Internship in Thailand

Thailand overview

The Kingdom of Thailand is an extraordinary country exhibiting amazing landscapes, magnificent Buddhist temples, and breathtaking beaches. Thailand offers a rich amount of history and culture but is also a rapidly growing modern country with a beautiful skyline alongside the Chao Phraya River. With a Thailand internship through AIP, you will get to experience all of these incredible sights!

Furthermore, an international internship in Thailand on your CV will be highly valued by future employers, which will set you apart from other candidates. You will also have the opportunity to expand your professional network by meeting industry professionals from all across the region. An experience of a lifetime awaits you!

Currently, for our Thailand internship, we are offering 3 programs:


  • Bangkok Internship
  • Chiang Mai Internship
  • Phuket Internship

Thailand’s economy is rapidly emerging with new businesses and startups, which makes this up and coming Southeast Asian hub a hotbed to pursue an internship. Hospitality & Tourism is a major industry in Thailand due to the fact that it is one of the top tourist destinations across the globe. Other industry sectors that are currently booming in Thailand are Business Development, Engineering, and Journalism.

Being partnered with a wide range of companies in numerous industry fields, AIP offers Thailand internships that can guide you on the path to success in your future professional career. Whether you’re interested in a summer internship in Thailand or any other time during the year, we can customize your ideal start date. In addition, we accept applications all year round and there are no application fees!

Internship in Bangkok

Bangkok Overview

Bangkok, known simply as Krung Thep in Thai, is Thailand’s capital city situated on the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand.

With a population of over 8 million (2010), Bangkok is Thailand’s cultural and commercial center; it is also regarded as Thailand’s prime city - the only cosmopolitan city in a country of small towns and villages.

The city is quite popularly known for its cultural landmarks and street life, among many other things.

Internship Opportunities in Bangkok

Expectedly, Bangkok is the economic center of Thailand, and a regional force in business, finance, healthcare, and other sectors such as arts and fashion, tourism, etc.

Many of Thailand’s largest companies (including PTT, a Fortune Global 500 company), major commercial banks and financial institutions, and the regional headquarters of several multinational companies are located right within the city.

In fact, there is no shortage of internship opportunities for a student or young professional in Thailand.

The manufacturing sector is the second-largest contributor to Bangkok’s economy, with several notable companies in the city into the production of building materials and textiles; and others into food processing, and electronic equipment assembly.

As the city that hosts the chief port of Thailand, Bangkok’s Import & Export industry is a thriving one.

The port of Bangkok handles the greater percentage of the country’s imports and export and is an international hub for transport.

Bangkok Attractions

A few of the Attractions Bangkok has in store for you include numerous temples that represent classic Thai architecture, the National Museum where Bronze Age art relics and royal objects are on display, Thompson’s Thai House containing the nation’s largest collection of 17th-century Thai religious paintings, magnificent collections of Dvaravati and Khmer sculpture, beautiful Thai and Chinese pottery, etc.

Read our complete guide to doing an internship in Bangkok.

Internship in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai Overview

In the mountainous regions of northern Thailand is a city called Chiang Mai, also spelled Chiengmai (meaning “New City”), the capital of Chiang Mai Province, and the third largest city in the whole of Thailand.

Situated on the Ping River which happens to be a major tributary of the Chao Phraya River, Chiang Mai is home to less than a million inhabitants, and is northern Thailand’s economic, cultural, educational, and religious center.

Internship Opportunities in Chiang Mai

Due to its cultural history, topography, and climate, Chiang Mai is a popular tourist location; and, according to Thailand’s Tourist Authority, the city recorded 14.1 million visitors in 2013 alone.

As such, the Hospitality and Tourism industry in Chiang Mai is quite big, with numerous hotels and other hospitality establishments located within the city. In fact, the city is estimated to have about 32,000-40,000 hotel rooms in total. [1]If you are a young professional or student interested in an Asia internship in the Hospitality and Tourism industry, then Chiang Mai is the place to be as there are lots of opportunities for you here.

When it comes to manufacturing, Chiang Mai has several notable companies, such as Ceramicraft Co., Ltd which manufactures ceramic products such as vases, bowls, candle holders, etc.; L.T.C.C Limited, manufacturers and exporters of toys and wooden games; and Double A4, manufacturers of A4 copy paper.

Chiang Mai Attractions

As a notable tourist location, Chiang Mai does not disappoint when it comes to attractions. Hundreds of elaborate Buddhist temples, the Chiang Mai Arts and Cultural Center, the Chiang Mai National Museum, the Tribal Museum, the Bank of Thailand Museum, and the Chiang Mai Zoo, are just a few of them.

Internship in Phuket

Phuket Overview

Off the west coast of Thailand and in the Andaman Sea lies Phuket, one of the southern provinces of Thailand.

It consists of the mountainous and rainforested island of Phuket (the county’s largest island) with Phuket City as its capital, and 32 other less significant coastal islands.

Phuket city is located in the southeastern region of the island, has a population of about 400,000 (2015), and has been one of Thailand’s major seaports and commercial hubs.

Internship Opportunities in Phuket

As a city harboring one of Thailand’s major seaports, Phuket city’s Import & Export industry is booming, and exciting internship opportunities are available for you here through our Asia Internship Program.

The city’s harbor is mainly involved in the exportation of tin, rubber, fish products, lumber, and charcoal to Malaysia, Singapore, and Myanmar; and in the import of manufactured goods and rice.

Just like Chiang Mai, Phuket is a notable tourist location with a vibrant Hotel & Tourism industry; in fact, the sandy beaches on the island’s west coast have been developed as tourist locations as far back as the 1980s, and tourism is one of the two pillars on which the city’s economy has rested in recent times.

The Real Estate industry in Phuket has also likely seen some growth as, more recently, Phuket has been under vigorous development, with numerous new hotels, apartments, and houses being constructed.

Phuket Attractions

Phuket boasts of some of Thailand’s most popular beaches, several high-end resorts by the seaside, busy markets, restaurants, spas, bars, nightclubs, and discos for the fun-loving intern.

There are also other attractions such as the Two Heroines Monument, Thalang National Museum, Phuket Aquarium, Phuket Butterfly Garden and Insect World, and the Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Conservation Center.

Internship experience in Thailand

As soon as you step off the plane at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport, you will instantly recognize that you have entered The Land of Smiles. You will immediately notice that local Thais are extremely welcoming, friendly, and hospitable. The lifestyle in Thailand for an international intern can be quite exhilarating with the hustle and bustle in the streets of Bangkok but is also very relaxing with plenty of convenient services always nearby. Your internship in the Kingdom of Siam will allow you to experience first-hand what it is like to work and live in this culturally diverse nation.

During free time away from your internship, you will be able to explore all of the incredible sights that Thailand has to offer. You can’t visit this beautiful country without going island hopping on a long-tail boat in the southern islands, taking in the sights of cultural landmarks like The Grand Palace in Bangkok, or climbing the Doi Inthanon Mountain (the highest point in Thailand). And we can’t forget about the delicious Thai cuisine, which is famous for its incredibly unique flavors. We highly suggest exploring the different street food vendors that cook homestyle Thai dishes. There’s nothing like experiencing a country’s food scene when you eat as a local would.

Top Industries To Work In Thailand

As much of the local architecture in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket undergo rapid gentrification left and right, multiple economic opportunities emerge all across Thailand. Many of the street vendors that were once the symbol of Thai food culture are being upgraded and relocated as do the historical and culturally significant shrines and temples. It therefore cannot be mistaken that Thailand has now entered a new era.

Despite visible differences in its visual appearance, the key elements of what make Thailand the world’s leading tourist destination and the third most attractive country to do an investment in ASEAN remain unchanged. Today, Thailand strives to achieve its goal of becoming a high-income economy with its advancing business, tourism, and medical industry.

Hence, Thailand is the ideal destination for you to hone new skills and gain professional experiences!


Business

Primarily an agro- and manufacturing based economy, Thailand’s service sector— i.e., its retail; finance; and tourism industries— took a turning point in the past two decades and are now leaning more towards utilizations of robots and machines with hopes to reduce production costs and boost outputs.

The Thai business sector is forecasted to contribute triple its current GDP in the coming years as automated machine learning continues to progress at an accelerated speed. In the horizon, Thailand hopes to increase its implementation of automation robotics and other advanced technologies as part of the economy.

Thailand’s thriving business sector is guaranteed to offer you an opportunity to intern in one of Asia’s thriving economies and work alongside talents from around the world.

Tourism

Affordable pricing, geographical location, and hospitality, are not all that make Thailand an appealing location for business and leisure. Thailand’s exotic food, beautiful culture, and pristine nature are what place Thailand among the world’s best tourist destinations.

Drawing in millions of tourists from all over the world, the Thai tourism industry contributes to almost three quarters of the country’s GDP on average, each year. To accommodate rising demand, industry offers a wide array of services from boutique hotels and authentic restaurants to local tourist guide services in multiple distinct geographical locations.

Upon carrying out your tourism internship in Thailand, do not miss the opportunity to visit Thailand’s most popular tourist attractions: Chiang Mai’s Sunday Walking Market, Historic City Of Ayudhya, Koh Samui, Floating Markets and many more!

Medicine

The Land of Smiles is not only the international hub for business and tourism, it is also at the forefront of medical and healthcare development in Asia! Thanks to the help of its licensed medical staff, advanced medical equipment, and high quality services, Thailand's fifth largest industry brings in millions of medical tourists each year.

Thailand’s in-house clinical trial research has also played a huge part in contributing to the growth of its medical industry. In recent years, the country has put out several revolutionary medical treatments and services with the support of domestic and international fundings. Your internship in Thailand will most certainly open up numerous opportunities for you to work side by side with experts in the field!

With future plans to be Asia's number one medical hub, and to join the world in tackling some of its critical medical crises like aging population and cancer, the local government has made this industry a centerpiece in its national strategy. You will be able to try your hands at some of the most cutting edge medical technologies out there.

Work Culture

Thai’s traditional roots are embedded in their everyday social standards. Like its neighboring Southeast Asia countries, Thai people place a lot of value and emphasis on the concept of ‘keeping/ losing face’. Regardless of the generational and cultural differences, it is customary for them to keep their thoughts to themselves and make any necessary comments in private. It would otherwise be considered unprofessional and disrespectful to disturb a meeting in Thai culture.

When time comes for Thais to voice their opinions, they tend to be vague and indirect when expressing. This is to avoid any possible confrontations. It is, then, not unusual to see many Thais being submissive, keeping their heads low, and nodding at whatever the acting authority has to say.

In Thailand, seniority often comes together with top-down management approaches in many of its traditional work settings. Though they are not as vastly popular as they were before today, the tall organizational hierarchy and seniority remain in existence in Thai society. The arrival of gen-Z and millennial-owned startup companies, however, is hoping to turn that notion around with their forward thinking mindset.

Despite the changing narrative, certain aspects of traditional practices still linger in Thai society today whether that be in the way in which their use of honorifics when addressing those who are in higher age and position; punctuality; or working attire. For you to carry out a successful internship in Thailand, you are advised to always pay extra precautions to the social and cultural cues.

Thailand accommodation

  • Furnished accommodation
  • Free Hi-Speed Wifi access
  • Close proximity to the workplace (within 1 hour or less)
  • Accessible by public transport
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Visa information

Generally, an internship in The Kingdom of Thailand is classified as an Education visa.

Most students who enter Thailand to do an internship are under a Non-Immigrant ED Visa (Student Visa). The requirement is that you must be studying at a university, anywhere in the world. It would help if the internship is a requirement for your degree.

Under a Non-Immigrant ED Visa, you will initially receive a 90-day visa, and if your internship is longer than 3 months, you must leave the country to apply for a new visa. Depending on your nationality, it may be necessary for you to return to your home country/country of residence to re-apply.

To participate in an unpaid internship, it is not required to have a work permit.

Apply online and our staff can help you further in regards to your visa eligibility for Thailand.

Note: Immigration laws are updated frequently, so the above text may be subject to change.

Our process

1. Apply
Click "Apply Now", fill the form and schedule an interview to discuss your dream internship.
2. Interview
During your interview, one of our AIP representatives will ask you questions about your background, past work experiences, internship preferences and goals.
3. Pay Deposit
If you are officially accepted into AIP, you will be asked to confirm your spot in our program with a deposit fee.
4. Placement
Our experienced placement team will match you with your ideal host company and arrange an online interview for you with them.
5. Final Payment
Once your internship has been accepted by yourself and the host company, you will be invoiced for the final payment which will officially confirm your placement.
6. Prepare
After your payment confirmation: For remote internships: We will put you in contact with your host company so that you can start to work right away on your internship. For all the other AIP programs: We will assist you in the visa application process, as well as arranging airport pickup and accommodation (if applicable).
AIPx might be a suitable option for those that are in a hurry. Via AIPx, we will have a confirmed interview for you within 21 working days (The normal process can take up to 8 weeks).
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