Portugal offers students from the UK and Ireland an incredible gateway to diverse industries, from thriving tech and start-up scenes to tourism, renewable energy, and international business. On a placement year, you’ll gain invaluable hands-on experience in a country renowned for its vibrant culture, innovation, and warm hospitality.
With dynamic cities like Lisbon and Porto serving as major economic and cultural hubs, an internship in Portugal will significantly enhance your professional skills. You’ll build vital international connections and immerse yourself in Portuguese life. A placement with theInterna is a powerful step towards your career in 2025 and beyond.
Portugal’s dynamic economy offers exciting 6–9 month internship opportunities for UK and Ireland students across several key sectors:
These industries provide valuable hands-on experience and strong career growth prospects for your placement year or internship with theInterna.
For UK and Ireland students seeking placements, Portugal offers vibrant cities that combine strong professional growth with rich cultural experiences:
These cities offer the perfect setting for a valuable, longer-term internship experience through theInterna.
Securing a professional internship in Portugal is streamlined with theInterna’s dedicated support. We guide you through the entire process, helping you land the ideal placement.
Start your journey by creating a candidate profile on our platform to access exclusive internship listings tailored for students from the UK and Ireland.
Here’s how we help you secure your ideal internship in Portugal:
With our expert guidance, finding and securing your internship in Portugal is a clear and supported process. Create a Candidate Profile
To help you settle in and thrive on your placement in Portugal:
These tips will help you enjoy an enriching experience in Portugal!
Join a fast-growing Portuguese e-commerce startup as a Software Engineering Intern, where you’ll help build web and mobile features using React, React Native, and Next.js. This is a hands-on role with real impact, offering mentorship, ownership, and the chance to contribute to the launch of a social commerce platform.
Join a fast-growing Portuguese ecommerce startup on a mission to redefine social shopping. As a Business Development & Account Management Intern, you’ll help onboard sellers, analyze performance, and contribute directly to marketplace growth in a remote, high-impact environment.
Join a fast-growing social shopping startup as a Marketing Intern, where you’ll gain hands-on experience across social media, email marketing, content creation, and user engagement. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a product launch, work closely with an experienced marketing team, and shape how the brand connects with its community.
We’re looking for a tenacious, detail-driven Sales Intern to help build and execute an AI-powered sales strategy at a fast-growing tech startup redefining secure communications. If you’re a natural leader with a passion for business, courage under pressure, and a drive to deliver results, we want to hear from you.
We’re seeking a talented and disciplined Design Intern to help shape our brand, UI, and marketing assets at a fast-moving tech startup focused on secure communications. If you have sharp design skills, experience with Figma, Canva, and AI imagery, and the drive to lead creative projects within a strategic framework, we want to hear from you.
We’re looking for a driven Technology Intern with a background in machine learning, TensorFlow, and biometric systems to help advance real-world AI solutions at a cutting-edge secure communications startup. If you have the courage to push new ideas forward, a sharp technical mind, and a passion for innovation, we want to hear from you.
Want to shape the future of message encryption? This internship offers hands-on experience in building AI-powered go-to-market strategies, working alongside industry experts to drive real business impact within the message encryption space.
Join a vibrant, curated network of ambitious professionals and help redefine how meaningful connections and opportunities are created. This remote internship offers hands-on experience in community engagement, strategic analysis, and content creation, contributing directly to the growth of a forward-thinking professional network.
A cutting-edge medtech startup specializing in clinical evaluation and regulatory advancements, focusing on creating seamless connectivity between medical software systems. With a small, dynamic team of engineers and support from an advisory board, they aim to revolutionize healthcare technology. Currently expanding into the U.S. market, they offer exciting opportunities for innovative professionals to make a meaningful impact.
A cutting-edge medtech startup specializing in clinical evaluation and regulatory advancements, focusing on creating seamless connectivity between medical software systems. With a small, dynamic team of engineers and support from an advisory board, they aim to revolutionize healthcare technology. Currently expanding into the U.S. market, they offer exciting opportunities for innovative professionals to make a meaningful impact.
Compared to the UK and Ireland, the cost of living in Portugal is generally lower. While Lisbon and Porto are more expensive than other cities, daily expenses like food, transportation, and rent can be significantly more affordable, allowing your budget to go further during your internship.
Some internships in Portugal do offer a stipend, particularly in larger companies or specific industries like technology. However, many valuable placements, especially longer ones, may be unpaid. Portuguese law generally mandates some form of compensation for internships exceeding two months to cover expenses. theInterna works to match you with suitable opportunities based on market conditions.
If you are a UK student, you will likely need a temporary stay or specific internship visa for placements exceeding 90 days. For Irish students, as EU citizens, a visa is generally not required, but you will need to register your residency with local authorities for longer stays. theInterna provides comprehensive guidance on all visa and documentation requirements.
Yes, you absolutely can! Many international companies, especially in Lisbon and Porto, operate in English, and numerous internships are explicitly offered to English speakers. While knowing some Portuguese will greatly enrich your cultural experience, it’s not always a prerequisite for securing a placement.
Definitely! Immersing yourself in Portuguese culture during your internship provides an excellent opportunity to learn the language. Many cities have language schools offering courses for foreigners, and daily interactions will naturally help you pick up phrases and improve your fluency.
The best way to find a suitable internship in Portugal is through specialized platforms like theInterna. We connect UK and Ireland students directly with vetted opportunities. Additionally, university career services, professional networking sites like LinkedIn, and direct applications to companies in Portugal can also be effective.
Portugal is considered one of the safest countries in Europe and globally, with a low crime rate and a generally peaceful environment. While petty crime like pickpocketing can occur in crowded tourist areas, exercising normal precautions will ensure a safe and enjoyable experience during your internship.
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