Professional
Internship
Program

WHY PARTICIPATE

In today’s competitive global economy, international experience is a valuable addition to any résumé. Whether you are pursuing a career in financial services, IT, education, or information and media, you will have the opportunity to broaden your perspective on how to conduct business in the U.S., work closely with a mentor, and develop your network.

The Professional Internship Program is a competitive and prestigious scholarship for the next generation of Baltic civic and business leaders. The Program provides driven young professionals with the opportunity to participate in specialized internships across various sectors in the United States except for medicine*, veterinary medicine, and clinical psychology.

Talented young professionals seeking international experience, deepen understanding of their field, and enhancing their capacity to contribute to their home country are encouraged to apply.

The BAFF Professional Internship Program provides a comprehensive scholarship for 9 -month-long program in the U.S. offering the chance to immerse yourself in American culture while gaining the experience, knowledge, and skills to advance your career.

* If your field of interest is medicine, please contact the BAFF program manager for more information.

 
 

“THE BAFF EXPERIENCE WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR BOTH MY PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH”

Martins Pjalkovskis, currently Investment Director at ZGI Capital, took a deep dive into finance and spent a year in the US as a venture’s analyst in the Silicon Valley.

THE SCHOLARSHIP INCLUDES

  • Personalized coaching, including career research, resume preparation, and interview skills

  • Internship placement with a respected U.S. organization

  • Round-trip airfare

  • Travel health insurance

  • J-1 visa sponsorship

  • Pre-departure and re-entry orientations

  • Enrichment Trip for all participants while in the U.S.

  • Accommodation expenses

  • Personal expenses

  • Local transportation expenses

  • 24/7 emergency support

    No participation fees

IMPORTANT information

  • BAFF Professional Interns participate in a 5 days -long domestic enrichment trip. Designed to enhance your U.S. experience, enrichment trips feature activities such as innovation or intercultural communication skills training, meetings with influential entrepreneurs and business leaders, local history and food tours, meaningful volunteering, and teambuilding fun. The week’s focus is on developing strong ties among Interns, the building block of a strong BAFF alumni network.

    Enrichment trips are scheduled in the Fall and Spring. In general, Interns arriving in the U.S. between April and July participate in the Fall; Interns arriving later participate the following Spring. While every effort is made to make the travel dates and itinerary available at the earliest date possible, the actual trip dates may not be finalized until about a month before the event.

    Recent enrichment trips have convened BAFF Interns in Texas, New Orleans, Salt Lake City, Atlanta, Nashville and Miami.

    Check our BLOG section for more stories.

  • A Two-Year Home Country Physical Presence (Residency) Requirement is a requirement of participation in the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation Professional Internship program.

    Upon completion of the BAFF/CIEE Professional Internship, you are required to return immediately to, and reside in, your country of permanent residency for a minimum of two years and are not permitted to stay or attempt to stay in the U.S. or any other foreign country, including to work, pursue work, or study.

    Short-term visits, up to a maximum of 14 days, to foreign countries for the primary purpose of tourism or short-term business are allowed. Visits longer than 14 days must be reported to your BAFF local representative prior to the start of the visit. In any calendar year, the total length of visits to foreign countries for either purpose may not exceed 90 days.

    The residency requirement constitutes a moral obligation that relates to the foundational aim of BAFF to promote Baltic economic development through investment in the career development of young professionals. The Residency Requirement is at the heart of the success of the BAFF Professional Internship program. Please carefully read and consider the full description included in the Participant Declaration that you are required to sign in order to be eligible to apply.

Dates and deadlines

More information about upcoming application deadlines will be available soon.
Please check this page regularly or follow BAFF on social media for updates.