Gain practical clinical experience through a hands-on opportunity that will immerse you in the animal welfare field
Begin an impactful internship that allows you to apply your clinical skills to real cases, while making a difference in local animal welfare efforts. This Veterinary Internship in Europe offers both current veterinary students and licensed veterinarians the chance to assist active nonprofits, contributing to the health and well-being of abandoned and mistreated animals. With hands-on tasks ranging from clinical case monitoring to surgical assistance, you’ll help protect animals and gain invaluable experience in the field.
This Animal Welfare Internship not only strengthens your practical skills in veterinary medicine, but also allows you to contribute to the local community in meaningful ways. You’ll work alongside skilled professionals in a supportive environment, honing your expertise and learning how to adapt to different clinical settings. As you add to your resume and grow your international professional work experience, you’ll also get to explore a new culture by being based in a gorgeous setting.
Learning Objectives
Founded in 2015, this social enterprise is dedicated to empowering nonprofits across multiple destinations in Europe. Based in Lisbon, Portugal, the organization’s mission is to foster a positive social & environmental impact on local communities as they aim to transform the way people travel by connecting them with meaningful internship opportunities.
By partnering with nonprofits in Europe, they connect students and recent graduates with opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world challenges. These internships help organizations increase their impact and provide interns with valuable international experience in their desired field.
Your role as a veterinary intern will be specified based on your experience and learning goals, along with the available projects. Note: tasks are not guaranteed as they are dependent on real-time animal cases.
Interns are housed in a dormitory-style sustainable hostel in Estoril located 5 minutes away from the train station by foot. Estoril is a beach town, 30 minutes away from Lisbon city center by train, giving you the best of both city and beach life! This sustainable hostel has shared bathrooms and dorm rooms accommodating up to 6-14 people (single gender), along with private rooms available for upgrading upon request. Around the house there is Wifi and there are common areas to relax and mingle with people from around the world. Feel free to enquire about the sustainability measures taken on-site and share any new ideas!
Make sure to visit your doctor and dentist for a check-up before your internship and to get all the recommended vaccines and/or medications necessary to stay healthy. During your placement, you’ll have access to the Roots team remotely, support staff on the ground, along with an internship supervisor and program coordinator.
Portugal is considered a safe destination for travelers. Crime rates are low, but pickpocketing and handbag snatches do occur in tourist destinations. Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you, keep your belongings close, and be extra vigilant at night.
Free Wifi is available at your accommodation to stay in touch with family and friends while abroad. To stay connected wherever you are in Portugal, you can opt to use your existing data roaming plan (be aware of high charges) or grab a free local SIM card at reception (the activation fee starts at 5€). Make sure your mobile phone is unlocked for international carriers before you travel.
Interns are provided with three meals per day and also have access to a shared kitchen if needed. The meals are prepared daily by cooks who use fresh local ingredients to offer interns the best of typical Portuguese dishes and international cuisine. Lunch and dinner include local staples such as fish and chicken, as well as rice, pasta, vegetables and salad. Breakfast is self-served and generally includes tea, coffee, bread, cheese, ham, spreads, cereal, yogurt, and fruit. If you have any dietary restriction or allergies, please let us know before arriving.
What you’ll pay (2025 rates)
4 WEEKS EUR 2,165
6 WEEKS EUR 2,950
8 WEEKS EUR 3,665
12 WEEKS EUR 5,165
Internships longer than 12 weeks are possible if you are an EU resident, have an existing student/residence visa, or are prepared to self-arrange a residence/work permit to stay in the EU. Get in touch for more information.
Every Sunday
Portugal has a unique cultural heritage, where tradition and modernity blend together in perfect harmony, which gives it a special personality. Estoril is a stylish and sophisticated resort town long recognized on the Portuguese Riviera. With gorgeous beaches, a renowned casino, and fine-dining restaurants – there is plenty to do! Hop on the train and head to Lisbon to explore all that the city has to offer.
You should expect to budget EUR 10 per day for your daily public transportation to your internship placement.
Intern stay in a cozy, dormitory-style hostel situated along the picturesque Douro River, just steps away from the metro and within walking distance to Porto’s iconic landmarks. The hostel rooms (single gender up to 6-14 pax) come with air conditioning, bedding, and personal conveniences such as reading lights, power outlets by each bed, and individual lockers for secure storage. If you’d prefer more privacy, you can upgrade to a private room—just contact us for details. The shared bathrooms are equipped with en-suite showers and toilet stalls. There is Wifi on-site and common areas to mingle or unwind.
Make sure to visit your doctor and dentist for a check-up before your internship and to get all the recommended vaccines and/or medications necessary to stay healthy. During your placement, you’ll have access to the Roots team remotely, support staff on the ground, along with an internship supervisor and program coordinator.
Portugal is considered a safe destination for travelers. Crime rates are low, but pickpocketing and handbag snatches do occur in tourist destinations. Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you, keep your belongings close, and be extra vigilant at night.
Free Wifi is available at your accommodation to stay in touch with family and friends while abroad. To stay connected wherever you are in Portugal, you can opt to use your existing data roaming plan (be aware of high charges) or grab a free local SIM card at reception (the activation fee starts at 5€). Make sure your mobile phone is unlocked for international carriers before you travel.
Interns are provided with three meals per day and also have access to a shared kitchen if needed. Lunch and dinner are served in a nearby restaurant which prepares tasty Portuguese dishes with fresh local ingredients. Breakfast is self-served at the accommodation and generally includes tea, coffee, bread, cheese, ham, spreads, cereal, yogurt and fruit. If you have any dietary restriction or allergies, please let us know prior to your arrival.
What you’ll pay (2025 rates)
4 WEEKS EUR 2,570
6 WEEKS EUR 3,590
8 WEEKS EUR 4,610
12 WEEKS EUR 6,650
Internships longer than 12 weeks are possible if you are an EU resident, have an existing student/residence visa, or are prepared to self-arrange a residence/work permit to stay in the EU. Get in touch for more information.
The Sunday before the 1st and 3rd Monday AND every Sunday from May to the end of August
Portugal has a unique cultural heritage, where tradition and modernity blend together in perfect harmony, which gives it a special personality. Porto is a historical, vibrant city famous for its iconic Port wine. Being the second-largest city in Portugal, it is still very walkable with plenty of stunning architecture, a thriving arts scene, delicious cuisines, and a buzzing nightlife.
You should expect to budget EUR 4-5 per day for your daily public transportation to your internship placement.
Internship start dates and fees vary per location and can be found in the City specific sections above.
If you’re ready to apply for this internship, here’s what to do:
Fill in the application form (it will show in a new screen) which includes sharing your CV to us.
We’ll set up a call with you to go through your application.
If we feel it’s a good match, we’ll set up a call between you and the supervisor for this internship.
If everyone’s happy, we’ll provisionally confirm your placement! We’ll then send you the invoice for the deposit, getting started with the booking process and all the info you need.
Only once we receive payment of the deposit your placement will be confirmed.
Or if you’d just like to ask us some questions about this internship first, just fill in the contact form below. We’ll be happy to assist!
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ABOUT US
At Roots, we create the perfect balance between meaningful work and valuable learning through internships with nonprofits & social enterprises in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.TEST
CONTACT
SOCIAL
ABOUT US
At Roots, we create the perfect balance between meaningful work and valuable learning through internships with nonprofits & social enterprises in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
CONTACT
UK: +44 139 269 0255
US: +1 617 500 6179
internship@rootsinterns.com
OFFICE: Cape Town, South Africa
SOCIAL
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
ABOUT US
At Roots, we create the perfect balance between meaningful work and valuable learning through internships with nonprofits & social enterprises in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
CONTACT
UK: +44 139 269 0255
US: +1 617 500 6179
internship@rootsinterns.com
OFFICE: Cape Town, South Africa
SOCIAL
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
