Volunteer or work with third-party organisations

You can join a one month expedition as volunteer research assistant to gain field experience. 

Operation Wallacea is a network of academics from European and North American universities, who design and implement biodiversity and conservation management research programmes. 

“I went to Mexico with Operation Wallacea, to do 2 weeks in the terrestrial site (jungle) and 2 weeks in the marine site. The first 2 weeks in the jungle was something I had never experienced before, sleeping in tenets, no wifi, bucket showers. However they kept us very busy with helping the organisation carry out research on different parts of their project in the morning, afternoon and sometimes evening. We had lectures during the day where we learnt more about the biodiversity around where we were staying. On the first Friday we went to visit some local Mayan Ruins which were really cool! We shared tents with the other students that were staying there - 2 per tent. In our spare time I would play cards with other students and it was a great time to bond. In the last 2 weeks I moved to the marine site at the coast, which was amazing. We learnt and got qualified to dive in small groups, and in the second week helped assist with their research as we were now qualified. We collected coral and fish ID data and one day we even got to help clean a coral nursery - teamed up with a local coral restoration project. On our last weekend we got to visit a local mangrove which was so nice! Overall the whole trip I learned some really good skills, for myself and for future jobs if I want to enter into conservation, and got to see so many cool animals and biodiversity!”

- Sicely Francis, Operation Wallacea participant, summer 2025

Think Pacific is about real and meaningful connection and the chance to live, learn and experience life alongside local people, cultures and landscapes.

Join a team, immerse yourself in some of the most inspiring places on earth and return transformed, with stories you’ll carry for life.

“I completed a 4 week internship in Suva, Fiji with Think Pacific. During the programme, I worked with three different NGOs where our projects involved developing a website, completing research, and producing report templates. We were given a lot of independence to decide how we wanted to support each organisation, which was a great opportunity to build initiative and creativity. I lived with other university students from across the UK, which made the experience even more enjoyable as we shared meals and explored Fiji together. Every Saturday we took part in organised activities such as visiting waterfalls, village immersion days, and island hopping, which allowed us to experience Fijian culture. Sundays were a rest day, which gave time to relax and do what we want before the week started again.”

- Sajda Idris, Think Pacific participant, summer 2025

Through International Volunteer HQ, you can choose from a variety of volunteer projects related to these initiatives: 

• Increase access to education
• Improve health and wellbeing
• Protect animals and the Environment
• Support community development.

“I went to Nepal with International Volunteer HQ to undergo an NGO Volunteering role for a month in Kathmandu. I went with a friend and stayed in a home stay accompanied by other people across the world I soon became friends with. The family was super welcoming and super useful into allowing us to understand the cultures nuances and beauty. The internship was useful as it directly applied to my Politics & IR based course, giving insight into how development, governments and communities work in a whole new scenario”.

- Aidan Ginty, International Volunteer HQ participant, summer 2025

Do you want to see the world? Gain international work experience? And become a qualified TEFL teacher? You can work and teach abroad through Gotoco.

“I volunteered for seven weeks in Vietnam, where I observed and taught classroom and online English lessons for students aged 3-18, as well as supporting kindergarten and school events. Living in the school’s residential building and sharing daily life with the students gave me a unique perspective on the educational culture in Vietnam. I enjoyed building relationships with the students, developing engaging lessons, and embracing local traditions such as regularly eating traditional Vietnamese food. This experience strengthened my adaptability, cultural awareness, and confidence in working with young people. On the weekends, I was able to travel around the country and experience so much more.”

- Piya Raja, Gotoco participant, summer 2025

Intern Abroad HQ offers summer internships in 20+ international destinations. Your Programme Manager at Intern Abroad HQ will match you with a host company based on your past work experience and future career goals. 

“I went to Rabat, Morocco to do an internship with the women's rights NGO 'Jossour Forum des Femmes Marocaines' as part of the Intern Abroad HQ Human Rights and NGO Support internship programme. From Monday to Friday, we went to the office and worked on various tasks such as creating project proposals, presentations, applying for grants, and translating documents. I lived in a traditional Moroccan riad, sharing a room with two other interns/volunteers. This was a unique experience as I was constantly surrounded by other people and, therefore, felt a strong sense of community. The internship was insightful as it made me aware of the day-to-day activities of an NGO, as well as some of the specific issues Morocco faces regarding gender equality and women's rights. It also challenged me to think creatively regarding possible solutions to these issues. After work, we would explore the city of Rabat, often finding ourselves shopping in the souks or spending time by the beach. On weekends, we would travel to a different city in Morocco in order to make the most of our time abroad. These weekend trips were the highlight of my experience, as I really saw the beauty of Morocco, and realised that travelling is not as daunting as I previously thought.”

- Adon Tomas, Intern Abroad HQ participant, summer 2025

From coaching sports to teaching arts, get paid to do what you love working at summer camp in America. Earn money, explore America, make a difference through Summer Camp, USA.

“I went to the US to work at a summer camp - Camp Kinder Ring in upstate New York. Here I worked as a specialist at the adventure centre, ensuring and overseeing the safe climbing of kids up and down the adventure course. I also was a counsellor for a groups of girls aged 14-15. This role was super exciting. The hours are quite long though, you are up from 8am to about 10:30pm and if the kids need you during the night, then you are up as well. We got one day off a week and sometimes they allowed you to leave the evening before. It was extremely tiring but an incredible experience overall. My camp employed people from over 21 countries, allowing me the chance to get to know a very wide variety of people which was an incredible opportunity. Overall I would highly recommend this experience, it allows you to learn a lot about yourself.”

- Samantha Nothnagel, BUNAC participant, summer 2025