Volunteer Internship Program in the Chicago area

CCI's Volunteer Internship Program offers international university students, ages 18 to 28, the opportunity to spend 4 to 16 weeks of their summer vacation working in professional internships in the greater Chicago area.

If you are an employer wishing to host an intern, please click here.

Participants are introduced to the American business culture by interning inwi their choice of one of the following fields:

• General Business
• Marketing
• Accounting/Finance
• Information Technology

Positions and responsibilities will vary according to the education and work experience of the applicant, but participants can expect to work 35-40 hours per week on a volunteer basis in their field of interest.

Internship participants enhance not only professional but also social English language skills by living with host families in the Chicago area.

Full Program Includes:

• Placement in a volunteer internship in the Chicago area for 4 to 16 weeks (see professional fields listed above)
• Orientation, support and supervision by a CCI Local Coordinator
• DS-2019 form to assist in obtaining J1 Work & Travel visa
• Medical and accident insurance

Full Program Does Not Include:

• Accomodation*
• Transportation to and from internship
• International airfare
• Meals
• Personal expenses

* Participants must make housing arrangements prior to their arrival. CCI can assist in securing housing in a dormitory or hostel.

Self-placed Program Option

A self-placed option is also available for students who choose to identify and secure their own internship placement and housing. Please contact CCI for more information.

General Program Requirements
In order to be accepted to the CCI Volunteer Internship Program, applicants must be:

• 18-28 years old
• Currently enrolled as a full-time student in, and have completed at least one semester of, a program of post-secondary study in their home country where they are legal, permanent residents. Applicants must be of active student status at the time they enroll for the program in order to be considered eligible
• Able to prove a high intermediate level of English (SLEP=50; TOEFL=500; MI=70)
• Genuinely interested in the culture of the United States
• Able to arrive and complete their internship in the United States during their summer vacation from school

Note: Applicants who have participated in more than one other Work/Travel program in the United States cannot be accepted to the program.

Application Deadline
Applications are due at the CCI Chicago office 4 months prior to requested program start date.

To Apply

Contact CCI so that we can send you the contact information of our partner in your country.