IES Internships

Earn UI credit through a summer internship!
Spend eight weeks over the summer interning full time in the field of your choice.

Today's employers are looking to hire employees with:

• Relevant, global experience
• Foreign language proficiency
• Intercultural communication skills
• Confidence and adaptability
• Workplace knowledge and experience

If the field you are interested in is not listed on IES' webpage, that does not mean it isn't available. Please discuss other possibilities with Study Abroad to see if IES has partners in Paris that would be able to accommodate your interests.

When you have completed an internship, you will have the job experience, the professional skills training, and the confidence to help you and your resume stand out.

See more at IES Internships

Guaranteed Placement

IES Internships guarantees full-time summer internship students a placement in their field of choice, as indicated on their internship application submitted to IES.

If IES Internships is unable to offer a student an internship placement in the expressed field of choice selected on his or her internship application at least two weeks before the program start date, despite the student’s good faith participation in the process and satisfaction of all program requirements, then the student shall have the option to either receive a refund of the full amount he or she has then paid IES Internships or to transfer to an IES program of comparable length and value in the same location (subject to the student satisfying applicable visa requirements and IES Internships’ academic program requirements).

The most current information can be found on the IES Paris Internship webpage.

Academic Credit

The IES Paris internship program counts for 3 credit hours. All participants will complete the Leading Across Cultures course offered through IES, for which some materials are due online before departure. Students can also opt to take an additional 3 credit hour French language course.

Students must indicate on the Iowa application how many credit hours they plan to receive from their internship. Students will discuss this decision with their Study Abroad advisor in an appointment before they submit an application.

Factors to consider:

• Cost: The Study Abroad Administrative Fee is based on the number of credit hours you plan to receive
• Financial Aid: Any student seeking to use Financial Aid must be enrolled full time (6 credit hours)
• Academic Planning: All students should meet with their academic advisor before studying abroad. Your academic advisor can help you create a degree plan, showing where credit is needed and where credit is not needed to stay on track for graduation

See more at IES Internship Guarantee

Steps to Studying Abroad

1. Before initiating an application with IES, students must complete a Discover Study Abroad session at the University of Iowa. 
2. After completing the Discover Abroad session, students must call the Study Abroad office at 319-335-0353 to be assigned to the appropriate study abroad advisor.
3. Once assigned, students must meet with their study abroad advisor to receive  program application instructions.

  

 

Study Abroad
1111 University Capitol Centre
Iowa City, IA 52242

Phone: 319-335-0353
Email: study-abroad@uiowa.edu

IES Center

While in Paris, IES wants to ensure students have every opportunity to immerse themselves in new experiences. That’s why the IES Abroad Paris French Studies Center staff is committed to providing outstanding academic and student support services. IES will take care of the details, so students can soak up every moment of ther Parisian experience.

The IES Abroad Paris French Studies Center is located on a bustling market street near the Cimetière du Montparnasse. The area is filled with restaurants, food shops, boutiques, and cafés.

The IES Center is a student's connection point for all things IES Abroad.

Take IES Abroad courses in the Center's classrooms

Meet with staff in their offices

Study in the library

Connect with friends in the student foyer

Enjoy a sunny day sitting in the garden

Other features include: high-speed internet, WiFi, and printer access

Paris

Intern in one of the world's highest regarded cities for culture and international business. Walk or take the bus through the city’s vibrant streets, or hop on the Métro to get to work. Lunchtime means quiche or a sandwich au jambon in a nearby café, followed by a leisurely espresso or tea.

Spend your free time checking neighborhoods off your to-explore list: The Marais, the Latin Quarter, Montmartre, and more await. Save time for field trips outside the city to places like Giverny and Reims.

France

For as long as the United States has existed, France has been considered a center of culture within the world and has had a significant impact from contributions to food, art, fashion, and sciences. The largest country in the European Union is also one of the greenest, with stunning natural views and iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Lourve and the Palace of Versailles. The French people are passionate about their country and their way of life. Explore a rich history by visiting classic churches, dive into French cuisine, and enjoy a glass of wine or latte at any of the wonderful French cafes.

US Department of State Country Information

The US Department of State provides safety and security information for every country of the world to help you assess for yourself the risks of travel. Each country information page contains a Travel Advisory, Alerts, and other important details specific to that country that could affect you.

Pay close attention to the entry and exit requirements, local laws and customs, health conditions, and other details to help decide whether traveling to any given country is right for you. Non-US citizen travelers may also wish to seek guidance from the embassy of their country of citizenship. The UI International Travel Policy for Students addresses restrictions on student travel to high-risk locations and engagement in high-risk activities abroad.

Housing

Homestay

Live in a French homestay in the city of Paris or its surrounding banlieues (suburbs). Daily breakfast and three evening meals per week are provided.

Apartments

A limited number of shared apartments are available for an additional fee. Apartments include kitchen facilities. Meals are not included. Internet is available.

Travel Arrangements

Participants will make their own travel arrangements to Paris, taking advantage of frequent-flyer options and/or internet specials available to them. The cost of travel is not included in the program fee. Information about airport pick up will be provided directly to the participants by IES. Students should book airfare to correspond with the arrival and departure dates provided by IES.

Eligibility Requirements

All applicants must meet with Study Abroad PRIOR to applying (please call 319.335.0353 to set up an appointment)

• At least 18 years of age
• In good academic and disciplinary standing at the University of Iowa
• 2.5 GPA or higher
• 2 semesters of college-level French
• At least a sophomore standing prior to application; rising junior status at time of program departure
• Undergraduates must be enrolled in a full-time degree program; recent graduates must begin their internship no more than 12 months after graduation

How to Apply

Complete the UI online application. Please note that a nonrefundable $50 application fee will be charged as part of this online application. The UI online application includes:

• Passport Copy: upload a clear PDF copy of your passport to the application or click “in the process of applying/renewing”.
• Sign on your Credit Agreement (called a cover sheet) indicating the location of your internship and the number of credit hours you plan to receive. [The cover shhet is NOT the same as the cover letter IES may ask you for.]This decision cannot be changed, please discuss your plans with your academic and study abroad advisors before selecting your response.
• Fill out the IES internship application. The complete application includes: (These items should all be done by the deadline. Give yourself time to get them done.)
• Application: 1-2 business days to create profile before being able to upload documents
• Cover Letter: upload to IES application
• Resume: upload to IES application
• Placement Interest Form: upload to IES application
• Transcript: send from MyUI electronically to Liz English at admissions@iesabroad.org
• Monica Ernberger, in the Study Abroad Office, will complete the Home School Authorization directly with IES (online) once you’ve completed the entire application process.

Application Deadline

Applications are due on Feb 1st for Summer.

Resume and Cover Letter Information

Part of the application process is submitting a cover letter and resume. Throughout the process, you'll be given several opportunities by IES Abroad to revise these materials, but it's important that you put effort into your first draft. Start this process early and utilize the following resources:

1. The Pomerantz Career Center at the University of Iowa offers assistance with writing resumes and cover letters. The webpage is a good first place to start if you aren't sure what these documents should contain or what they look like: Pomerantz Career Center: Resumes and Related Materials. The Pomerantz Career Center also holds walk-in hours from 9am-4pm while school is in session.
2. One of the most difficult parts of the application is writing a cover letter without a job description. It is suggested that interns look up similar entry-level jobs on a site like www.indeed.com or www.monster.com and utilize the list of qualifications on a job description similar to the type of internship they are seeking.
3. IES also offers a Student Prep Manual. The most updated version can be found in your IES Portal.

Post Acceptance

Acceptance into your chosen internship is made by IES directly via an email to you. After acceptance you will be asked to confirm your participation with IES and the University of Iowa. After confirmation, you will work and correspond directly with IES to complete pre-departure materials. Participants are responsible the IES application deposit ($500) and study abroad administrative fees if they withdraw after handing in their confirmation form.

Program Cost

2022 Paris IES Summer Internships: 3 credit hours


These documents outline the total estimated costs associated with participating in this program and can be used for financial aid purposes. It includes fees charged on students’ U-Bill (Course Fee, Study Abroad Fee, and Iowa Regents CISI Insurance), as well as out-of-pocket expenses. Actual out-of-pocket expenses will vary from individual to individual. Quoted estimates are conservatively high, yet realistic.

The cost sheet includes the Study Abroad Administrative Fee and Mandatory Iowa Regents CISI Travel Insurance. Please see the respective websites for further details. If the fee is inclusive of UI tuition, it is calculated by Current Tuition. Please contact your study abroad advisor with questions regarding this cost sheet – call 319-335-0353 to schedule an appointment.

Upfront, out-of-pocket expenses

Some costs are incurred prior to departure and will be due before financial aid/scholarships disperse. Here are the expected upfront costs for IES Internships:

• Iowa Application Fee: $50
• Airfare Estimate: $1,450
• Passport: $135

Optional additional fees paid to IES

These fees are all optional and are not included in the course fee for the program. The cost should be paid directly to IES — failure to pay will result in IES withholding transcripts.

• Single Room Upgrades
• Optional Tours

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Most financial aid (scholarships, grants, and loans) is applicable to study abroad programs. Please check the Study Abroad website for information on financial aid and how it may be applied to studying abroad. You are also encouraged to speak with someone at the Office of Student Financial Aid to explore financial aid options.

Students wishing to use Federal Financial Aid need to be enrolled in 6 credit hours.

Scholarship opportunities exist for study abroad participants. Please explore Study Abroad's website for UI Study Abroad Scholarship Opportunities.

In addition, IES has many scholarships that UI students can apply for. These scholarship opportunities are found on the IES website.

Federal Pell Grant recipients are eligible to apply for the Gilman Scholarship.

Acceptance & Confirmation Materials

Coming Soon

Health & Safety Planning

IES and the UI have a variety of resources available to you to prepare for departure. It is recommended that you review these materials, share them with your parents, and refer back to them if you have questions.

1. IES Internships Manual Guide
2. A Parent Guide to Study Abroad
3. Health Preparation Guide for International Travel

Visas

US and EU passport holders will not need a visa to intern in Paris. Non-US and non-EU passport holders should refer to the French Consulate of Chicago webpage for more details.

Orientation

In order to prepare for your time abroad, you are required by the University of Iowa to complete two orientations. These may be in addition to orientations provided by your on-site provider. See below for more information.

Online Education Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation

You are required to complete the International Programs ICON course “Education Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation” prior to departure. This orientation is mandatory for all students going abroad under the auspices of the University of Iowa. It covers many practical matters about living overseas, such as health and safety, communication, money, goals, and much more. You will be enrolled in this course by International Programs and an email will be sent to you once enrolled. If you have any questions, you can email safety-abroad@uiowa.edu.

Program-Specific Orientation

This orientation will be facilitated by your study abroad advisor and will cover content specific to your program and host country. It could be conducted in a group setting or one-on-one depending on your type of planned activity abroad. Your study abroad advisor will send you more information about this mandatory in-person session.

GoinGlobal

The University of Iowa Career Center offers GoinGlobal as a free resource for all students. IES will do the legwork as far as finding you an internship, but you might wish to do so research ahead of time about workplace culture, employment trends, etc. The country guide for France can be found here: GoinGlobal France Country Guide. Iowa students must first access their account on campus and create a log-in. After you create an account, you'll be able to access GoinGlobal off-campus for free.

IES Paris Highlights

April 4th, 2019 Ana Arzate (BA French, international studies ’17) completed a global internship in Paris, France, as an undergraduate student at the University of Iowa. Arzate lives in Hiawatha, Iowa, where she works at Channel Fusion as a bilingual client relationship associate. Arzate recently shared thoughts about the value of her internship experience.

Tell us about your IES internship in Paris.

I worked at a start-up company called Archive Valley in the 20th arrondissement (district) in Paris. Archive Valley is a platform and tool designed to help archive researchers and providers connect and access footage that they are searching for. For example, if I was an archive researcher working on a Netflix documentary about Lady Gaga, I would use this platform as a tool to send a request for footage of Lady Gaga's concerts, interviews, growing up, and anything else that would help support my storyline about this documentary. I would then receive access to many archive sources and providers from which I could purchase footage.

Some of my duties were to research new sources of archive providers. I also conducted interviews with archive researchers that were posted on the Archive Valley blog, made phone calls to people in communities all across Europe, and helped with a voice-over tutorial for the platform.

What did you gain professionally as a result of your IES internship?

​Top 3 things I learned professionally from this internship were:

1) Teamwork/collaboration - Although I was interning for eight weeks, I saw it as an opportunity to not only immerse myself in the Parisian culture, but immerse myself in the workplace as well. I had the opportunity to really see how it was being an employee at a startup company which meant taking on tasks that were assigned to me and offering help whenever help was needed.

2) Responsibility - Along with teamwork and collaboration, responsibility was a major skill of the internship that I learned. Because I worked with a small start up company (five to ten employees/interns), that meant that I was solely responsible for the tasks that were assigned to me. In other words, I felt that I was a strong team player, where if I failed to do a task, it would affect the next person (if not, the whole team), because my tasks played a big role in moving the company forward.

3) Self-management - I was not micro-managed at my internship. I had the flexibility (with deadlines of course) to complete my tasks and go in the order that I wanted to without having a manager/supervisor micro-manage me. I turned in my tasks on time, but had to remind myself to stay focused and manage my time wisely.

Image of Ana Arzate

Ana Arzate at Channel Fusion

What did you gain personally as a result of your experience abroad?

Top 3 things I learned personally about my experience abroad are:

1) Independence - I was in a country that I had only read about and studied in textbooks. This didn't provide a full picture of what the culture was really like when I was actually there. I learned how to navigate the metro system to get from my home stay to my internship. I learned more about what I like and what I don't like (i.e., I like more of a suburb vibe where I can drive myself to the store, rather than a big city where I have to take a subway). Also, my experience abroad and internship made me more confident for what was to come in the future (interviewing, resume writing, my French language skills, and networking).

2) Respect - Not in the sense of "treat others how you want to be treated" (although still very important), but in the sense of respecting another culture and their values. Just because someone does something a certain way does not make it "wrong;" it means that they go about the problem or situation in a different way. They have a different perspective on the same situation. It's a lot different experiencing another culture than reading about it in a textbook, and I'm glad I got to experience a new perspective! Diversity is very admirable and should be respected, even if we don't share the same customs.

3) Budgeting and decision making - Something I realized (that I never really thought about) is that things are a lot more expensive in a capital city in Europe where the currency is also different, and I was the sole decision maker on how and when to spend my money.

Image of Ana Arzate in front of the Arc de Triomphe

Ana Arzate at the Arc de Triomphe

What are some of your favorite memories from your experience in Paris?

Some of my favorite memories from my experience in Paris were meeting other students in the IES program. They were all students from different parts of the U.S., and we instantly got together and did fun stuff such as: picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower (probably my favorite), travel outside of France (some of us went to Spain and the Netherlands), as well as meeting and getting to practice our French with native speakers.

Any advice you’d like to share for current UI students considering an internship abroad?

I would encourage them to take this opportunity of a lifetime. It is an eye-opening experience - especially being introduced to a different lifestyle than our own. I would advise them to be open to change, have an open mind and learn to adapt to their surroundings whether it is in their home stay or at their internship. I would also encourage them to write in a journal things or ideas they learned. And don't forget, global internships look great on a resume! Most importantly, enjoy and make the most out of it!

How has your IES internship experience helped you in your current role at Channel Fusion?

I think my IES internship experience helped me with my current role at Channel Fusion because, although they are two different markets, I can cross-reference what I learned from my internship into my current position. For example, I work with a small team now where each team player makes an impactful contribution in how we move forward and grow. I also get to utilize my language skills (French and Spanish), to communicate with our dealer network all over the world - like I did with making phone calls to different countries during my internship! Even though I had no experience in the marketing industry, I knew that I would be more confident learning and working in a new industry because of my experience at Archive Valley.

What type of support did the IES office provide to you during your experience?

The IES office was designed to be a place of security where students could feel that they were home away from home. IES provided a lot of support because they gave us the tools and training/presentations for what was to come during our time abroad. They also put together social events and exercises in order to "break the ice" not only between the students who were interning, but they involved the host families as well!

Learn more about Ana Arzate here and here.

Connecting Iowa With the World and the World With Iowa Keywords news, study abroad, international internship Author Amy Brewster International Programs University of Iowa International Programs 1111 University Capitol Centre Iowa City, Iowa 52242 +1 (319) 353-2700

Study Abroad

+1 (319) 335-0353 Quick Links

IowaNow Story, summer 2018

Q&A with Taylor Odekirk, summer 2018

Summer 2016 student Ana Arzate's Experience in Paris