Language Requirement: None
Academic Standing by Program Start: Freshman or Above
Location: Americas, Costa Rica
GPA: 2.75

Program Overview

Heredia, Costa Rica, known as the “City of Flowers,” is a vibrant and historic city just 20 minutes north of San José, offering a mix of colonial charm, modern convenience, and lush natural surroundings. As home to the National University of Costa Rica, Heredia has a dynamic student and professional community, making it an excellent place for both work and cultural immersion. The city’s central parks, bustling markets, and lively café scene provide plenty of opportunities to connect with locals and experience authentic Costa Rican life. Its proximity to cloud forests, volcanoes, and coffee plantations also makes it a great base for weekend adventures.

Heredia is a growing hub for business and innovation, with opportunities in sectors like eco-tourism, technology, and agriculture. Many multinational companies, including those in the tech and service industries, have established offices in the area, making it an ideal location for internships and professional development. Interns can gain hands-on experience while also enjoying the city’s relaxed atmosphere and access to Costa Rica’s stunning natural landscapes. Whether you’re working with a local coffee farm, engaging in sustainability initiatives, or interning with a global company, Heredia offers the perfect blend of career growth and cultural exploration.

What is GlobalWorks?

GlobalWorks internships are personalized internship programs that bring you out of the country, and into the workplace. We connect academic study with real-world experiences by providing full-time international internship opportunities to UO students in various career fields. Working with local professional internship providers in locations around the world, we provide individualized placements for UO students. Students earn UO credits and life-changing work experience in a different culture. Immerse yourself in a new city, earn UO course credits, and gain professional experience with a GlobalWorks internship.

Internship Career Fields:

Dates and Deadlines

TermYearDeadlineArrival DateDeparture Date
Summer2025Extended 3/28/2025Late JuneLate August
Fall20255/15/2025TBDTBD
Winter20269/1/2025TBDTBD
Spring202612/1/2025TBDTBD

How to apply: 

Apply to UO GlobalWorks International Internship programs by clicking the “Start an Application.” You can open an application to view all the materials you’ll need before you submit. Late applications may be accepted based on position availability but note that for some terms and locations the program can be very competitive. After review by the University, students will need to interview with our third-party provider for final acceptance. For more information, view the full GlobalWorks application steps here. Note that you only need to submit one application per term for GlobalWorks and can identify alternate locations within the application. 

This program is less than 90 days. Students with a US passport traveling to this location do not require a travel visa for this program. 

If you are not a US Citizen: Notify your GlobalWorks Advisor. Students who are not US citizens should contact the consulate in their country of residence about visa requirements, no matter the duration of the program of study.

Discount for Pell Recipients

To expand access to study abroad, GEO is offering a $500 discount for this program to UO students who currently have the Pell Grant as part of their federal financial aid (FAFSA).

Course Equivalencies

UO students: please refer to the UO Course Equivalency Process and the UO Office of the Registrar Course Equivalency Database.

Non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.

Housing Description

As an intern in Heredia, you will be placed with a local host family in a safe, middle-class neighborhood within a 15 to 20-minute walk from your program site. Living in Heredia— known as the City of Flowers—you’ll experience the charm of a smaller Costa Rican town while being just 20 minutes from the capital city, San José.

Your homestay includes three meals per day with your host family, including a packed lunch for weekend excursions. Laundry is done once a week by your host, and all homes have WiFi. This housing arrangement offers an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in Costa Rican culture and practice your Spanish daily.

Note that housing may vary from term to term and from provider to provider.