals and precious biospheres. Gain work experience in potential careers in ecology, marine biology, and environmental science. You’ll learn from conservation experts to help implement necessary protections to preserve diverse ecosystems. Here are some highlights of our many environmental internships for high school students:

Social Work Internships Abroad for High School Students

Female volunteer and children getting excited during a group photo.

There is no better way to feel like a kid again then to work alongside children. Everyday is a joy when you’re working with kids. With our international summer projects for high school students, we have childcare projects in nearly every continent. Explore Africa and assist at one of our childcare centres in South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, or Ghana. Get lost in the Asiatic islands of the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Cambodia or Vietnam. Some of our childcare projects combine other community volunteer work, like these:

We also offer summer Spanish immersion programs for high school students. With our programme in Mexico, we offer daily Spanish classes. 

Human Rights Internships for High School Students

	Projects Abroad volunteer passes balloons out to children in Plaza Geronimo del Barco in Cordoba during a campaign against human trafficking put on with local NGO, Basta de Trata.

Participating in our travel abroad programs will involve creating remarkable change for at-risk individuals. Through these internships, you'll empower citizens and support those less spoken for. You work will focus on conducting research, planning workshops, and executing awareness campaigns. This invaluable program will be a great insight into local activism and give you real-life experience to discuss in your university applications. 

"As someone looking to study politics in the future, I knew this program would be a great fit, but I had no idea just how amazing the experience would turn out to be." - Alice W, Human Rights High School Special in South Africa

Law & Business Internships for High School Students

Law internship volunteers attending a workshop in China for high school students.

Learn from highly skilled lawyers and business professionals about legal and business practices on our law and business internship for high school students. Gain insight into commercial and corporate law by putting together case studies, proofreading documents, and analysing legal systems. You’ll be working in Shanghai, with one week at a law firm and one week in a business placement. Our international internships for high school students will boost your CV and give you incredible experience over other uni applicants!

Journalism Internship for High School Students

Projects Abroad Journalism volunteer, presenting the result of her interview at a training session at her project in Romania.

During our summer journalism internship for high school students you’ll work at a cultural magazine and write English articles while living in Romania. You’ll interview locals to gather research for your very own articles to be printed in a Romanian magazine. Journalists will offer you feedback on your writing and you’ll gain practical work experience in printed media. Our journalism projects for high school students will be equally educational as they are fun. Go hiking in the mountains or visit Dracula’s castle!

The choice to embark on our high school travel abroad program will undoubtedly change your life. While learning new skills, making new friends, and experiencing a new country, you'll grow and expand your cultural awareness and professional savvy. These internships will be hard work, but there will be plenty of time for you to hang out with other interns and make friendships to last a lifetime. Read the reviews, reach out to one of our project experts, apply now, and discover what you’re capable of!

"If you get the opportunity to go on one of these trips, seize it, as it will open your eyes to a whole world full of experiences that you just can’t see from the comfort of your home." - Adam O, Medicine High School Special in Kenya

High School Special volunteers celebrate on the last day of their placement in Nepal, Asia.

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