Your internship in Scandinavia: here’s everything you need to know before you go
You’re getting your internship project ready, you’re excited to go abroad, and of course, Scandinavia is catching your eye. And honestly, who could resist? Breathtaking landscapes, top-notch quality of life, super cool people (even if they take a bit of time to warm up), and that unique Nordic vibe you won’t find anywhere else.
But before you start packing your bags, we need to talk a bit about what’s waiting for you. Because Scandinavia isn’t just “I’ll see the Northern Lights and drink coffee in the snow.” Nope. It’s a bit more subtle, sometimes a bit more surprising. Come on, let’s take a look together. Promise, by the end you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into!
Scandinavia? Nordic countries? Hold on, let’s set things straight.
Scandinavia? Nordic countries? Hold on, let’s set things straight.
Alright, before we even start talking about your internship, let’s clear up the terms a bit. Because everyone mixes things up, and after a while, no one really knows what we’re talking about anymore.
When we say “Scandinavia,” we’re really talking about Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. These three make up the historical core of Scandinavia. Why them? Because they share pretty close historical, linguistic, and cultural roots.
But often, when people say “the Nordic countries,” they also include Finland and Iceland (and even Greenland and the Faroe Islands for the real sticklers). Except Finland is kind of the odd one out. For starters, the language is totally different: it’s Finno-Ugric, nothing like the Scandinavian languages we know. It’s an agglutinative language where you stick a bunch of suffixes onto words to change their meaning. Even the word “hello” can turn into a whole sentence. But don’t worry — everyone speaks English there, just like everywhere else in Scandinavia.
You’re about to head to some of the happiest countries in the world… and yet.
It’s often the first thing people mention: the Nordic countries regularly top the rankings of the world’s happiest countries. Like, every year, Finland, Norway, and Denmark are always in the top 5. Long life expectancy, efficient healthcare system, gender equality, free education, almost no corruption… honestly, on paper, it’s paradise.
But — because there’s always a but — these are also countries with relatively high suicide rates, especially in Finland. The climate plays a role: the winters are long, very long. Little sunlight, lots of cold. It’s not always easy to handle, especially if you’re not used to it.
But don’t worry: for a few months of internship, it’s much easier. You’ll mostly enjoy the country’s good sides: the landscapes, the mindset, the northern lights, the cozy hygge cafés, and nature walks. The endless winters and Nordic blues won’t be for you. You’ll arrive, explore, enjoy, and leave with your head full of memories.
Shall we take a quick tour of the destinations? Let’s go!
Internship in Sweden: nature, chill vibes, and a bit of flirting (yep, really)
Sweden is probably the “coolest” of the Scandinavian countries for a first internship abroad. People are welcoming and open… even if they might seem a bit cold at first. Don’t worry, it’s just a little shell at the beginning. Once the ice is broken (pun fully intended), Swedes are super friendly and very curious.
When it comes to landscapes, it’s crazy. You go from the mountains of the north to the fine sandy beaches of the south, via lakes of incredible purity. If you love nature, you’ll feel right at home. And then, a little bonus for French speakers: it seems that French is seen as extremely sexy over there. As soon as they hear your little French accent, it attracts attention. You’ll see.
Stockholm is magnificent, and even smaller cities like Göteborg and Malmö are great places to live and work. Everything is clean, fluid and well organised.
In terms of jobs, there are plenty of opportunities in the environment, design, marketing, tourism and tech. And, as everywhere else in the region, English is more than enough to get the job done.
Internship in Finland: welcome to the Finns (and their amazing specialities)
Finland is a bit different. People are discreet, reserved, but really nice. Here, your personal space is respected. No unnecessary physical contact, no superficial chit-chat. On the other hand, if you want to have a serious conversation about music, nature or Scandinavian philosophy, then you’re going to have some real conversations.
If you can, try to go in winter. You’ll see the midnight suns, those magical moments when the light hangs over the horizon for hours. It’s surreal. And if you’re lucky, you’ll come across a few reindeer running free, even on the side of the road. Yes, yes, for real.
When it comes to gastronomy, be prepared to discover things you won’t find back home. The famous reindeer stew (a sacred national dish), chipolatas grilled in the middle of winter (the famous barbecues under the snow), and of course the omnipresent salmon.
When it comes to internships, you’ll mainly find opportunities in education, new technologies, artificial intelligence and, of course, the environment. Finland is very advanced in all areas of research and development.
Internship in Norway: fjords for the eyes and a well-ordered life
Norway is the ultimate Scandinavian postcard. You’ve got the fjords, the mountains, the forests, the northern lights… in short, the whole package.
Contrary to certain clichés, social integration is not necessarily so hard. In Oslo or even in small villages, Norwegians are often curious about foreigners and rather easy to talk to. And with a few evenings spent around a barbecue or a shared hike, contacts are quickly made.
Their lifestyle is a little different from ours. For a start, they eat early: a normal breakfast, a light lunch, dinner around 5pm (which is often the main meal), then a snack in the evening. It’s strange at first, but you soon get used to it.
In terms of work, Norway is a real playground for anything to do with the environment, marine research, tourism and renewable energy. And once again, your English will be more than sufficient.
Internship in Denmark: the kingdom of cycling and hygge
Denmark is the king of everyday well-being. People are super relaxed, the social climate is ultra soothing. And best of all: everyone rides a bike! In Copenhagen, most people don’t even own a car. Cycling is their main means of transport, summer and winter alike.
Working hours are often superbly balanced. Shops open around 9am and close early (5pm on weekdays, 2pm at weekends). In short, you work well, but you always have time for yourself afterwards.
The Danes speak perfect English, but if you make the effort to learn a few words of Danish, it’s always much appreciated. And as for the atmosphere, between the cosy little cafés and the long summer evenings, you’ll soon discover the famous hygge, the Danish art of living that consists of enjoying life’s simple pleasures.
Professionally, Denmark is very active in design, innovation, sustainable development and the circular economy. You’ll have no trouble finding companies willing to take on a motivated intern.
Your work placement in Scandinavia is more than just a line on your CV
Ultimately, going to Scandinavia for your work placement is a real life experience. You won’t just be discovering another culture, you’ll be changing your relationship with work, nature and everyday life.
Yes, everything is expensive, it’s true. Yes, the climate can be surprising at first. But in exchange, you leave with incredible memories, great encounters, landscapes you may never see again anywhere else, and a very open mind.
At International Horizons, we’re here to support you from A to Z: preparation, Erasmus+ application, help with your CV, company search and follow-up on site. In short, you’ll leave with peace of mind. And that, frankly, is invaluable.
So, if you’d like to experience this Nordic adventure and build your work placement in Scandinavia together, you know where to find us. Let’s go, the North is waiting for you!
A few bonus tips before you pack your bags
Now, before you set off on your adventure, I’ll give you a few more tips from the field. These are the kind of things you often learn once you’re there, but you might as well have them in mind before you take off.
First of all, make sure your clothes are REALLY appropriate. Winters can be bitterly cold, but it’s not necessarily the cold that’s hardest: it’s the damp and the wind. So forget the fashionable little down jacket and invest in some really good technical layers. The art of multi-layering will become your best friend: a thermal T-shirt, a warm jumper and a really good windproof and waterproof jacket. The same goes for shoes: sturdy ones that keep you dry.
Then prepare yourself psychologically for the very short days in winter. Sometimes the sun rises at 10am and sets at 3pm. In other words, it goes by quickly. Artificial light and candles become almost therapeutic during this period. But you’ll see, there’s a real charm in experiencing this once in a lifetime.
Finally, don’t be afraid to embrace local traditions. Whether it’s saunas in Finland (even if you come home half-frozen in the icy water afterwards), Sunday hikes in Norway, ‘fika’ (sacred cake and coffee breaks in Sweden), or long hygge evenings in Denmark… the more you take part, the more you’ll discover why these people, despite the cold and the night, still manage to be among the happiest in the world.