Working abroad

By gaining global experience, you can enhance your prospects and develop your skills while experiencing new cultures and perspectives. National and international companies increasingly look for graduates who:

have a global outlook
are sensitive to different cultures
can work well within multicultural teams
demonstrate resilience, flexibility and adaptability

Types of international work

You can choose from several options, including:

a work placement — usually one year
an internship — placements range from a few weeks to several months
vacation work
teaching English overseas

You could also study abroad during your course or after you graduate.

Go to study abroad information

Go to further study

Working in Europe and Convention de Stage agreements

If you’re a current student planning to do a placement or short-term work experience abroad, you might need to complete a Convention de Stage or a similar agreement like a Convenio de Colaboracion. This is a common requirement in European countries.

The agreement involves the student, the University, and the host employer. You should inquire about this before applying and should not commit to a role until the agreement is signed by all parties.

Manchester Met will only sign our approved Convention de Stage document template. You must be a current student during the placement or work experience. Please contact the Placements Team at placements@mmu.ac.uk with details about the role and we will get back to you. We ask for at least three weeks’ notice before your start date to process the agreement.

If you’ve graduated from Manchester Met, the University cannot sign an agreement on your behalf.

If you’re a staff member, you’re entering into a legal agreement if you sign a document. You should first consult with the Placements Team at placements@mmu.ac.uk.

How to find an opportunity abroad

Get practical advice

These websites will help you understand issues such as job applications, visas, wages and accommodation:

Prospects: provides profiles of over 20 countries, with information on visas and local labour markets
TargetJobs: gives information for over 20 countries, including language requirements, job hunting tips, application methods and visa basics
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: covers a range of issues, including insurance, passports, visas, health precautions and advice on the political situation of around 200 countries — essential reading before you make any decisions
europa.eu: provides information on living, working and studying in the EU. Includes links to Europe Direct, a free phone and email service to answer your questions about the EU.
fitfortravel: this NHS service gives travel health information for countries around the world

Search for internships, jobs and exchanges

There are many sources of information about opportunities, including these websites:

AIESEC: offers international internships from six weeks to 18 months for students and recent graduates
Highered: opportunities with corporate organisations offering internship, placement, and graduate job opportunities around the world, as a partner organisation, certain data will be shared with the University if you sign up to this service, details of this arrangement are in the Resources area on Highered
International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience: provides science, engineering and applied arts undergraduates with paid relevant work experience abroad
Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE): helps students find work in the USA for a fixed period of time
Au Pair America: pairs host families with young people, so they can gain childcare experience, study and learn about American culture
BUNAC: work and travel experiences around the world, including working holidays and summer camps, and teaching and voluntary opportunities
CCUSA: summer camp jobs, plus work, internship and volunteer programmes in America, Canada and Croatia
Rate my placement: student reviews, job and event listings, and employer and industry profiles
Go Abroad: internship opportunities worldwide, plus teaching jobs, courses and volunteering programmes
Gradlink: international job opportunities, CV builder service, career advice by country, and sections for China, Southeast Asia, the Gulf, Europe, Canada, Africa and India
Indeed: advanced job searches, company reviews and country-specific sites to help you find worldwide opportunities
Prospects: job vacancies, work experience, and teaching opportunities
Overseasjobs.com: employment opportunities across the globe, career advice, resources for job seekers, and role profiles
Eurojobs.com: vacancies across Europe and a portal for uploading your CV

You can also view Manchester Met’s guide to European and global graduate training schemes.

Explore vacation and gap year work

Overseas projects are often based in the developing world, working with local communities on issues such as health, social care, education and conservation. Some organisations pay you, others charge a fee. Before you accept a position or make any payments, you should:

ensure you understand the costs
review the employer
seek advice from people who know more about the organisation
contact a previous participant where possible, to hear first-hand experiences
speak to the careers and employability service if you are unsure

To find opportunities and advice, visit these websites:

Prospects: detailed information on how to plan and make the most of a gap year
Gap Year Guide Book: tips, information and reference tools to help you plan your gap year
Year Out Group: programmes, destinations and organisations, advice for your trip and blogs
Season Workers: summer and winter opportunities in holiday parks, summer camps, ski resorts, childcare, hospitality, sports, schools and more
Camp America: opportunities to live and work at a US summer camp
BUNAC: work and travel experiences around the world, including working holidays and summer camps, and teaching and voluntary opportunities
CCUSA: summer camp jobs, plus work, internship and volunteer programmes in America, Canada and Croatia