Who can apply for an Internship?
To be eligible for an Internship In Malaga (Costa del Sol) placement, you must fulfil the following criteria:
- Hold EU nationality or passport
- Be aged 17-30
- Have a reasonable knowledge of Spanish
- If you are young and enthusiastic with an interest in learning more about the workplace environment, an internship will be incredibly beneficial and rewarding for you.
We guarantee an internship in less than 8 weeks. However this is a breakdown of the process:
Day 0: Apply for an Internship (with our form online, by post or by email)
Day 1: Study your targets and interests
Day 5: We send you the letter of acceptance
Day 8: You pay the deposit for Course + Internship
Day 10: We adapt and modify your CV and Cover Letter
Day 11: We send/present your CV to different companies
Day 25: We have your Host company
Day 26: We send the accepted documentes by the company and you must sign and send back.
Day 28: You start your Spanish Intensive Course preparation for your Internship in Malaga.
Day 35 to 45: You will have a personal interview with the company (you will be accompanied by your supervisor ).
Day 48: You will star your Internship with the company. First day you will be accompanied by your supervisor
Does Alhambra Instituto charge an inscription fee?
No, an inscription/enrolment fee won’t be charged for the Spanish course and not for Intership.
What are the costs involved in an internship?
The Program fee 295 € (upon acceptance) includes internship placement with a Spanish host company, assistance with any bureaucratic matters, support throughout the program in Spain (12 weeks). During your first week of the language course you’ll meet the internship coordinator. The coordinator is taking care of the support on site and is maintaining contact with you during the language course and internship. He/she is also maintaining contact with your company supervisor.
The Spanish course is an additional cost – the standard 3 weeks Intensive Course (20 hours per week) costs 390 €. Costs of longer Spanish language courses can be found on our website under “Courses and accommodation prices”.
These are the only obligatory costs involved. A deposit of 200€ (100€ for the Spanish Course + 100€ for the Internship) is due when you get the confirmation of acceptance, and the outstanding balance is due on arrival in Malaga .
What are the minimum or maximum lengths of the internships?
The internships are a minimum length of 8 weeks (not including the obligatory 3 or 4 weeks Spanish course prior to the placement). In some cases, companies may ask a longer minimum length although this is not common. Normally the maximum length of Internships in Spain is 24 weeks.
What are the minimum requirements for my Spanish?
To be able to start an internship students must have at least an intermediate level of Spanish. All students will be required to take our 3 weeks Intensive course before their internship – however this also serves to settle into the city and meet new people before the placement. If students have a lower level, or no knowledge of Spanish at all, it is still possible to apply for an internship, by doing a longer Spanish course with us first.
Where will I live in Spain? Who will I live with?
There are several options for housing placement through the Alhambra Instituto Internship Program. Click here for a list of accommodation options.
Can I request to live with someone?
If you are planning on traveling with someone, you can request to be placed in a home stay or residencia with that person, if you so choose. Please note, however, that although we will try our best to accommodate your request, Alhambra Instituto cannot guarantee joint placement in a common location.
How do I apply for a placement? What documents should I submit?
You can express your interest by submitting our enquiry form. We will then get in contact with you with further information. At this point, you will need to submit your CV and Motivation letter in Spanish, as well as complete and return an application form and Spanish test we will send you. The sooner you send us all your documents, the sooner we can find you a placement!
How long will it take to find me a placement?
It depends on when you apply (for example it takes longer to find a placement in the summer). However, as a general rule we ask for 4 – 6 weeks to find a placement once we have ALL the necessary documentation from the student.
When can I do an internship?
We offer placements on a rolling, year round basis. However, you should bear in mind that summer can be a difficult time for internships. August is a holiday month in Malaga , and many companies shut for at least 2 weeks – if not the whole month. Do bear this in mind when applying!
Will I be guaranteed a placement in my field of interest?
Every effort will be made to arrange a work placement in the field of work requested. However, if this is not possible, a placement will be arranged in a similar or related field of work. It is important to understand that work experience is an opportunity to observe and assist. The company is under no obligation to provide training. Many office-based placements will involve general administration duties and computerised data input.
Is accommodation provided? If so, what types are available?
Accommodation is not automatically provided with a placement. However, you can apply for accommodation during all, or part of, your placement. There are two types of available accommodation – either half or full board accommodation with a Spanish host family, or self catered accommodation in a shared flat with other students. Prices can be found on our website.
Do I get paid for my internship?
Most Internships are unpaid positions, their value lying in the experience gained. However, some companies do offer a small amount of compensation to cover travel and food costs (usually 250€ - 450€ per month).
What are my responsibilities during my placement?
Students should respect the following guidelines during their placement:
.- Respect the discipline and policies of the Company at all times
.- Comply with all Company rules, regulations and working practices
.- Observe the Company ‘dress code’
.- Be punctual and respect the official working hours
.- Behave in a proper, courteous and polite manner to all levels of Company staff, clients and contacts
.- Respect cultural differences and customs
.- Not use the Company telephones for personal calls, send/receive personal emails or use the internet for personal reasons without permission from the Company
.- Undertake all work diligently and responsibly
.- Meet with your personal Placement Supervisor in the Company and discuss any problems you may have in carrying out the work or meeting the placement objectives
.- Comply with all national and state laws
If I leave my placement can I get a refund?
If a student decides to leave the placement voluntarily, no fees will be refunded and the participant will not receive the letter of recognition of the internship in the company.
In the event of a serious problem with the work placement, or a termination by the Company, Alhambra Instituto will make every effort to secure a replacement position at no extra cost, provided:
.- there is a minimum of 4 weeks to the end of the agreed placement period
.- full payment of fees has been made
.- Alhambra Instituto is satisfied that the trainee has acted correctly and responsibly
Will I have further contact with AIP after the start of my placement?
All students will be contacted, usually by email, during the placement by Alhambra Instituto to monitor progress and to deal with any problems. At the end of the placement, the student will complete a questionnaire to indicate the range of skills and experience gained.
What should I do if there is a problem during my placement?
Students must show a responsible and flexible approach to resolving any problems or misunderstandings that may occur during the work placement. However, if there is a serious problem, students must inform the Alhambra Instituto immediately. Every effort will be made to resolve the problem and preserve the relationship between the student, the company and Alhambra Instituto . Students must allow sufficient time for problems to be investigated and resolved.
