Veterinary & Equine Veterinary Internships Abroad
Work Alongside Veterinary Experts in Spain, Latin America & Scotland
The Most Hands-On Veterinary Experience You'll Ever Have Abroad
If you’re serious about a career in veterinary medicine, you already know that hands-on clinical experience is everything. But immersive, real-world animal care is almost impossible to find at home, and that’s exactly what Adelante’s veterinary internships abroad deliver.
Adelante offers some of the most diverse and hands-on veterinary internship experiences available. Past interns have assisted in emergency surgeries at a veterinary hospital in Edinburgh, rehabilitated injured marine turtles on the coast of Uruguay, shadowed a traveling equine veterinarian in the highlands of Ecuador, and worked with vet teams at city zoos and animal shelters across Spain and Latin America.
Placements are currently available across six destinations: Scotland, Spain (Madrid, Barcelona, Seville), Uruguay, Ecuador, and Mexico. Whether you’re a pre-vet student building your application, a vet student completing clinical hours, or a recent graduate looking for international animal care experience, Adelante has a placement that fits your goals, species interests, and timeline.
Why Choose a Veterinary Internship Abroad?
Veterinary school is competitive, and international clinical experience is one of the most powerful differentiators you can bring to your application. Here’s why pre-vet and vet students pursue veterinary internships abroad:
Get hands-on clinical experience that’s hard to find at home
Adelante’s placements put you inside real clinical settings from the day you start your internship: surgeries, ER shifts, diagnostics, treatments, and direct animal care that goes far beyond observation.
Work across species you may never encounter domestically
International placements expose you to animals and clinical environments that are difficult to access at home. Past interns have worked with horses, marine turtles, zoo animals, and exotic wildlife, building a versatile and well-rounded veterinary profile.
Many distinct program tracks to choose from
General veterinary across multiple destinations, specialized equine veterinary in Ecuador, and a rigorous summer clinic program in Scotland. Each offers a meaningfully different experience.
Build bilingual veterinary vocabulary
Working in Spanish-speaking clinical environments develops professional Spanish skills that are genuinely valued in a field serving increasingly diverse communities.
Earn academic credit
Most Adelante interns receive academic credit through their home university, with full documentation support from our team.
These placements are open to pre-veterinary students, veterinary students, recent graduates, and anyone with a strong interest in animal care and veterinary medicine. A basic to intermediate level of Spanish is helpful for most Spanish and Latin American placements. The Scotland Observation and Research Veterinary program is conducted in English.
What Will You Do as a Veterinary Intern Abroad?
Adelante’s veterinary placements offer a different experience and clinical environment. Here’s what to expect from each:
General Veterinary — Zoos, Shelters, Clinics & Marine Wildlife
General veterinary placements are available across multiple destinations and cover a wide range of animal care contexts.
In Uruguay, interns work at city zoos and take part in one of Adelante’s most extraordinary placements: tagging and rehabilitating injured marine turtles on the Uruguayan coast, a rare and unforgettable conservation experience.
In Spain, candidates can intern at animal shelters in Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville, as well as at the Madrid Zoo Aquarium.
In Mexico, small animal clinic placements provide hands-on experience with domestic animals.
In Ecuador, interns work with street animals at a modern, fully equipped animal clinic in Quito. Across all cities, placements with local non-profits focused on animal rights and species preservation are also available.
Equine Veterinary Internship — Quito, Ecuador
For students and recent graduates who are interested in equine veterinary internships, Adelante offers a specialized placement in Quito, Ecuador, where they shadow a traveling equine veterinarian and work directly alongside him in all aspects of his practice. Day-to-day work includes vaccinations, dental work, emergency surgeries, parasite control, wound cleaning, vitamin injections, health checkups, and assisting with smaller surgical procedures. As the veterinarian travels between locations, interns may join him at animal rescue centers and shelters to provide care for additional animals. It is an immersive and hands-on equine vet experience that is virtually impossible to arrange independently.
Summer Veterinary Clinic / Hospital — Edinburgh, Scotland
Each summer, Adelante offers one of its most competitive placements: a rigorous 5-week veterinary clinic and hospital internship in Edinburgh, Scotland, accepting only 2–4 candidates per year. This program is not for the faint-hearted. It includes 24-hour ER work, observation in operating theatres, exposure to state-of-the-art laboratories, orthopedic surgeries, and major and minor procedures on dogs, cats, and exotic species. Interns may observe tumor removals and the use of ultrasound, endoscopy, and radiology. Work assignments run four to five days per week, about seven hours per day. Accepted candidates gain an international clinical perspective working alongside a respected Scottish team of vet surgeons and nurses. Apply early as this program fills every year.
Every Adelante Program Includes
AFFORDABLE PROGRAMS
Both our Internship Abroad and Study Abroad Programs are among the most affordable you’ll find. Explore a new country and gain meaningful internship experience that makes a difference, without being limited by your budget.
CENTRALIZED ACCOMMODATIONS
Enjoy your own private room in a shared city-center apartment, conveniently located near your placement, local life, and weekend adventures.
GUARANTEED, CONTRACTED INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT
You’ll receive a signed contract from your host organization before you arrive. We have placed 100% of our candidates in one of their requested fields and stand behind that with a guarantee.
CUSTOMIZED PROGRAM BUILDING
Your Adelante director builds your placement around your background, interests, Spanish proficiency level, and areas of interest. No cookie-cutter placements.
GUIDED REFLECTION EXERCISES
We help you identify and articulate the skills you’ve built abroad, an essential step in translating impactful international work into language that resonates on your resume, in interviews, and on graduate school applications.
ACADEMIC CREDIT SUPPORT
Nearly every Adelante intern who needed academic credit has received it. We provide full documentation and can work with your home institution to meet their requirements.
How the Application Process Works
1. Apply Online
Fill out our simple online application. There is no fee to apply, and it takes only a few minutes to get started.
2. Get on the Calendar
Eligible candidates receive a link to schedule a free, first interview by phone or Google Meet. Send in your resume and current photo before your interview to secure your spot
3. Interview
We’ll learn about your background, areas of interest, Spanish level, and goals so we can start building the right placement for you.
4. Interview Results
Within 1–2 business days, you will receive your interview results by email. Successful candidates receive an acceptance letter with clear next steps.
5. Confirmation
Confirm your spot within one week of acceptance with a confirmation fee. This means there is no tire-kicking, and you are committed to going abroad. A second interview and full placement details follow soon after.
6. Pre-Departure
Once confirmed, you will receive a comprehensive Pre-Departure Information Packet with everything you need to prepare for your time abroad, including visa guidance if required, along with cultural prep.
Our Top Veterinary Intern Abroad Destinations
Hear From Adelante Abroad Candidates
I am loving it here! I have been super busy between interning at my placement and exploring Edinburgh. I am having a fantastic time!
“I am having a wonderful time in Scotland and have thoroughly enjoyed these past few weeks! … I am currently heading to the research institute and I am also have a great time there! There are so many new things and animals I have seen and this experience is truly like no other! Thank you so much for everything!”
Featured Videos from Adelante Participants
Veterinary Internship FAQs
How long is a veterinary internship abroad?
We have 2 types of veterinary programs. One is an Observation and Research Veterinary program in Scotland and is only offered in Summer for 5 weeks. This is an intensive program where students will work with veterinary professionals for 40 hours a week. The other vet programs we offer are Veterinary internships in Spanish speaking countries where you can get hands on experience and improve your resume during a 2 month or longer program.
How can I get a veterinary internship abroad?
Getting a veterinary internship abroad is easy and straight forward. All you need to do is apply for a vet internships with our free online application and get on our calendar for your initial phone or video chat with our program director. You will send us a resume with past veterinary experience and we will review your application and resume with you. Once you are accepted into our international programs, we will begin our search for a company that matches the veterinary sector.
Should I do a veterinary internship abroad?
Absolutely! The past interns who have completed a veterinary program with us get experience that they don’t get anywhere else. These past candidates go on to apply for vet school or other animal related careers and easily improve their resume with the experience they had abroad.
Are the veterinary internships paid ?
No, all of our internships are unpaid as we are not an employment agency and to comply with in country labor laws. We place students with an internship that matches their interests and for them to get experience working in an international setting.
what do you do in a veterinary internship ?
Veterinary Internships with Adelante Abroad are very rewarding. There are different tasks that each student is given based on their placement and time they are abroad. Some of the veterinary work given to interns in the past include assisting with surgeries, caring for animals who stay overnight int he clinics, and experience working directly with or shadowing veterinary doctors.
when do veterinary internships start?
Our veterinary internships start the first Monday of every month in each Spanish speaking country. We have rolling start dates so interns can begin an internship that matches their timeline. Over summer we have a 5 week placement in Scotland where students dive into rigorous veterinary work and really make an impact to improve their resume. This 5 week program has a limited number of placements, and usually starts at the end of May or beginning of June, so we recommend to apply as soon as possible. Whether you are starting your program during the summer or taking a semester off in the fall, we have program placements for you.
When will I know my host company and internship placement?
After you’ve been accepted into the program, our team carefully matches you with a host company based on your background, goals, and interests. Your internship placement will be finalized 1 month before your departure date, giving you plenty of time to prepare for your experience abroad.
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Read MoreReady to Gain Veterinary Experience Abroad?
The best veterinary careers are built on broad experiences, and Adelante Abroad's international veterinary internships give you clinical exposure that you won’t find at home. Whether you're assisting in equine surgery in Ecuador, rehabilitating marine turtles in Uruguay, or working 24-hour ER shifts in Edinburgh, you'll return as a better, more confident, and more globally minded animal care professional. Spots are limited, especially for equine and Scotland placements. Apply today!
Start Your ApplicationContact UsWhy Choose Adelante Abroad?
Adelante Abroad has earned the trust of thousands of candidates worldwide through 25+ years of guaranteed placements and life-changing experiences. Since 1999, we’ve specialized in providing affordable, customized internship and study abroad programs across Spain, Latin America, and Scotland, and we’re not a large, impersonal agency. We’re a team of seasoned travelers and international education professionals who’ve lived abroad ourselves and know what it takes to make your experience a success.
Every program is built around you: your goals, your values, your background. With in-country directors operating full-time in every city where we have programs, you’re never on your own. No matter where in the world you are.
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Intern Spotlight
“My trip to Barcelona has been truly amazing. My internship is great and has helped me expand my career. It’s going by so fast, but I’ve been soaking up every minute of it.”
Lauren S., University of South Florida
