International Research Experiences: Eligibility, Funding and Planning

International research experiences put you in a research group in another country, usually for a summer or a semester. You work on a real project, often in a lab culture quite different from your own, and you return with research experience, new contacts and a clearer sense of how science works elsewhere.

They take more planning than research at home. Eligibility, funding, travel documents and language all need attention, and the rules differ from program to program. This guide is written mainly for students at US institutions, and it labels every international program by its location and eligibility.

Location and eligibility are different questions

This is the most common source of confusion. A program’s location tells you where you’d live and work. Its eligibility tells you who may apply, which might depend on your nationality, on where you’re enrolled, or on both.

How location and eligibility can differ

How location and eligibility can differ

Program (example)	Where it takes place	Who may apply, in summary	What it shows
RISE Germany (DAAD)	Germany	Undergraduates enrolled at universities in North America, Britain or Ireland, in listed science and engineering fields	Eligibility here depends on where you study, not your passport
Mitacs Globalink Research Internship	Canada	Undergraduates from listed partner countries and regions, with further criteria	Eligibility depends on a partner-country list; check yours
Chevening Fellowships	United Kingdom	Citizens of eligible countries who meet each fellowship's criteria	Eligibility depends on nationality
NSF REU sites (for contrast)	United States	US citizens, nationals and permanent residents for NSF-funded positions	A US location does not make a program open to international students

For details, see our guides to Chevening Fellowships and Research Experiences for Undergraduates.

Kinds of international research experience

• Structured research internship programs, such as RISE Germany, which according to DAAD offers undergraduates “the opportunity to complete a summer research internship at top German universities and research institutions.”
• Exchanges and partnerships between your institution and universities abroad, often arranged through your study abroad office.
• Placements through your own mentor’s collaborators, where a faculty member connects you with a partner lab.
• Fieldwork abroad, covered in field research experiences.
• Funded fellowships for graduate students and professionals, discussed in our pillar on scholarships and fellowships.

Funding and costs

Funding varies more internationally than at home. Some programs pay a stipend: DAAD says RISE Germany provides “a monthly stipend for three months to help cover living expenses.” Others cover travel or housing. Some provide placement only, leaving you to find funding.

Before you apply, list every cost: flights, visa fees, insurance, housing, local transport, food and any equipment. Then list what the program covers. The STEM internship comparison worksheet, which works for research placements too, helps you set these side by side, and our pillar on undergraduate research opportunities covers other sources of support.

Support from the host

Ask each program what it provides beyond the research itself. Useful questions include:

• Will someone help with housing, or am I on my own?
• Will the host provide letters or documents I may need for a visa?
• Is there an orientation, a cohort of other visiting students, or a named contact for problems?
• Who is my day-to-day supervisor, and how often will we meet?

Language

Many research groups work in English, but not all, and daily life outside the lab may happen in another language. Check what the program says. RISE Germany, for example, states that “German language is not required and the working language will be in English.” Even when English is the working language, learning some of the local language makes everyday life easier and is appreciated by colleagues.

Visas, entry and travel documents

Entry requirements depend on your nationality, the host country and the kind of activity, and they change. This guide doesn’t summarize them. Use official sources instead:

• The host country’s official government or consular website, for visa and entry rules.
• Your host institution, which often knows exactly what visiting researchers need.
• The U.S. Department of State’s international travel pages, for US citizens: travel advisories and country information.
• Your college’s study abroad or international office, which can help with institutional requirements and credit.

If you aren’t a US citizen, also check how time abroad could affect your status in the US. Your international student office is the right first contact. This is general information, not immigration advice.

Health, safety and insurance

• Health. The CDC’s Travelers’ Health pages provide destination-specific information and encourage seeing a healthcare provider before you travel.
• Safety. Read the State Department’s travel advisory for your destination. US citizens can enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive updates.
• Insurance. Check whether your health insurance covers you abroad, and whether the program or your college requires additional coverage.

If your placement involves fieldwork, the field research preparation checklist covers questions to ask the host and preparation to track.

Preparing your application

International programs usually ask for the same core materials as other research programs: a statement, a résumé or CV, transcripts and recommendation letters. Some add language certificates or a specific project choice. The research application planner keeps track of each program’s requirements.

An invented teaching example: a chemistry student interested in a summer abroad notices that one program asks applicants to rank three projects from a published list. Instead of picking the most famous labs, they read each project description, choose three that build on their coursework, and explain in one sentence per project why it fits. That shows reviewers they read carefully and know what they would contribute.

Planning timeline

1. A year or more ahead, research programs and talk to your study abroad office about credit and funding.
2. Before applying, confirm eligibility and check that your passport will remain valid for the whole trip.
3. After acceptance, start any visa process using official guidance, arrange insurance and complete health preparation.
4. Before departure, confirm housing, share your itinerary with someone at home and enroll in any travel registration programs available to you.

Common questions

Do I need to speak the local language?

Not always. Check the program’s stated working language, and expect daily life to be easier if you learn some basics.

Will it count toward my degree?

Possibly. Ask your study abroad office and academic adviser before you go, not after.

I’m an international student in the US. Can I still go?

Often, but check each program’s eligibility carefully, and talk to your international student office about how travel could affect your status before you commit.

A practical next step

Choose one international program that interests you. On its official page, find three things: who is eligible, what it pays for, and the working language. Then email your study abroad office to ask how it would fit with your degree.