Internship Program

Tapping into the massive potential of China’s growing economic market is a top priority for many of our students. While studying abroad and learning Mandarin is an important first step, our most ambitious students are looking to make headway into a career. Moreover, many organizations based in China are searching for the next wave of bright recruits. To that end, China Study Abroad offers our internship placement program, which acts as a bridge between these two parties.

Why Intern in China?

An internship in China is a great way to add color to your CV, gain invaluable international experience and to practice your Chinese in a professional environment.

China is well on its way to becoming the world’s next economic superpower and some predict it will replace the United States as the world’s largest economy as soon as 2030. In today’s globalized economy, familiarity with Chinese culture and language is more important than ever. Constructive work experience on the ground in China is likely to be an invaluable asset to your future career.

There are a variety of reasons which motivate people to undertake an internship program in China, but in our experience, participants usually fall into one of two categories: those who wish to practice their Chinese in a professional Chinese speaking environment and to experience business culture of local Chinese enterprises; and those who wish to build their CV by working with multinational corporations with offices in China.

At CSA we cater to both – we work with local Chinese companies AND their International counterparts in order to provide you with an internship experience ideally suited to your needs!

Internship Starting Dates

Internships are available year-round in a variety of locations and industries. Please consult our Dates and Fees page for the start dates of our internship programs and the cities in which we offer them.

Internships are available as a full-time option under our “Intern Only” program, part-time as part of our “Study and Intern” program while studying, or fulltime as an add-on at the end of a Study program as part of our “Study and Intern” programs.

Duration of Internships

We offer internships lasting between one month and six months depending on how much time you can afford to dedicate. As a general rule, the longer the internship, the more meaningful the experience. Simply put, you will get more out of it the more time you put in. That being said, short-term internships are available for students who wish to add some color their CV while also getting insight into working life and culture in China.

Roles and Responsibilities

There is no model internship. In the vast majority of cases it is up to the participant as to how much you can get out of an internship experience. Depending on your level of Chinese, employers may request an intern to fill a range of roles and responsibilities including market research and analysis, sales, marketing, and translation. Our interns have been involved in everything from working at hotel front desks, to helping negotiate media deals with Hollywood.

What Can I Expect to Get Out of My Internship?

Every intern is unique and looking for different things from an internship program. However, the most successful interns always share a willingness to put the most into their experience. This includes being flexible with the workload offered, and being willing to go the “extra-mile” whenever possible. At the very least, an internship placement in China will offer you the chance to add depth and color to your CV with solid hands-on “China experience”. Some past interns have also gone on to forge successful long-term careers within the companies in which they began as interns. Working in China in a Chinese office with local colleagues can also act as an invaluable tool in your mastery of the Chinese language in a professional environment.

Industry Sectors

CSA’s large network within major Chinese cities allows us to place our students in various diverse and exciting positions. For those interested in business, we have placed interns in multinational as well as Chinese companies specializing in software, sales, venture capital, marketing, and more. Dependent upon the student’s level of qualification and experience, occasionally companies offer paid employment. Even unpaid, interns gain invaluable experience working abroad that stands out on any CV.

For those looking to work in the non-profit sector, CSA connects students with numerous internship positions within Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) involved with a broad array of charitable causes such as human rights, environmentalism, public health, non-profit law, and discrimination. These internships are rarely paid, but offer an essential services to the public and first-hand experience in helping to build China's burgeoning civil society. These placements provide interns with a fundamental understanding of Chinese society as well as the costs and benefits of rapid modernization.

In order to cater to your needs, CSA works with a wide range of companies from bulge bracket blue chip companies both foreign and domestic to boutique firms based around China.

We offer internships in a variety of industries including:

Roles that interns might be expected to fulfill within these industries include:

While we work with a large network of companies to ensure the widest possible offering of quality internship placements, because every applicant and employer has different requirements, we cannot guarantee a particular position or industry to all applicants. Nevertheless, our dedicated team will work with you to find a placement according to your needs that will result in a meaningful internship experience.

How to Make the Most of Your Internship Experience

Set Personal Goals

While some internships are very structured, others are not, so you need to spend some time before you start the internship setting goals that you want to accomplish. Maybe it's deciding on what area within your industry in which you want to specialize, or learning new skills, or building your network. Whatever your goals, you will feel a greater sense of accomplishment once you achieve them. Hint: Setting unrealistic goals could make even a good internship seem bad, so make sure your goals are realistic and attainable in your internship.

Have Regular Meetings with your Supervisor(s)

Sound obvious? Well, maybe, but you may get a supervisor who never schedules meetings with you or travels quite a bit, so you have to make sure to have regular meetings where you can share experiences and lessons learned -- both good and bad -- as well as give progress reports. Hint: While you want to keep your supervisor abreast of your accomplishments, remember to also be a good listener and learn as much as you can during these meetings.

Tackle all Tasks with Enthusiasm and a Positive Attitude

In just about every company, the new hire/intern is going to have to "pay his or her dues." You will undoubtedly be given some grunt work to do, such as proof reading, but the key is to complete all your work assignments with the same level of enthusiasm and professionalism. Hint: You might also consider working extra hours (beyond the required number for the internship) to show your work ethic to your supervisor(s).

Avoid Negativity

The quickest way to kill a good internship is being negative. So, avoid complaining, being rude, disrespecting coworkers, arriving late, leaving early, being closed-minded, missing deadlines, appearing arrogant, wearing improper attire, acting unprofessionally, appearing inflexible, and taking part in office politics. Hint: A common mistake among interns and new hires is treating secretaries and clerks as being beneath them - avoid this behavior at all costs.

Never Shun a Chance to Learn More About the Company/Industry

Take every opportunity presented to you to attend company or industry meetings, conferences, and events; and read all company materials. Hint: Meetings may appear (and actually be) boring to you, but they can often offer a good chance to increase your knowledge, network, and build relationships.

Get as Much Exposure as Possible

Though you may be assigned to one department don't let that stop you from tackling new tasks, meeting people outside your department, and attending company social events. The more you are exposed to new ideas and new people, the more you'll learn. Hint: Trying to get involved with out of work activities (table tennis/badminton/Karaoke) is a great opportunity to meet new people in a relaxed and informal environment.

Don't be Afraid to Ask Questions

Always remember that an internship is a learning experience for you. While the employer expects to get a certain level of work from you, you are not expected to know everything. Seek advice and raise questions whenever you encounter something that is not familiar to you. Be open-minded about new ideas and procedures - remember that you don't know everything and that your professors didn't teach you everything. Hint: Smart people know that there really is no such thing as a dumb question, so ask before doing.

Take Initiative

Employers love employees who dive into tackling tough problems and who think "outside the box" in finding solutions. Just make sure you work with your supervisor(s) so you don't overstep your authority - and make sure you share successes with her. Hint: There is a fine line between taking initiative and being perceived as a "know-it-all," and for interns especially, it is best to err on the side of caution.

Find a Mentor

A mentor is someone at a higher level in the organization that looks out for you and makes sure you are learning what you need to know and accomplishing what you need to do. A mentor can also shield you from office politics and be a good sounding board for you to discuss ideas, ask questions, etc. Hint: Your supervisor could be your mentor, but it could also be another person within the organization.

Network, Network, Network

One of the key tools of job-hunting is utilizing your network to find your next career step, whether another internship or a job upon graduation (and beyond). Build professional relationships with your supervisor(s) and other managers in the organization. These people are also a good source for getting other job-hunting advice and tips from their years of experience. Hint: Even if you have a bad experience on an internship, never burn your bridges because you never know when it could come back and hurt you. Always leave on good terms.

Leave with Tangible Accomplishments

One of your goals with any internship is leaving it with some tangible results - both for your resume and your career portfolio (if you use one). Maybe you developed a brochure, computerized an inventory system, organized a sales conference, met with clients, tracked industry trends, etc. Hint: Keeping a journal may help you remember all the things you accomplished on your internship.

Enjoy Yourself

Most internships are great experiences, so make sure you have some fun while you're working and learning. Don't be so uptight that you are perceived as something you're not. Hint: Just make sure you don't overdo the fun - and avoid office romances.

Coming Soon...

We are putting the finishing touches on our "new and improved" internship program to make sure you will have the best possible experience during your internship in China.

Please check back in early 2012 when we will be launching our exciting new internship programs, or alternatively contact us on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to register your interest in our internship programs and to be informed once our programs go live.