Cultural Embrace offers you the opportunity to participate in day-to-day business activites and practice your Italian language skills through an internship. Experience real-life situations by working at an Italian company or organization while living and working in Italy. This program establishes co-operation between our partnered Italian language schools and the human resource manager of the selected firm to ensure the highest quality professional experience and to offer support and guidance for the student to monitor and maintain his/her progress.

The program is aimed at university students with the appropriate skills, graduate and post-graduate students, and professionals from all sectors. We offer a wide variety of work placements. The following list are examples of industries in which we have already made placements:  Tourism/Hospitality, Food and Catering, Graphic Arts, Non-Profit Associations, Import-Export Trade, Financial Services, Cinema and Entertainment, Law firm, Communication/Media, Consulting, Sports, Distribution, Publishing, Marketing, Business Associations, Computing/IT, Architecture, Engineer, Design & Photography, Fashion, Shipping, Arts & Crafts, Manufacturing, Opticians, Auxiliary Medical Services, Media and News Agencies, Promotion and Sales, Insurance, Transportation and Logistics, and Educational Centers and Universities.
 
The minimum time needed for this program is 8-12 weeks and it is possible to extend your stay for up to 5 months. There is a mandatory and included 4-week Italian language course before the work placement. The companies require that the applicant speaks an upper-intermediate level of Italian by the time the placement begins.

If your Italian is at the beginner-elementary level, Cultural Embrace strongly recommends extending your Italian instruction up to 12 weeks.  For those at an elementary-intermediate skill level, consider extending your Italian instruction up to 9 weeks in order to reach the appropriate level needed for the internship. The placement will begin directly after the language program is completed, or in some special cases in conjunction with your language courses. Most interns are NOT paid. However, a bonus could be negotiated at the discretion of the company.

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In order to participate in this internship program, Cultural Embracerequires that you:

**Can$, Aus$, Br£, Euros€ can be accepted with an additional service charge for currency conversion

1. Obtain the Intern Abroad Application Forms & Procedures documents in one of three ways:

(a) Download the forms:  Intern Application (pdf).  Intern in Italy Program Details and FAQ (pdf) 

(b) Fill out an online application request form and the forms will be e-mailed to you within 2-3 days.

(c) Call Cultural Embrace at 1-512-469-9089 or 1-888-214-8570 (US toll-free) to have the forms mailed to you in 7-10 days.

2. Read the instructions carefully and complete all forms.

3. Submit your completed application packet to:

CULTURAL EMBRACE
7201 Bill Hughes Road
Austin, TX  78745 USA

Completed packet should include:

• Intern Program Application
• Signed Work/Intern Agreement
• Copy of your passport (information page only)
• University/College transcript (official please)
• Copies of diploma or certificates related to field of interest (if applicable)
• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter in Italian describing the goals you wish to accomplish with your internship in Italy 
• Two References: preferably professional and/or character references
• Doctor’s Certificate verifying that you are in excellent mental and physical health
• Copy of Police Clearance (obtainable from your community's local police station) 
• Four 1½" x 2" official passport-size photos, signed on the back
• One smiling full-length photo of yourself
• US$200 non-refundable deposit (credited towards your program fee) 

Upon receipt of your application, a Cultural Embrace coordinator will contact you for a 20-30 minute phone interview. Once we accept you in to our program, you will receive an invoice for the remainder of your program fee. In order for us to contact our local partners to start your placement process, we require at least 50% of your program fee.

We recommend submitting your application and program fee at least 16-20 weeks prior to your desired start date in order for us to organize and arrange your internship. 

*Cultural Embrace requires an expedited application fee for those applying 16 weeks or less before the desired date of departure. Applications received 12-16 weeks prior to desired departure date will be charged $150. Applications received fewer than 12 weeks before the desired departure date will be charged $250.

For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@culturalembrace.com or you can call us at 1-512-469-9089 or 1-888-214-8570 (US toll-free).