Jamaica’s business landscape is more varied than it might first appear. Alongside small and medium enterprises across retail, agro-processing, and the tourism supply chain that often lack access to professional-level business support, the island has built a genuinely significant business process outsourcing sector — a recognized part of the Caribbean’s outsourcing economy. Both ends of that spectrum need the same thing: capable people who can think through a real business problem and help implement the answer.
Our business internship abroad program places you directly inside that work. You support real strategy, operations, and client-facing tasks under the supervision of working business professionals — contributing to actual decisions and deliverables, not simulated case studies.
Business internships exist all over the world. Here is what makes a Jamaican placement worth your time:
Placement Only Business Internships are available islandwide, while Full Projects are available with businesses and organizations in Kingston and St. Catherine.
This program is designed for business, management, finance, and economics students, as well as early-career professionals seeking international business experience. Your specific track is matched to your background and interests during enrollment.
Your placement is matched to one of the following tracks based on your background, interests, and host organization availability:
A business and operations internship abroad focuses on the systems that keep a company running day to day.
A business management internship abroad places you closer to organizational decision-making and team coordination.
A business administration internship abroad focuses on the administrative backbone of a business.
A business development internship abroad focuses on growth — new clients, markets, and opportunities.
An international business internship abroad suits students with a specific interest in cross-border trade and global operations.
The minimum age to enroll independently is 16 years old. Participants under 18 must have a parent or guardian involved in their enrollment. Most participants are college-age or early-career given the program’s career-readiness focus. You do not need prior experience for general placements; advanced placements involving strategic work — campaign development, analytics tools, financial modeling — require relevant qualifications, confirmed during application. Once your application is accepted, submit the following before your program begins:
Your Project Advisor accompanies you to your host organization for orientation, introducing you to your supervisor and walking through current business priorities, house systems, and your specific responsibilities for the placement.
On afternoons and weekends without planned work, our partner tour company offers excursions across the island, including museums and visits to indigenous communities, to round out your experience.
You receive an official Internship Certificate signed by our Managing Director, a letter of recommendation from your host supervisor, and a summary of your specific projects and deliverables — useful for job applications, graduate school, or academic credit.
We strongly encourage interns to fundraise back home for resources to donate to their host organization — business software, promotional materials, and office supplies are often in short supply. We will send you a list of needed resources for your specific placement once confirmed.
By paying the enrollment fee, you are guaranteed a placement within our project and your dates are secured
Placement Only Enrollment Fee
One-Time Fee
1-Day Enrollment Fee
Start at
$150
Full projects include accommodation, meals, transportation and in-country support
$1,210
Total
$2,800
Total
$795
Per Additional Week
within an organization in Jamaica where you will volunteer or intern
at your project work site to support your project and make an impact
Di Real Jamaican membership is a mini course that teaches you about Jamaica
Full breakfast and dinner each day, and we cater to all diets or allergies
Live like a local in a shared dorm or private room with modern amenities
Daily project transfers and airport pickup and return
before your project begins, during your project and after you depart.
Throughout your project, enjoy outings to museums, ice cream, beaches & more
Project certificates & verification of your work hours after project completion
Shared dorm or private room with A/C
Clean bathrooms with hot shower
Free cable TV and Wi-Fi at your homebase
Secure home with cameras & panic button
Quiet family homebase to live like a local
Clean towels, washrags, pillows & bed linen
Rooms and common areas cleaned daily
Nightlife like games night & cooking classes
Welcome giftbag with goodies from JIP
Our primary accommodation is Barnett’s Homestay, located in the quiet community of Portmore, St. Catherine. You will stay with Jomo Barnett, the Director of Jamaica International Projects, and his family during your project. This is your chance to live with a Jamaican family and learn our culture.
Here is the structure and support in place:
When you are ready to apply, our simple enrollment process makes it straightforward. Our team is always just a quick call or message away.
Read this page carefully. Identify which track — operations, management, administration, development, or international business — best fits your background and goals.
Read about Jamaica International Projects, browse reviews from past interns, download our brochure, and check our FAQ.
Talk through this internship with your family or academic advisor. If you need it to satisfy a credit requirement, check what documentation your program needs.
Reach out to our team and we will pair you with a Project Advisor who will review your track preference and guide you through every step.
Complete the application form, including your preferred track. We respond within 48 hours.
Schedule a virtual meeting with your Project Advisor to discuss your track and the placement that fits best.
After your meeting, you receive a personalized offer email with your total cost and a breakdown of what is included.
Pay your Enrollment Fee and Program Tuition to lock in your placement and start date.
Once payment is confirmed, gather and send the following:
About a month before your start date, we hold a 30-minute onboarding session confirming your host organization, supervisor, and access to our online Jamaican culture, language, and travel safety courses.
Confirm your passport is valid for your full trip. Check visa requirements for Jamaica based on your nationality. Purchase travel medical insurance. Book your flights into Kingston.
Confirm all fees are paid and documents submitted. Pack your laptop and business attire — your placement is ready for you.
There is no restriction on the nationalities that can participate in our international business internships abroad opportunities. Our only restriction is the age range of our participants, which is at least 16 years old.
Yes! Read our reviews to see what our past volunteers and interns have to say about us, and during the enrollment process, you can request to connect with a past volunteer/intern.
This depends on the time of year that you join, but you may meet other volunteers during your project. Keep in mind that other volunteers and interns may be enrolled in a different project than yours.
You must be 16 years old or older to enroll on your own. If you are younger than 16, you will have to enroll with a parent or guardian. For a full list of requirements check out this list.
Jamaica is an English-speaking country, so you should be able to read, write and speak English (you don’t need to be fluent).
No experience or qualifications are required just a willingness to do a great job and have lots of fun. We encourage you to share any dietary needs or any special accommodations needed for your participation. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about choosing the right program for you.
Beyond the program tuition and enrollment fee, consider these additional costs to ensure a smooth and worry-free financial experience:
We accept payments by credit card or international wire transfer. You have the option to pay in full or go on a payment plan.
Looking for sponsorships or grants? While we don’t offer them directly, we can still help! Check with your school, parents/guardians, and mentors – they might have travel scholarships or grants available. We will assist with any application paperwork you need.
Need help funding your trip? Our detailed fundraising guide offers two options:
To get the most out of your program, starting on the recommended Sunday is ideal. This way, you’ll participate in the initial orientation alongside your fellow participants, ensuring everyone is on the same page from the beginning.
Need to adjust your arrival date? No problem! Just let us know before enrolling, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your request.
Absolutely! Everything is better with friends. You can join with a parent, friend, sibling, or spouse and share a room (based on availability).
Yes! We take your safety and security seriously. Some steps we take to keep you safe during your trip include:
Follow this link for more information on how we keep you safe.
No, for general placements. Advanced placements involving strategic or analytical work — campaign development, financial modeling, analytics tools — require relevant qualifications or coursework, confirmed during application.
Many business, management, and economics programs accept documented international internship experience toward elective or internship credit, though specific requirements vary by institution. We provide detailed hours logs and supervisor sign-off most programs accept as supporting documentation — confirm specifics with your academic coordinator before applying.
Flights, daily lunch, personal spending money, optional weekend excursions, travel insurance, visa fees where applicable, and personal equipment like a laptop are all outside the fee. A full breakdown is included in your offer email.
Yes. Contact your Project Advisor and we will extend your placement at the additional weekly rate, subject to your host organization’s availability.
All Year Round
1-12 Weeks
Placement Only and Full Project
