Completing Social Work Internships Abroad
The practicum placement is an important component of any Master of Social Work program. However, given the diversity of the social work profession, it can be difficult to choose exactly what practicum is right for you. I know that when I was choosing where to complete both my BSW and MSW practicums, I found there was a lot of pressure to choose the perfect placement. After all, I only had two practicums to really explore the field prior to graduation, and that felt like a lot of pressure! Both of my practicums ended up taking me in unexpected directions, and I feel so grateful that they did. Most recently, I completed my MSW practicum in Northern Uganda, where I had the incredible opportunity to learn from a local Community-Based-Organization. Today, I am here to chat with you a little bit about International Social Work Placements and how I ended up with the opportunity to go to Uganda. So, let’s get started!
What is an International Internship?
An international social work practicum is a field placement completed outside your home country, typically through a partnership between your university and an abroad organization. If there aren’t many international partnerships at your university, students can also explore external international organizations.
These placements are typically available to MSW students, but there may be some available to BSW students as well. I know when I was in my BSW degree, I really wanted to complete my social work internship abroad, but the consensus among the professors I spoke with was that I should wait until my MSW to complete an international practicum. After exploring options for some time, I ended up taking their advice and am so glad I did! For my MSW internship abroad, I learned from a small, local organization but there are various organizations that you could work with in your own internship like:
NGOs
Schools
Government Agencies
Grassroots organizations
In fields like:
International development
Disaster relief and recovery
Refugee and migrant support
Gender-based violence prevention
Community mental health and trauma work
Post-conflict settings
How to Find International Social Work Internships
Here, I will share a little bit about my own experience in finding an international social work internship. I knew when I entered my MSW that I wanted to find an internship in a unique setting, that I may not have the opportunity to explore otherwise. For this reason, I felt selective when I was choosing possible internships. During this phase, I was working closely with my field education coordinator, and I had multiple interviews for internships, but they just didn’t feel right! It was really important to me in this phase of my education to not settle and so – I continued to search!
Finally, a professor that I had during my fall semester, who had a longstanding relationship with the organization I would eventually complete my practicum with, reached out to me asking if I might be interested in an international social work placement. After multiple zoom meetings and discussion about logistics – I said yes to this incredible opportunity.
But that wasn’t the final step…
We then had to work with the field education office to coordinate this international placement. I also had to explore different funding opportunities that could support me during my time abroad. This process took a lot of work and organization, and I had a lot of luck and privilege in even having the chance to complete my internship abroad, which I am so grateful for. Additionally, it also took a lot of advocacy, from many people, to make this experience possible and there were many times when it would have been easier to go with a different option. However, at the end of the day, the internship portion of your education plays an incredible role in your learning and so I believe it is worth the extra effort to match yourself with an opportunity you’re truly inspired by.
I say this to encourage that if you are interested in an international social work placement, try not to be too discouraged by the first or second “no” that you hear. Even if your school or professors do not have partnerships with abroad organizations, you can reach out to other external organizations to explore if they offer student opportunities. Below I have listed a few different organizations you might explore if you are looking for an international social work internship.
Organizations to Explore:
Government Organizations/Departments
Local Community Organizations
Related: Find Social Work Internships
Benefits and Challenges of International Social Work Internships
Of course, as with any experience, there are benefits and challenges to going abroad to complete your social work internship, so let’s review a few important things to consider when making this decision!
Benefits of Completing Social Work Internships Abroad:
Learn to decenter your own framework
Confront implicit biases you didn’t know you had
Adapt your communication styles to be respectful and effective across cultures
Work within different norms of time, professionalism, and power dynamics
Learn to practice with cultural humility, recognizing that you are a guest in another community
Personal growth through adapting to a new environment (resilience, increased self-awareness)
Challenges of International Practicums:
*The risk of “Saviourism” or “Voluntourism”
Navigating Power and Privilege
Communication Barriers (that may have high stakes)
* “Saviourism” or “Voluntourism” are extremely important to be aware of when considering an international social work internship. If you are choosing an international placement, I encourage you learn about these topics to ensure you are choosing an organization/setting that aligns with your values.
Some things to look for, and consider in yourself, when looking for an international internship:
Collaborative, not extractive
Rooted in humility, not saviorism
Guided by ethics, not just passion
Mutually beneficial, not one-sided
Final Thoughts
International social work practicums can be deeply enriching opportunities, and this was absolutely the case for me. These experiences can allow you to deepen your learning on multiple levels, if approached with humility, collaboration, and openness.
International social work internships take more work to organize, but don’t let this added work steer you away. If you are interested in this field, there is a reason for it! Try to start the process early, advocate for yourself, and reach out to your network and the wider community. If this path is for you – I wish you the best of luck with your journey!
Related: MSW Student Resources
