International Internships: Health & Safety Considerations

Establish credibility:

• How long has the organization been established?
• Did you find the employer through a reliable website like LinkedIn, Handshake, or other U-M internship portals?
• Did you conduct additional research to verify the credibility of both the employer and the position?
• Can the employers give you a well-defined idea of intern responsibilities?

Goals:

• Do the internship’s role and responsibilities meet your expectations and help you achieve your desired outcome?
• (See Search for Jobs or Internships).

Support:

• Will the work environment be reliable and safe?
• Will you be provided the tools and space needed to succeed?
• What kinds of pre-departure and onsite support can your employer offer you while you are interning?

Issues:

• Do you have a safe reporting structure for workplace disputes or issues?
• Who can you communicate with for concerns about your supervisor?

Mobile Phone Usage:

• How do you intend to manage your mobile communication while abroad (e.g., local SIM card and unlocked phone, eSIMs, international data/roaming options, or Wi-Fi only)?
• Will you be in a remote area without cellular service? If so, how will you communicate in an emergency situation?

On-site Contacts:

• Prepare a list of local emergency contacts before departing, including emergency services, employers, roommates, or local acquaintances.
• Verify contact availability after work hours in case of an emergency.

At Home / U-M Contact:

• Establish communication plans, including how frequently and through what form of communication, with your U-M contact, family, and friends for sharing updates and concerns.

Tip: Store these contacts on your phone, a secure online database, and keep a physical copy with you at all times.

Housing & Arrangements:

• Does the internship offer housing accommodations? If so, do the quality, safety standards, and location in relation to the internship site meet your standards? Will you have a roommate, and if so, how will you manage cultural and language differences, as well as any conflicts?

Self-arranged Housing:

• If the housing arrangement is self-arranged, does the employer have vetted suggestions for safe lodging? Will they provide recommendations from past interns for secure housing options? Can you conduct a housing search before arrival on reliable platforms, e.g., Airbnb, Booking.com, etc.?
• (See Safe Housing Checklist).

Secure Connections:

• Will you have access to reliable internet?
• Are you connecting to trusted Wi-Fi networks and avoiding public or unsecured ones?

Update and Encrypt:

• Are your devices updated with the latest security patches?
• Are you using encryption tools like VPNs for online protection?

Scam Awareness:

• Are you vigilant against phishing emails, suspicious links, and unfamiliar websites?
• Are you practicing caution while sharing personal information online?
• (See U-M Guide to Safe Computing).

Travel Logistics:

• What mode of transportation will you rely on to get to and from your internship site?
• If using public transportation, have you assessed its reliability and safety?
• What precautions will you take when using transportation?
• (See Plan for the Land and OSAC Country Security Report resources).

Driving a vehicle:

• For those considering driving a rented (or purchased) vehicle, what measures will you take to confirm your eligibility to drive in that location and to secure liability/vehicle insurance?
• What are the driving conditions in your area?

Healthcare Abroad:

• How will you manage your healthcare needs while abroad?
• Are any vaccinations required for your host destination?
• Are your medications permitted in your host country?
• (See Travel Health Preparation Guide; GeoBlue Travel Abroad Health Insurance Overview)

Mental Well-being:

• How will you maintain your mental well-being, cope with stress, and access support resources while abroad?
• What would you do in the case of a mental health concern?
• (See Resilient Traveling; U-M CAPS).

Budget:

• What are the estimated expenses for your internship experience, including airfare, housing accommodation, transportation, food, living costs, visa fees, and so forth?
• Do you have access to extra funds for unforeseen emergencies?
• (See U-M Budgeting for Travel and Financial Planning for Travel).

Travel Insurance:

• Have you explored purchasing travel insurance to account for trip cancelation or interruption, flight delays, lost baggage, etc.?

Money Security:

• How will you keep your money secure? How would you handle a lost wallet?
• (See: What to Do: Loss or Theft of Valuables While Abroad)

Research:

• What aspects of a destination’s culture, including intercultural communication, workplace norms, community values, etc., should you learn more about?
• (See Global Road Warrior).

Risks and Mitigations:

• What are the identity-based considerations, transportation risks, personal safety risks, environmental risks, political risks, etc., in your destination, and how will you mitigate them?
• (See OSAC Country Security Report, UK Foreign Travel Advice, and CDC Travelers’ Health).