As the semester commences, many students are contemplating their summer plans and considering the possibility of an international research internship. You might be asking yourself if it’s worth the effort of applying to work at a university you’ve only heard of, in a country thousands of miles away, with a professor you barely know. The answer isn’t always clear, and it can be challenging to determine if it’s the right choice for you.
To help you make an informed decision, T5E interviewed seniors who took the plunge and embarked on research internships abroad. Their experiences offer a glimpse into what you can expect—from navigating the application process to adapting to a new culture and academic environment. By sharing their stories, we aim to provide you with a clearer perspective on how these internships can impact both your academic and personal growth.
Meet Bavishya who interned at the University of Tokyo (Amgen, Japan), Abhiram at USC (Viterbi, California), Sharanya at the University of Saskatchewan (Mitacs, Canada), Shashank at RWTH Aachen University (DAAD WISE, Germany), and Varun at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (DAAD WISE, Germany). Their stories are filled with valuable insights and practical advice for anyone considering a similar journey.
Apping Process
Let’s begin with the ‘why’. Research internships provide a solid foundation and hands-on experience working in a research lab, allowing you to gauge your interests and abilities before committing to a Master’s or even a Doctorate. It’s an excellent opportunity to explore your academic passions and gain valuable research exposure.
“I was involved in a CFI project on FPGA-based accelerators. I wanted to explore more in that area, but professors at IIT Madras weren’t working on what I wanted to research.” ~Varun
“When it comes to lab work, every lab has its own agenda. I wanted to understand the work ethic and culture and their process of learning.” ~Bavishya
Such experiences significantly enhance your profile if you’re aiming for higher studies. The good news is that most programs are funded, with stipends often covering regular expenses and sometimes even multiple trips to neighboring countries.
The procedure for securing a research internship varies by program. Some require an invitation letter from a professor, involving cold mailing, while others have a screening process followed by project-specific applications. Almost all programs expect a CV, transcript, and Statement of Purpose (SoP), where you summarize your experience, interest in the project, and eventual goals. Letters of Recommendation (LoRs) may also be needed. Course professors are usually fine, as substantial research experience before your third year is rare.
“Many professors want you to discuss a potential project for the internship. They know you probably won’t end up working on it, but they use it to gauge your understanding of concepts, how you articulate ideas, and your problem-solving approach.” ~Shashank
Shortlisting Universities and the Professor Interview
“I think it’s always better to go for programs that have a record for being very well organized and structured. I looked more into programs like EPFL, Viterbi or DAAD.” ~Abhiram
When shortlisting universities and labs, visit the websites of prestigious institutions and review faculty profiles to narrow down your choices based on their work and areas of interest. Consider factors such as university ranking and the professor’s H-Index. Labs with more people usually offer a wider range of projects and indicate a professor open to taking on new students. It’s recommended to contact professors across different universities within the same department, rather than contacting multiple professors from the same university and department. This approach may seem like you’re casting a wide net, but it demonstrates a broad interest in the field rather than a lack of focus on any particular professor.
The interview tends to be a casual conversation with the professor. Questions are mostly based on what you’ve written in your CV. Here’s what Sharanya shared with the T5E team –
“It really helps to have questions for the professor and regarding the project. Read up about the prof’s profiles themselves and their works. It goes to build interest and makes a point that you’ve gone the extra mile.”
Selection and Preparation
So, you receive your acceptance letter and are overjoyed. You start looking forward to your summer internship, imagining yourself navigating an unfamiliar country, having fun, and doing the work you’ve always wanted to do. Sounds glamorous and exciting! But there’s a lot of logistics to plan for.
“I was definitely overjoyed and very happy that this worked out well. Mitacs is an extremely worthy and prestigious scholarship. Receiving that was something that made me feel worthy and reassured me because it felt like it set some foundation for my work experience itself that I was doing.”
~Sharanya on her reaction when she was selected.
The visa process is usually straightforward and handled by the program coordinator. However, arranging accommodation can be a bit more challenging. While it’s relatively easy in the States and Canada, it can be quite the hassle in European countries like Germany. Varun shared that he started looking for a home in January but didn’t secure one until late April. University dorms in Germany are in high demand and prefer long-term students.
When it comes to packing, take essential goods. There are exhaustive lists online detailing what to take for respective countries.
“Bring plenty of Indian food with you—you’ll miss it more than you think. Bread and bland food won’t cut it. I regretted not packing enough and had to learn to cook from scratch. Helping out in the kitchen before you go can be a lifesaver. Balancing work and chores takes time, but it’s all part of the experience,” advised Bavishya.
All the interviewees talked about having jitters and nervousness about moving to a new country, and concerns about travel and safety. Those interning in countries like Japan and Germany naturally faced a language barrier.
Expectations and Reality
Unsurprisingly, the interviewees shared consistent expectations and goals– gaining substantial research exposure, potentially publishing a paper, experiencing the lab environments at some of the world’s most renowned universities, exploring new countries, and networking with many skilled and talented individuals. However, we received mixed responses when it came to the ground reality of these internships:
“I wasn’t able to have a lab experience in IITM and hence I was worried that I might have to put in too much effort to prove my worth during my internship. But it was the total opposite. I was just told, ‘This is your task. Do it whenever you want and however you want.’ This can be challenging but also fun because I like working independently.” ~Bavishya
“My expectations were pretty much met. But the work was a lot more intensive than I thought. I needed a computer architecture background, something I lacked before. Catching up on that took a couple of weeks where I had to work on the weekends as well. My project was not only ML, but this was a whole new domain. Looking back, it was nice to also go through this as it prepares you for things to come.” ~Abhiram
“I was able to get good experience on how things work, how they collaborate. But maybe (in terms of) the actual work, I couldn’t get as much done as I intended to. I hoped to get something more out of it – perhaps a publication. But given the time constraints and the time going into getting settled, I lost quite a bit of time.” ~Anonymous
There are inevitable challenges when moving to a new country: getting settled, figuring out travel, and adjusting to new surroundings. A linguistic barrier only adds to the difficulties. Students interning in the West generally had a smoother experience acclimating. Sharanya spoke about how Mitacs facilitated a smooth start to her internship with a helpful mentor and a well-organized professor, which helped her settle in quickly. Bavishya faced challenges with Japan’s stringent cleanliness standards, which took some time to adjust to. Varun discussed his struggles with initial finances in Germany due to a delayed stipend from DAAD and noted the low level of social interaction there, where casual greetings rarely led to conversations.
Cooking, chores, navigating, safety, communication, and jet lag are common challenges one anticipates and prepares for in advance. However, the interviewees were asked if there faced any unexpected challenges they didn’t see coming.
“I like traveling solo. It is very easy to get lost over there. While exploring, I kind of got lost every half an hour, I’d say. Getting a proper SIM card with a good network is very important. That was a challenge for me. I wanted to go to random places, and it was late at night, which was a bit risky without a stable and proper access to the internet.” ~Bavishya
We asked the interviewees if there were any surprising aspects of the internship. Varun noted that, despite being a hardware-related internship, most work was done remotely. The labs were large, but hardly anyone was present, and getting help required scheduling meetings rather than casual drop-ins. Shashank was surprised by how accommodating the internship was, emphasizing its focus on the interns’ professional and personal development. The hosts were helpful with settling in, traveling, commuting, and experiencing the local culture.
Most of these countries overseas have a significant Indian population. When asked about cultural differences or cultural shocks, the interviewees consistently mentioned that while there were some differences in habits, such as eating, greeting, or beliefs, none of them were particularly overwhelming.
“The only major concern was finding vegetarian food. I had to adapt by buying fruits and vegan tiffins. Another difficulty was having conversations; initially, there was no small talk, and people didn’t seem to care. My PhD mentor advised me to put in the initial effort to make friends. Once I did, things improved.
A shocking thing to see was that racism, sadly, did occur now and then. Some people would look at Indians and frown, refusing to help. I often faced this when I was traveling. When I inquired about directions, a few people straight up refused to assist.” ~Varun
Research in India and Abroad
The interviewees were asked the difference between the academic environment there and the way research is conducted in IITM.
“We had regular group and subgroup meetings. At IITM, I’ve had subgroup one-on-one meetings, but having the whole group come together at least once a week was a new experience. In these meetings, one or another subgroup would present their work and progress and discuss the challenges they were facing. These meetings were essential because everyone had an idea of what others were working on in the group, making it easier to connect with someone when you had a doubt or needed help.
The department itself also had excellent computational resources, which are still a work in progress here at Insti. Other things that make them stand out are following effective coding practices and trying to open source everything that they contribute.” ~Abhiram
The interviewees noted a significant difference in work-life balance between universities in India and abroad. Overseas, students often enjoy flexible hours with no set schedule, focusing on weekly goals instead. With expensive on-campus housing, many work remotely and visit the lab infrequently. In contrast, IITM students usually follow more structured schedules and have daily interactions with their professors.
“If I had to rank the work-life balance from my experience. It would be the US, followed by Japan and lastly India.” ~Bavishya
They’re also a lot more stringent on conference deadlines. Here’s what Abhiram shared with the team –
“At IITM, I haven’t seen conference deadlines being taken very strictly. Obviously, whoever is working in the lab keeps it in mind and tries to aim for it, but it’s not a very strict deadline. At USC, however, professors push you a lot towards publishing. Everyone in my program was encouraged to aim for a conference or a publication. In my group, I was told that unless circumstances were truly beyond our control, we had to send a draft and see how things panned out from there.”
The relationship between students and professors there is quite informal, in comparison to the more distant relationships one is accustomed to in India. Professors often invite students to their homes for barbecues, breaking the ice and connecting on a personal level.
“This is something worth going for. In Japan, they were very friendly and welcoming. They used to talk about their day to day stuff. They kind of treated each other like family.” ~Bavishya
“The environment was very communication-dependent. If you are a proactive communicator, they will be equally receptive. They encourage students to discuss ideas, insights, or problems in the project. The professors ensure that you enjoy what you’re doing. We had multiple feedback sessions where the professor provided feedback on our work and also took feedback about the project. It was a very supportive and engaging relationship.” ~Sharanya
Final Thoughts and Takeaways
Whether you’re passionate about research or uncertain about your next step, exploring opportunities abroad can be a transformative journey. It provides clarity on your interests, offers new perspectives, and exposes you to top-notch research environments before committing to a Master’s or PhD.
Networking post-internship is crucial, as the connections you build can significantly influence your future academic and career paths. It’s also a fantastic chance to travel and explore new cultures.
Some interviewees pointed out that while foreign internships are often seen as prestigious, a significant amount of time goes into settling in and adjusting to a new environment, which can be challenging given the limited two-month period. They found that India offers excellent research opportunities that allow for a quicker start and more immediate immersion in the work.
“One thing to keep in mind is that while foreign internships are often highly regarded, there are exceptional professors at institutes like IITs who rival those abroad.” ~Varun
Ultimately, the decision to pursue an overseas research internship is personal and varies in experience. It’s crucial to thoroughly research programs, universities, and professors to ensure they align with your academic and personal goals before making this choice. Good luck!
T5E is grateful to all the interviewees for their patience and support in crafting this article.
Edited by Ishan Khurma
