University of Wisconsin–Madison

Internship and Research Abroad Opportunities for CALS Students

Students in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences have access to many international internship and research opportunities that offer meaningful experience in the global workplace. These programs provide valuable academic and professional advantages, including the development of technical skills, real-world research experience, and essential cross-cultural communication skills. Whether through long-term or short-term placements, part-time or full-time, students can enhance their skills in diverse fields, all while becoming more engaged global citizens. 

The research and internship opportunities offered through UW-Madison can take many different forms. Some span a longer duration, such as a year or semester, while others are a few weeks long. During semester and short-term programs, research or internships can be part-time, alongside regular coursework, or full-time. For most international research opportunities, students will be directed by an instructor or paired with a research mentor.

On this page:

Compare internship structures

Internship and research-focused programs

Internship and research-focused programs can take many forms. Some are centered on building professional and lab experience while you are enrolled in 3-6 credits alongside your internship or research. Others may have a period of coursework followed by a period of research/interning.

 In many cases, you will be matched with an internship or research mentor in your field of interest. Please visit the internship or research experience program page to review the specific program format, eligibility requirements, and other details.

Featured programs

Ecuador

  • Ceiba Conservation Internships
    Summer (8 weeks)
    6 credits
    Support the work of conservation-focused Ecuadorian organizations and communities! Interns can choose from a variety of subjects: Wildlife Monitoring, Environmental Education and Teacher Training, Water Quality Community-Based Research, Coastal Conservation Corridor, Forest Dynamics Research, Agroforestry, Native Plant Garden, and Communications and Media.

Germany

  • TUM Practical Research Experience Program
    Summer (9 weeks)
    IS 523: Culture and the Global Workplace (asynchronous 3-credit virtual course)
    Assist on a research project in a TUM laboratory, gaining hands-on research experience and developing professional and cultural skills! Visit the TUM PREP project database to get an idea of the types of research projects that are available. The list changes every year, but it includes fields such as agricultural and horticultural science, biosciences, and health, as well as engineering and computer science, and some social sciences. You will rank your first-, second-, and third-choice projects as part of your application.

Greece

  • Perrotis College
    Summer (6 weeks)
    6 credits, participants can choose to do a 3-credit research or work internship:
    • Research internship: Students are matched with a Perrotis faculty member based on the student’s research interests and the faculty member’s research needs. Topics include: sustainable agriculture, food science & technology, international business, digital marketing, and environmental science. 
    • Work internship: Students enroll as work interns with the Horticulture unit, working with the Perrotis farm management team.

Japan

  • UW Introduction to Biological Sciences Research in Japan
    Summer (3 weeks)
    Biochemistry 375 (3 credits)
    Gain a hands-on introduction to biological research through collaborative lab work, fieldwork, and data analysis focused on gene regulation under the instruction of Dr. Erica Shu, UW-Madison’s Department of Biochemistry, and a Japanese researcher based at Hiroshima University.
  • UW Food Systems and the Environment in Northern Japan
    Summer (6 or 8 weeks)
    3 or 4 credits
    Research internships in various laboratories at the Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine that take place before the 10-day faculty-led study abroad program.

Multiple countries

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Part-time internships and research

Part-time internship and research programs offer a part-time internship option or component alongside 6 or more credits of coursework. The internship or research experience may be required or optional, depending on the program.

Some programs place you into an internship, while others may require you to apply to a position.

Featured programs

Argentina

  • IFSA Preveterinary Medicine
    Semester (16 credits)
    Students complete an internship or individualized field research while taking additional courses (that may or may not be prevet focused) throughout their semester. Past internships have been working with organizations working directly or indirectly with animals, but are customized based on the student’s interest.

Ecuador

  • Ceiba Tropical Conservation Semester: Galapagos, Andes and Amazon
    Semester (16 credits)
    Students complete an internship during the final month of the semester with the Ceiba Foundation or numerous Ecuadorian conservation and development organizations.
    Past internships have included sea turtle monitoring, reforestation, primate research, environmental education, organic farming, and wildlife rehabilitation.

England

  • IFSA Biosciences and Health Sciences Career Accelerators
    Semester (credits vary by chosen track)
    Students will have regular meetings with faculty to assist in the formation and execution of research plans, and they will guide you on how to thoughtfully and critically integrate academic research with experiential learning.

Ireland

  • University College Dublin Agricultural and Life Sciences
    Semester (12-18 credits)
    Participants who select the College of Science track have the opportunity to join a research group in areas ranging from Physics, Geology, Mathematical Sciences, and Computer Science to Chemistry, Biology, and the Biomedical Sciences. 

    Students shadow a member of the research team and master one basic and one advanced laboratory skill. Students learn how to develop a research hypothesis, design an experiment, analyze research data, write a scientific abstract, and make a scientific presentation.

Multiple countries

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UW Signature Internships

UW Signature Internships are international internships developed exclusively for UW-Madison students. Your main focus abroad will be your internship, and you will take a 3-credit virtual class to complement your cross-cultural work experience. Some internships may offer compensation. You can search for these opportunities on the International Internship Database.

Examples of past internships that CALS students have completed include:

  • Completing genomics lab work focused on Public Health and Epidemiology, Bioinformatics, or Animal Health in an international global health research environment.
  • Working on an agroecology project to preserve local ancestral knowledge, promote sustainable agroecological farming practices, and native seeds.
  • Environmental outreach for non-profits, working towards educating and engaging local communities to protect the environment.
  • Assisting health practitioners to improve health outcomes and general wellbeing of women and girls through mentoring adolescent girls on reproductive health, leading health literacy lessons, and creating ideas for community wellbeing and sustainable development.
Search for UW Signature Internships
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External internships and research abroad

If you are already working in a lab on campus or connected with a faculty member with an international connection or collaboration, you may consider participating in an independent/directed research experience abroad.

The UW Undergraduate Research Program provides a pathway for undergraduate students who participate in a research experience abroad under the guidance of a UW-Madison instructor.

Students who choose this option:

  • Identify their own research experience abroad and participate independently, usually during a semester or the summer
  • Maintain status at UW-Madison through enrollment in independent study/direct research credits by working with a UW-Madison instructor (usually 299 or 699 credit)
  • Are enrolled in UW’s mandatory international health insurance and receive health/safety support
  • Can apply for UW-Madison study abroad scholarships and may be eligible for financial aid.
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Advising

General questions

Email or schedule a Starfish appointment with a CALS Study Abroad advisor or an intern abroad advisor.

Program-specific questions

Email or schedule a Starfish appointment with the study abroad advisor or intern abroad advisor listed on the program webpage. 

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