International Education | Queretaro, Mexico

The host campus is part of a nation-wide private, non-religious Mexican university system, founded in the 1940s.   The student population of this campus is around 6,000.  The International Programs Department facilitates the reception of international students and sends Mexican students abroad.

The majority of the international students (who hail primarily from Europe and Latin America) study for one summer, one semester or one school year.  Approximately 100-150 international students attend the university each semester.  Examples of office-wide projects and tasks related to working with incoming international students include:

• Receiving international student applications
• Processing requests for homestays
• Billing and processing payments
• Orienting new students to cultural and practical situations
• Organizing field trips and activities
• Monitoring student development
• Advising students

The International Programs Department also facilitates the sending of Mexican students abroad. Examples of office-wide projects and tasks related to working with outbound Mexican students include:

• Advising students about study abroad options
• Helping students choose an appropriate study abroad program
• Reviewing all necessary documentation
• Assisting with visas
• Providing comprehensive pre-departure and re-entry orientations

Among other things, the International Programs Department also:

• Facilitates and monitors internship placements in the city of Querétaro
• Organizes special programs for short-term and tailor-made courses for summer
• Plans course offerings
• Schedules and assigns faculty to classes
• Conducts academic placement tests
• Provides general academic advising

Interns support a broad range of office functions. Some illustrative intern tasks include:

• Collecting data about students abroad or students going abroad
• Assisting with study abroad advising
• Helping with pre-departure and re-entry orientations as well as orientations for new students in Mexico
• Assessing new host families
• Attending study abroad fairs
• Designing and distributing marketing materials
• Social media management
• Supporting accounting and budgeting procedures
• Interns may be assigned special research projects to develop, as needed by the host site

Academic Background:

Open to undergraduate and graduate students interested in a career in international education.  International education refers to programming within the field of higher education, focusing on education abroad (“outbound”) and international student (“incoming”) programs.

Skills / Experience:

Previous study abroad experience strongly preferred.

Intercultural communication skills are necessary.

Language Requirements:

Intermediate-advanced Spanish. Knowledge of French or German is desirable.

Other Requirements:

Interns must have open mind and an interest in working in a variety of areas of international education.  They must be able to go with the flow; the pace of work can vary without advance notice.

Estimated One-Time Expenses

• IE3 Program Fee: $3,450
• International Travel & Exit Tax: $800
• Recommended Immunizations: $500*

* Fees vary based on medical history and insurance coverage

Estimated Monthly Expenses

• Housing: complimentary homestay accommodation provided by host site.
• Food (snacks): Three meals/day provided by host site
• Local Transportation:  $100 ($25/wk)
• Recreation: $75 ($18.75/wk)
• Personal Expenses: $75 ($18.75/wk)

Room and board are provided by the host site. This includes accommodation with a homestay family as well as 3 meals/day and laundry. It is mandatory to live with a homestay family.

Final Reports:

• Read Lauren's Final Report here.