International volunteering and other opportunities

UCL Study Abroad is delighted to present a range of summer opportunities for students. Browse the options below!

International volunteering partnerships

Below is a summary of our international volunteering partners and the opportunities they offer.

Students can apply for a Global Experience Bursary to help with the associated volunteering costs. For final year students that may not be eligible for the Global Experience Bursary, please look at Study Abroad's Funding page for ideas on other sources of support..

Think Pacific - Volunteering and Work Experience in Fiji and Indonesia

Think Pacific is a UK social enterprise, which works with local government partners in Fiji and Indonesia to achieve ethical, responsible and sustainable development in remote communities, whilst allowing university students to have a safe, structured and rewarding learning and volunteering experience. International volunteers live in a village and work with locals to discuss, explore and implement sustainable projects to tackle a range of social issues. Topics include public health, mental health, sports development, enterprise start up, employability and life skills.

Watch the video below to find out more about Think Pacific:

YouTube Widget Placeholderhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJLGmEPmuzw

Costs

Registration and programme fees are published on Think Pacific's Costs webpage. Students are encouraged to fundraise over the course of the year to reach their targets, which Think Pacific will provide resources and guidance to assist participants with. Please note the programme fee does not cover flights. Further details can be found on Think Pacific's Cost Breakdown page.

How to apply

Students can find out more information on the application page, where they will complete a short online form. Think Pacific will then contact students for a phone call about their application and to discuss the programme in greater depth. 

 

Testimonial

Aslam Bin Norhan from Psychology and Language Sciences participated in the summer 2018 programme. Watch his testimonial below:

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Fully funded remote interships - Think Pacific also offer Remote Internships (fully online, working on live projects with Fijian Ministries, NGO’s, social enterprises or local charities). In 2024 they had150 fully funded places, so for more information visit their Remote Internships website. Watch Noah's testimony on his experience on a remote internship here.

Further information on Think Pacific can be found on their UCL-Think Pacific webpage. Students may also book onto their weekly online information sessions.

Caribbean Elective - Volunteering and Work Experience in Saint Lucia

Caribbean Elective enables students to spend 4 weeks in Saint Lucia, gaining career and life-changing hands-on work experience. Students build on their skills to contribute to growth in local communities. There are four programmes students are join:

Supporting Legal Aid

For Law students only. The programme has two phases: Phase One where students familiarise themselves with the Saint Lucian legal system (evolved directly from the British legal system), then Phase Two evolves into practical work that could include assisting policymakers create new policies, make amendments to the law or provide legal aid advice to domestic abuse victims or marginalised groups.

 

Psychology and Mental Health

Open to all but ideal for Medicine, Psychology, Social Work and Nursing students. Students work under a local mentor across communities and marginalised groups including young offenders, homeless shelters, schools, LGBTQIA+ groups and more, to understand their challenges, then design and deliver workshops across these communities. 

 

Business Enterprise

Open to all, students gain hands-on experience fresh insights into global business, politics and how both shape economic development in the Caribbean. Visit local businesses to see how they operate, learn about the local economy and see the vital role that tourism and agriculture play in the Saint Lucian economy and how communities rely on it. Explore how politics impacts business by meeting with local politicians and those who work with them.

 

Politics in the Community

Open to all, students work closely under the guidance of Dominic Fedee, former Minister of Tourism and current Senator in St. Lucia, gaining first-hand experience in how political decisions are made and executed. 
Meet key politicians, civil servants and people from developing communities whose lives are shaped by political decisions. Students will use their newfound understanding of communities and challenges to help design new policy ideas for how to improve society, livelihoods and opportunity in Saint Lucia. 

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Costs

All programmes are £1,799. This includes programme fees, airport pick-up/drop-off in the Caribbean, transport to and from the projects and in-country support (including arrival induction and safety briefing).

 

How to Apply
Students complete an online application and then are contacted with further guidance from a Caribbean Elective staff member.  Students should submit their cohort preference:

 

Cohort One (June Cohort) Business, Law and Politics only
Arrive on 4th or 5th June | Depart on 2nd or 3rd July

 

Cohort Two (July Cohort) Mental Health, Law and Politics only
Arrive on 4th or 5th July | Depart on 1st or 2nd August

Cohort Three (August Cohort) Business, Mental Health, Law and Politics. 
Arrive on 3rd or 4th August | Depart on 30th or 31st August

For more information please visit the Caribbean Elective website. 

Raleigh International - Expeditions in Costa Rica, Kenya and Borneo

Raleigh International work with young people from across the world on volunteering projects in Costa Rica, Kenya or Borneo on Raleigh Expeditions.  Raleigh has over 40 years’ experience with more than 50,000 people from over 100 countries having taken part. Raleigh Expeditions last between 5-10 weeks and involves voluntary work on community and environment focused projects.  All projects are set up in partnership with the local communities as a part of longer-term sustainable initiatives and aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

There are opportunities for over 21s and over 25s - Venturer Managers support the 17–24-year-old Venturers (most roles need to be over 25. There are also content creator and photographer roles for over 21s. 

YouTube Widget Placeholderhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2zFtIcTv2k

Costs

Example for 5-weeks £3,499* (this price does not include flights and is correct as of Oct 2024). 

Full information regarding costs and what’s included or not is on Raleigh International's website under the Expedition destination you choose.  Their financial support includes:

 - 5% discount - Raleigh International offer a 5% discount to any current UCL students for any of their Expeditions. 

 - Easyfundraising – Raleigh is partnered with easyfundraising which allows you, and as many supporters as you can get, to raise funds for your trip simply by shopping online. It’s totally free and users make on average £400 in a year but up to £1000 in some cases. Take a look at the easyfundraising pack. 

 - SES Raleigh Explorer Award full bursary – Raleigh offers a small number of fully-funded places in partnership with the SES (Scientific Exploration Society). Find out more about how to apply and the criteria.  

How to Apply

Students complete an online application form via the Raleigh website and then are contacted by one of their members of staff for further guidance. 

For further information visit the Raleigh website. Students may also book onto a Raleigh Online Information Event (they take place every two weeks), book a 121 call or simply fill out an enquiry form.

Gotoco - TEFL Opportunities in Europe and Asia

Gotoco is a social enterprise devoted to providing students with impactful and affordable global work experience and adventure travel opportunities. Gotoco is committed to promoting cultural awareness and quality English education through a variety of projects across Europe and Asia, with the aim to make international cultural exchange, travel and TEFL certification more accessible and affordable.

To find out more, watch the videos below:

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Costs

There are fees that go towards:

•    TEFL training and certification
•    accommodation and meals during the summer camp
•    in-country support and post-programme references
•    cultural activities.
Full information regarding costs are on the Gotoco website. 

 

How to apply

Students complete an online form via the Gotoco website and may involve an interview. Final location details are usually confirmed from March-June, as this is when the summer camps confirm their teams.

 

For more information please visit the Gotoco website. Students may also book onto their online information sessions.

International Volunteer HQ - Volunteering Worldwide

International Volunteer HQ is a New Zealand-based Certified B Corporation, which organizes global community engagement projects in 45+ countries for individuals and student groups. Volunteer projects include teaching, healthcare, environmental and wildlife conservation, sports development, refugee support, and more. Year-round start dates and flexible durations from 1 week to 6 months are available.

YouTube Widget Placeholderhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLLvcD9S-Hs

Costs
All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$299 (approximately £240) in addition to the Program Fee, which varies by destination. A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.

You can see our Program Fee breakdown by destination and duration on IVHQ's Pricing page.

Our fees cover the cost of:
•    Airport pickup
•    Accommodation
•    Meals (varies by destination)
•    Pre-departure support
•    In-country program orientation
•    24/7 in-country support
•    Personalized preparation tools, guides and checklists
•    Discounts on language lessons
•    Discounts on travel and tour add-ons
•    Certificate of International Volunteer Service.

It is important that you budget for these expenses separately: flights, travel insurance (mandatory), visas (if required), criminal background check, vaccinations (if needed), and personal spending money. IVHQ offers unlimited free changes and full refund options.

How to Apply
Students can complete a free online application directly on the IVHQ website. This should only take 5-10 minutes and will connect students to their dedicated Program Manager, who will outline next steps. Students should apply at least 2-3 months before their selected start date.

For more information, please visit the IVHQ website. You can also read the testimonials of past student volunteers by visiting their reviews page.

Other international opportunities