Office of Global Business

Fisher Global Internships: Virtual

Global Experience

Fisher Global Internship participants network with diverse global professionals and learn relevant international business etiquette that enhances their ability to work with companies around the world. Interns join a community of Ohio State alumni who have interned with organizations across the globe, learned about major studies in a foreign context, and explored business practices outside of the US. 

Flexible Work Schedule

Virtual internships provide students with the flexibility to create their own schedule, allowing them to take courses or stay involved with student organizations while gaining professional work experience. Interns spend 15-20 hours per week working on meaningful projects and are measured by their impact to the organization rather than their time in the office. 

Affordable & Accessible 

Virtual internships allow students to outsource the internship-hunting process, secure a tailored internship, and expand their network of peers and business professionals. Virtual internships are a fraction of the cost of a traditional in-country internship, and this opportunity is available to all qualified Ohio State students. Additional grant and scholarship funding is also available for participants through the Funding Your Global Experience webpage.

• GPA of 2.75 or greater
• English language proficiency (TOEFL Score of 90 or above preferred for international students)
• Good Standing with Office of Student Conduct
• Enrolled as an OSU student throughout duration of program
• Meet OIA's General Eligibility Requirements
• Meet OIA's Conditions for Participation

International Students

F-1 and J-1 Students are not eligible for the spring semester opportunity as they are required to complete 9-months of full-time academic study before being eligible to work off-campus (the OSU Office of International Affairs considers these virtual internships off-campus positions given the global nature of the work).  Students are, however, able to apply for the summer global virtual internship opportunities.

To maintain visa compliance, international students must enroll in a 0.5 credit-hour course during the internship period. The course is offered through the Office of Career Management and ensures participants maintain their student status for their visa. Tuition fees will be an additional expense outside of the program fee, and students are encouraged to discuss this with their academic advisor ahead of applying to the program. This is particularly important for students completing a summer internship. 

International students will require CPT under the below scenarios, which also requires taking a 0.5 credit-hour course during the summer to maintain student status (if interning during the summer). Additional tuition fees would apply for students requiring the summer course, and more information can be provided by the Office of Career Management. 

Step 1: Learn More

• Read more about the program on the OIA Brochure.
• Submit a Student Interest Form to ensure your questions are answered, and our office can update you on important deadlines.
• Attend an Information Session to learn more about the program and hear from past participants.

Step 2: Submit Your Application

• Summer Virtual Internships 
  • Application: Apply for a virtual Summer internship
    • As part of the application process, applicants will need to submit the following items:
      • Resume
      • Video Recording. Record and upload a video of yourself (3-minute limit) that answers the below questions:
        • Why are you interested in a global internship?
        •  What relevant courses, work experiences, or personal experiences do you have that will help you succeed in a global work environment?
        • What type of company, industry, or scope of internship do you hope to obtain based on your skillsets and qualifications?
  • Upload the video to buckeyemailosu-my.sharepoint.com, and paste the shareable link in the field below. Instructions on how to obtain a shareable link. Confirm that “People with the Link” is selected when you enable the shareable link. If “People with the Link” is not selected, our office will be unable to view your video submission.
• • Initial Placement Deadline (IPD): Wednesday, October 4, 2024, at 11:59 pm Final Deadline: Monday, January 15, 2024, at 11:59 pm
    • • Applications will begin to be processed after the IPD deadline. Applications received before the IPD will receive priority placement for locations with a maximum number of participants. 
    • This process is a rolling process. The internship placement process will begin as soon as applicants are accepted, and deposits are paid.  Applicants who apply late can expect a delayed internship placement compared to students who apply early. 
• Autumn Virtual Internships
  • Application: Apply for a virtual Autumn internship. Note: A $50 administration fee will be due upon application submission. 
  • Final Deadline: Monday, January 15, 2024, at 11:59 pm

Step 3: Prepare for a Virtual Internship!

• Funding: Apply for one of the many scholarships/grant opportunities compiled on the Office of Global Business web page.
• Course Availability: Students admitted into the program are required to take a mandatory one credit pre-departure course (BUSADM 4189), which you will be enrolled in by the Office of Global Business prior to the virtual internship. Failing to successfully complete this class will disqualify you from participating in the Fisher Global Internship program. If adding this course pushes you over 18 credit-hours, be sure to check with your academic advisor for next-steps.
• International Students: CPT paperwork is typically required for all international students (see FAQ section below) to complete a global internship. For summer global internships, international students are also required to enroll in the 0.5 credit-hour BA 2191.02 course to maintain student eligibility. Enrollment in this summer course will also require payment of any tuition fees.

Step 4: Pay Your Program Fees

• Deposit ($150 non-refundable):
  • Due prior to beginning internship placement process
  • Due 2 weeks after acceptance email is received
• Program Fee Due: Friday, February 24, 2023
  • Program Fee + Deposit = Total Amount Due ($995)

Step 5: Go Through The Internship Placement Process

Each student will go through the following steps to be placed into an internship. Understand that the information provided in the program application will be shared with companies who make the final decision whether or not to host a particular student.

1. Receive Acceptance into Program
2. Pay Program Deposit ($150 non-refundable)
   • Deposit payment is due within 2 weeks of acceptance into the program
3. Initial Placement Interview
   • Conducted virtually after acceptance into the program and the program deposit is paid. The interview will be with the in-country partner providing the internship matching and support service. The purpose of the interview is to learn about student skillsets, qualifications, and internship preferences to help refine the matching process. Students can expect to answer questions regarding relevant work experience or coursework they have that would bring value to companies; things typically listed on a resume. The internship preference questions relate to company size (small company where an intern can work closely with senior leadership or large company where intern is embedded in a specialized department), field of study (finance, logistics, marketing, etc.), industry (healthcare, consulting, banking, fashion/retail, etc.) and the type of project work (global market entry research, software systems experience, forecast modelling, marketing strategy development and implementation, etc.).
   • Students are expected to research their selected location and internship preferences before their interview. 
     • The in-country partner works with the Office of Global Business to facilitate the internship placements, in-country logistics, and provide the in-country experience.
       • The placement team carefully matches students' skillsets with internship position descriptions. They share the students' resumes with various companies that match the students' requested profile and the company then decides who it will hire.
4. Resume sent to multiple companies
   • Student profiles, developed during the Initial Placement Interview, will be sent to companies that match student interests. For example, a student interested in a marketing internship within the healthcare industry will never be placed in an accounting internship in the banking industry. 
   • All internship preferences are considered in the internship matching process, but all placements are subject to internship availability and intern qualifications. For example, a student interested in Ireland looking for a marketing internship with a specific globally-branded shoe and clothing manufacturer would not get a placement if no such internship existed. However, that student could expect a marketing-focused placement in another industry or the broader fashion-retail industry. Students looking for a more senior internship role will also need to meet the minimum eligibility requirements set by individual companies. For example, a first-year finance student with no work experience or relevant coursework would not be eligible for an investment banking internship. However, this same student could certainly qualify for an entry-level finance position in a number of industries 
5. Remaining Program Fee Payment ($845)
6. After the Initial Placement Interview, students will be asked to conduct a company interview. The in-country partner will schedule an interview between the host company and student, and is usually a formality which allows the student to walk-through their resume and the company to share project details. If both the company and student approve the placement, the internship will be confirmed for upcoming semester and students will be required to complete the BUSADM 4189 course prior to the internship start date. 
7. All internship placements will be communicated no later than 2 weeks prior to the internship start date, though a majority of internship placements are communicated 1-2 months in advance. The placement process and timeline varies by student and is dependent on when the student's application was submitted, what location the student is applying to, and the individual host companies' timeline.