Study, Work, or Volunteer Abroad

[Study] [Work] [Volunteer]

Study Abroad
Studying abroad is one cost efficient way to see Europe for an extended period of time and continue with your education.  Some high schools and most universities offer study abroad student exchange programs.  Colleges encourage students to study aboard. Studying aboard has shown to have positive influences in the career path, world-view, and self-confidence of students. If you are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity, check to see if your school offers any kind of study abroad program.

Semester at Sea A Voyage of Discovery

International Student Cards
Many study abroad programs require students to have International Student Cards. In addition to proving your student status, they also offer tons of great discounts all around the world.

ISIC Student, Youth, or Teacher Identity Card If you are a full-time student or teacher, or if you are under 26, there are many discounts and special arrangements available to you at home and when you travel. Recognized in over 100 countries, an international identity card can prove you belong to one of these special groups anywhere you go.

ISE Student, Youth, or Teacher Identity Card Worldwide network of discounts currently includes Europe, USA, Korea, Singapore, Egypt, and Australia. This card allows you to obtain discounts ranging from 10% to 50% on entrance fees to tourist attractions. You'll also qualify for the special student rates and discounts offered by hostels, hotels, restaurants, shops, language, schools, theaters, concerts, operas, cinemas, recreational facilities, vehicle rentals, bus routes, boat routes, railroads, and selected European airlines.

Airfare Discounts for Students
If you are a high school or college student you are entitled to many travel discounts.  With these discounts, you can get a roundtrip ticket to Europe for as low as $350 (depending on the origin of your initial flight--east coast fares are cheaper than west coast fares).  To find out what reductions you are eligible for try  STA Travel, Council Travel, or Travel Cuts.

Work Abroad
Working abroad may seem a bit daunting at first, but there are many programs designed to help you find a job in Europe.  

• If your country is a member of the European Union, no visa is required to work in another European Union country.

• Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders, South Africans and any other country that is part of the U.K. Common Wealth are all eligible for Youth Mobility visas in the U.K. (click here for full list of eligible countries). So if you are lucky enough to be a native of one of those countries, finding a (legal) job shouldn't be too difficult. Go to https://www.gov.uk/visas-immigration for more information.

• Americans can obtain visas to work in the United Kingdom through BUNAC (you must be a student to participate in their program). 

If you are not from any of the countries listed above, a student, or don't wish to pay for a visa, don't despair there are  "under the table" jobs to be found in Europe.  These jobs, while not legal, will provide you with enough money to continue your budget conscious travel.

Where to look for an "under the table job":

• hostels, hotels, bed and breakfasts

• restaurants, pubs, bars, night clubs

• any other company associated with the tourism industry

Warning: Working illegally makes you subject to deportation. I do not advise doing it.

Work Abroad Links
Anywork Anywhere jobs and resources for work and travel throughout  the UK and worldwide.

Au-Pair-Box Be an Au Pair overseas.

BUNAC It's easy enough to visit most of the globe as a tourist but, and it's a big but, it's not always easy to work and spend extended time abroad so that you get to know another country in a way a tourist never does.  BUNAC programs make it possible for young people, all over the world, to do just that.

Gap Work is the UK's leading source of information on gap years, jobs abroad and overseas voluntary work. If you're a student, traveller or gap year backpacker we'll have the working holiday abroad for you.

InterExchange International Exchange Program specializing in Au Pair and childcare service, Work Abroad, Internships, and summer camp programs.

Live-in Jobs for Backpackers in the UK! A backpacker about to travel to the UK on a working holiday? There is a very easy and free way to organize a live-in job waiting, bar, house, reception and chefing - all over Scotland, England and Wales.

PayAway Information, tips, advice, links and jobs for a successful working holiday, gap year or job abroad. Receive our regular free jobs abroad bulletin for work abroad in the tourism, childcare, tefl, fruit picking, summer camp and voluntary industries.

Volunteering Abroad
Many organizations have programs seeking people who would like to volunteer abroad in Eastern Europe and in countries all over the world.   Activities volunteers perform vary depending upon which organization you join.

Cross-Cultural Solutions is a non-profit organization that allows volunteers to make a meaningful contribution to the community by working side-by-side with local people, while gaining a new perspective and insight into the culture and themselves. The volunteer work is with carefully selected Partner Programs, all of which are dynamic and inspiring community-led initiatives. CCS offers international volunteer programs in Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Peru, Russia, Tanzania, Thailand.

OxFam International Oxfam International is a group of independent non-governmental organizations from three continents which share a common purpose - to work together to make a real impact on poverty and injustice world-wide

Kibutz Volunteer Offers tips, hints and information on being a kibbutz volunteer, what Israel is like and what you can get up to over there, in the land of milk, honey and LOTS of beer!

PeaceCorps Peace Corps Volunteers travel overseas and make real differences in the lives of real people. Find out how to apply, explore the world, read volunteer stories, access global education resources, and have fun at Kids World.  Available for U.S. citizens only.

Project Trust Spend twelve months working in counties outside Europe, with Project Trust. A gap year organization that sends school leavers abroad for a years voluntary work in 24 different developing countries around the world, in Latin America, Africa, Far and the Middle East.

Quaker Information Center Volunteer & service opportunities, workcamps, internships, other potentially-transformational experiences, and some perennial jobs

Travel to Teach is a non-profit organization, which provides affordable volunteering opportunities to teach English whilst travelling abroad.

Volunteer for Peace International Voluntary Service - 1500 short-term intercultural adventures in 70 countries