A global internship can boost your résumé and set you apart from your peers.  Add a professional component to your term abroad and develop marketable skills while gaining international work experience.  

Receive academic credit for internships incorporated into your UCEAP program.  The internship process and details vary by program.  Learn more here.

Many UCEAP programs allow students to intern, in addition to their coursework, and provide them with the option to receive academic credit, if desired.  In these cases, students are responsible for finding their own internship placements.  Programs that provide this opportunity will have the "Internships" section listed under the "Program Details" menu of their UCEAP program page.  The "Programs with Internships" flyer also provides a comprehensive list of this information (subject to change).

Students can receive a $6,500 UCSB EAP Freeman Foundation Internship Scholarship to pursue an internship for academic credit in select summer programs in China, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand. Click here for a printable brochure. 

(Click image below to hear from a previous Freeman Intern.)

Academic Internship Requirements

• UCEAP academic internship credit is required. Take  a course to guide your internship experience. You may be required to participate in meetings, discussions, journaling, and a final project.
   
• There will be an academic component (individual study project) related to your internship.
   
• Meet with an internship supervisor regularly to discuss your performance and what you are learning academically.
   
• Turn in a paper, series of reports, or other documentation describing the work you performed and analyzing what you learned.
   
• Non-U.S. citizens are eligible; however, they may not be a Freeman intern in their home country.
   
• Goal is for you to work with the locals and not at organizations or at U.S. governmental agencies where the majority of the staff are not local.
   
• Remote internships are not allowed.

Eligible Programs

Application Instructions & Deadlines

• China, Japan, & Singapore UCEAP deadline:    
  January 8, 2025 
   
• Bangkok, Thailand UCEAP deadline: 
  February, 5, 2025

• Submit by the deadline: 
  Summer 2025 Programs: February 15, 2025

• Summer 2025 Programs: late-February 2025

• Summer 2025 Programs: mid-March 2025

The UCSB EAP Freeman Internship Scholarship application consists of:

• UCSB EAP Freeman Internship Scholarship Statement of Purpose - Save file as a PDF, rename it "Full Name_SOP" and upload it to your scholarship application.
   

• Most recent unofficial transcript with your legal name - Save file as a PDF, rename it "Full Name_Transcript" and upload it to your scholarship application.

• Résumé - Save file as a PDF, rename it "Full Name_Resume" and upload it to your scholarship application.

• Letter of Recommendation - The letter must be on official letterhead and from a college professor, college instructor, TA, recent employer, or internship supervisor. The letter should address your qualifications for this scholarship. Save file as a PDF, rename it "Full Name_LOR" and upload it to your scholarship application.

  *If your recommender prefers, they may email their letter directly to aubree@eap.ucsb.edu.

• UCSB EAP Freeman Internship Scholarship Application

Internship Preparation Tips

• Explore Interstride to search for international internships, cultural tips, and networking opportunities by country.
• Contact Career Services to have your résumé reviewed and to prepare for interviews.

   

Student Voices

"My internship with a marketing company was a great learning opportunity...I learned about and immersed myself in Chinese culture, enhanced my skills with computer programs, and broadened my knowledge about marketing and advertising. As an intern, I attended business meetings and networked with members from other companies. I was given tasks and projects that I enjoyed, learned and honed skills I will use in future jobs, and established relationships I will keep for a lifetime." -Kristina L., UCSB EAP China Freeman Intern

"In the future, I intend to work in international business and this internship [with Okayama Denim] has helped prime me for the rigors of that career. It exposed me to the Japanese work culture and allowed me to practice my new found language skills. Having the ability to operate in both Western and Asian work environments will be instrumental in determining my future success." -Lincoln L., UCSB EAP Japan Freeman Intern

Freeman Foundation

The Freeman Foundation was founded in memory of Mansfield Freeman, co-founder of the American International Group, Inc. (AIG) insurance company. Having resided in China for many years, the Freeman family is an advocate for increased awareness of East Asia and through the foundation, it generously supports programs that promote greater knowledge and understanding of that region of the world among Americans.