Academic Focus
In a tight employment market, internships can open doors. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), more than 95% of the employers surveyed by NACE preferred to hire new graduates with work experience. Build your resume – and your international competence – by participating in the International Internship program.
The International Internship program in Madrid is designed for students with high intermediate to advanced language skills seeking to continue their studies and acquire practical work experience from a global perspective. Experience what it is like to fully be immersed in another culture - studying, living and working abroad. Advance your language skills and gain first-hand experience of applied business practices in an international context. This is a unique opportunity to gain valuable skills necessary to succeed in today’s global economy and achieve a competitive edge over your peers. Internships are available in a wide variety of industry sectors, including Business & Finance, Healthcare, Education, Marketing Services, Media and News, and the Music Industry. CEA’s internship opportunities in Madrid are offered in cooperation with EUSA, a London-based educational organization with over 20 years of experience in facilitating professional practice internships. Placement examples (note that available placements are subject to change and are dependent on market fluctuations):
Business & Finance
Business internships in Madrid may range from brokerage firms to financial service businesses to consulting agencies. Previous interns have worked in establishing firm relationships with clients, evaluating and understanding client needs, promoting the benefits of the firm’s services, developing risk analysis skills and learning how to work in portfolio management. Students in smaller firms have the opportunity to diversify their responsibilities and learn about several aspects of financial consulting.
Healthcare
An important industry in Madrid, healthcare offers unique internship opportunities for university students. Former interns have worked with doctors in several types of medicine, including physical therapy, nutrition, pediatrics, psychiatry and psychology. Responsibilities involve observation and patient registration; interns do not directly take part in patient care, or the administration of medicine.
Education
Relationships with different schools and educational NGOs throughout Madrid allow students with aspirations toward education to have a hands-on experience in the industry. Interns have had the opportunity to teach English in classrooms, observe Spanish classroom settings and work with Spanish teachers to teach some subjects in Spanish to elementary school students. The type of classroom involvement depends very highly on the intern’s Spanish proficiency and overall skill set.
Marketing Services
Marketing internships in Madrid may be in the marketing and PR departments of businesses, as well as in separate PR firms and agencies. A typical marketing internship will involve working on promotions and campaigns, learning about working with different types of media and developing skills in client or interdepartmental relations. Research into relevant industries and competitors for campaigns is typically an important part of the internship as well.
Media and News
Interns have worked with television stations, newspapers, relevant government offices and broadcast news stations (both in radio and television broadcasting). These internships typically involve reporting, calling relevant individuals for interviews and occasionally writing summaries for use by the station or paper. Translation abilities are especially important. Depending on an intern’s interests, the student may have the opportunity to work in various parts of these businesses to learn about different parts of studios’ and papers’ daily operations.
Music Industry
Internships in Madrid’s growing music industry offer students with talent or simply musical interest to learn how relevant businesses, such as record labels, operate. Interns in this industry need to be willing to adjust quickly to the business and know about current events in the music industry. Students have found opportunities both to learn about the business operations of record labels as well as the differences between Spanish and American markets.
International Internship students will enroll for 15 – 18 total US semester credits at the CEA GlobalCampus in Madrid. Students will register for the Early Start program, arriving early and taking a two-week intensive language preparation and refresher course. This course focuses on grammar and conversation and designed to help you adjust to the Spanish language and culture and better prepare you for the upcoming semester and internship. Early Start accounts for 45 contact hours of language instructions, which is generally worth 3 US semester credits. Students will also be required to enroll in the internship component plus 2 - 3 additional language or elective courses during the regular semester program. The internship consists of 3 days per week working in a local business environment and participating in a weekly seminar course. Overall, the internship component accounts for 90 contact hours and is generally worth 6 credits in the US semester system.
Students may enroll in language courses appropriate to their language level if desired. Additional electives are offered in English and allow students of all language levels to earn credits toward their major or graduation requirements. A wide variety of courses are available in various subjects within a diverse liberal arts curriculum and allows you the flexibility in designed your semester by choosing courses that best meet your individual academic and personal needs. Course offerings include: Art History, Business, International Relations, Language Studies, Cultural Studies and more.
All language courses and electives meet for a total of 45 contact hours and are generally worth 3 credits in the US semester system. However, it is up to the discretion of your home institution and academic advisor how much credit will be awarded.
Schedule Summary
Students will spend 15 – 24 hours per week at their internship placement. Specific work schedules will be determined between the student and site supervisor upon arrival in the host country. Class schedules should be carefully planned in advance, allowing large portions of time available to dedicate to the internship placement.
Semester classes at the GlobalCampus meet one to three times per week for a total of 3 contact hours. Classes are typically held Monday through Thursday although study trips and other required fieldwork may occur on Fridays. Classes are offered at various times throughout the day. Class timetables will be released approximately three months before the program closure date, and your final course schedule will be posted to your MyCEA Account around two weeks before the program start date.
Course Registration
Students must register for courses prior to departure for Madrid. A course preference form will be posted to your MyCEA Account when the course timetables are available. This form should be completed upon submission of your confirmation deposit, but no later than the program closure date. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis so it is in your best interest to submit your course preference form as soon as possible. It is in your best interest to have all courses, include alternate selections, approved by your academic advisor prior to submitting your course preference form.
