How to get an internship at Samsung, Sony or Tencent as a foreigner

Yes, but not everywhere is the same. The opportunity depends on the country of the division, the specific vacancy, the candidate’s status, the language and the right to work. Part of Samsung’s programs in the United States explicitly states the requirement to already have an American work permit-the company does not sponsor a visa for interns (semiconductor.samsung.com). Sony has historically openly recruited international students to Japan through a separate recruitment drive for STEM majors. At Tencent in China, almost all technical roles require Chinese (Tencent job descriptions, viterbicareers.usc.edu), but there are separate programs for international students outside of China.

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Is it realistic for a foreigner to get an internship at a large Asian company?

What kind of specialists do Samsung, Sony and Tencent need?

engineers and developers — software and hardware, semiconductor;

data analysts and AI / ML specialists-research roles often require publications in specialized conferences;

designers-food and graphic design;

product and marketing specialists — product management, strategy;

researchers-R & D direction;

content and HR specialists — mostly in international offices.

Internship at Samsung

Де шукати вакансії

Samsung does not have a single global portal-vacancies are published separately by division: Samsung Electronics America, Samsung Research America, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, Samsung Semiconductor Europe (headquartered in Munich) (semiconductor.samsung.com). each division conducts recruitment according to its own schedule — check several portals, not just one.

What are the requirements for candidates?

The basic condition almost everywhere is to actively study for a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD degree with at least one semester remaining (semiconductor.samsung.com, samsung.com/us/careers). some programs-such as Samsung Electronics America-do not accept recent graduates: student status is mandatory at the time of application. For a Samsung Semiconductor internship in the United States, the requirement is officially stated: “U.S. work authorization is required” – that is, the candidate must already have the right to work in the country, the company does not issue this visa (semiconductor.samsung.com). This should be checked separately for each specific position.Conditions may differ for other regions.

What selection stages are possible?

Resume screening, online testing for technical roles, and interviews with the team — the specific format depends on the department and position.

Is Korean necessary?

For programs in the United States and Europe-no, recruitment and work are conducted in English. For roles directly in Korea, knowledge of Korean becomes a significant practical advantage, although there is no formal official confirmation of this requirement on the English versions of Samsung’s career pages — please check for a specific vacancy.

Internship at Sony

Where are the programs published?

Main channel for recruitment to Japan — sony.com/en/SonyInfo/Careers/japan. This link has been used for several consecutive years by Sony’s Global Talent Acquisition Team in official announcements for university career centers-University of Michigan, ANU, NUS (events 2022-2024). It publishes positions with R & D, PlayStation, Consumer Electronics, Imaging, Semiconductor and Biotechnology areas.

Relevant areas of study

According to the same official announcement — computer science, engineering, mathematics, physics, robotics, life sciences. This applies primarily to technical STEM roles in Japan; for creative and product areas (PlayStation, Sony Music), the requirements differ and are published separately on regional career sites.

Possible selection stages

Submission of a resume, an interview in English, discussion of a project or technical skills-from the description of Sony information sessions for universities.

The role of Japanese and English

According to official reports of the Sony Global Talent Acquisition Team, all positions for STEM recruitment are based in Tokyo, interviews are conducted in English, and most roles do not formally require knowledge of Japanese-interest in Japanese culture is considered a plus, but not required (materials of the official Sony recruitment, reproduced by the career centers of the University of Michigan and ANU in 2022-2024 years, with reference to sony.com/en/SonyInfo/Careers/japan/).

The company also claims financial and logistical support with a visa for employment. This wording applies to STEM programs of a specific set.For other areas (for example, Sony Music, Sony Pictures in the United States), the requirements may be different, and they need to be checked separately.

Internship at Tencent

What areas are represented?

Software development, testing, front-end and mobile development, computer vision and NLP for research roles, product management, HR-the latter mainly for international offices.

Where to look for open positions

Official portal careers.tencent.com. separately on the Tencent International Job Placement platform (tencent.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com there are positions that are focused specifically on international students — for example, HR internships with a possible relocation to Shenzhen and a potential offer based on its results.

Requirements for foreign candidates

Depends on where the role is based. In the official description of Tencent technical vacancies (document posted on viterbicareers.usc.edu) for most engineering positions in China, it is explicitly stated: “Chinese language fluency is required due to business necessity” – the candidate must be able to communicate with employees and partners and work with documentation in Chinese. For programs targeting international students outside of China, this requirement is relaxed.

The meaning of Chinese

Inside China, the company’s working language is Chinese, which is confirmed by the official job description and the feedback from interns about working in the Beijing office. Without conversational and business-like Chinese, a full-fledged internship at Tencent’s Chinese office is unlikely. For positions outside of China, Chinese is not required, but it remains an advantage.

Where to look for internships in Asian companies

official career websites of companies-the most reliable source of relevant vacancies;

university career portals and university partnerships with employers;

LinkedIn-direct job search and networking with employees;

career fairs and information sessions held by companies at partner universities;

recommendations from teachers and university graduates;

graduate programs, which sometimes become a continuation of an internship.

What documents do you need to prepare?

Resume

One page, in English or the job title language, with a focus on technical skills and measurable project results.

Cover letter

Not always required, but it is often requested separately for research and product roles.

Portfolio or GitHub

For engineering and design roles — real projects, code, and cases.

Academic documents

A transcript and proof of current student status are required in almost all programs.

Recommendations

They are not always needed at the submission stage, but they can be requested additionally at later stages of the selection process.

How to adapt your resume for an international internship

Show your results in numbers – not “participated in development”, but “reduced loading time by 30%”. Specify the technical stack specifically: languages, frameworks, and tools. A separate block is the level of language proficiency. Put your academic projects in your specialty above formal achievements without any connection to the direction.

How is the selection process?

Application screening-checking your resume for compliance with the basic requirements;

Online testing-for technical roles: algorithms, code, specialized knowledge;

Technical or case interview-problem analysis, real-time code, or business case analysis;

Interview with the team-getting to know future colleagues, assessing cultural compliance;

Internship eligibility check-proof of student status and, where possible, the right to work in the host country.

What skills increase a candidate's chances?

specialized technical skills confirmed by projects;

English at the level of free communication-the minimum for most international programs;

The local language of the internship country is Chinese for Tencent in China, an advantage for Samsung in Korea;

international experience-exchange, preliminary internships, volunteering abroad;

real projects-educational, personal, hackathons;

participation in specialized student organizations.

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Visa and legal restrictions

Eligibility for an internship depends on the country, student visa status, duration and format of employment. As the example of Samsung in the United States shows, some programs directly require you to already have the right to work — without sponsoring a visa from the company. Conditions vary by country and change over time — check the current rules for your visa category and the requirements of a specific vacancy before applying, and do not rely on general ideas about the company.

How to choose a university affiliated with major employers

Look for career centers with real partnerships-as in the case of universities where Sony’s Global Talent Acquisition Team or Samsung’s recruitment team regularly come. Industrial projects and joint laboratories are a strong signal. The Alumni network in these companies facilitates networking.

Typical candidate mistakes

mass mailing of identical requests without adapting to the company and role

no real projects in the resume – only grades and a list of courses

lack of preparation for a technical interview-without practicing solving problems in advance

ignoring language and visa requirements is especially critical for roles in China or where you already have the right to work

What should I do if I couldn’t get into Samsung, Sony, or Tencent right away

Consider internships at startups and smaller tech companies in the region — they often provide more hands-on experience and are more lenient on visa issues. University research labs offer project-based experience that is valuable for future applications. Partner companies and suppliers of large corporations are a real way to get relevant experience and recommendations.

How SelfStartGlobal helps build an educational and career trajectory

At SelfStartGlobal, we connect the choice of university and specialty with career goals:

  • we select programs with strong industrial connections,
  • help you build a personal brand and portfolio for a specific direction,
  • and prepare you for language and visa requirements in advance so that you don’t face restrictions on your right to work already at the application stage.

If you are planning a career in the technology sector in Asia, please come for a consultation and we will analyze your profile and goals.

FAQ

Is it possible to do an internship without knowing the local language?

So, in Sony programs for Japan and part of Samsung programs, recruitment and work are done in English. Tencent almost always needs Chinese inside China, and English is usually enough for programs outside of China.

Is it mandatory to study at an Asian university?

No. Sony and some of Samsung’s divisions are hiring students from universities in the United States, Europe, and other regions. But for US-based Samsung apps, you need to check your work eligibility requirements separately-some of them don’t sponsor a visa.

Are internships paid?

So, according to official data of both companies, Samsung and Sony programs are paid. Payment terms depend on the division and country — Please specify them at the offer stage.

Can I apply from another country?

Yes, but with caveats. Some programs (for example, Samsung Semiconductor US) require that you already have the right to work in the host country at the time of submission — this is not “apply from anywhere”, but a specific legal condition that needs to be checked for each vacancy.

What course of study is suitable for submission?

A minimum of one remaining semester of study is usually required at the start of the program. Research roles are more often open to undergraduates and PhD students, product and marketing areas are also accepted by undergraduates.

Popular universities

Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore’s flagship university and the best university in Asia according to QS and THE. NUS is the only Asian university in the global QS top 10. Instruction is in English at all levels, from undergraduate to PhD. With 16 faculties and schools and 28 subject areas ranked in the…
Bachelor's degree: from 33,400 to 190,150 SGD per yearMaster's degree: from 37,900 to 75,210 SGD per yearDoctoral degree: from 40,300 SGD per year
South Korea
Korea University is one of the leading private universities in South Korea, founded in 1905. It is included in the unofficial top three of SKY – the association of three of the country’s most prestigious universities together with Seoul National University and Yonsei University. It attracts foreign students with strong programs in engineering, computer science,…
Bachelor's degree: from $7,550 to $10,160 per hourMaster's degree: $9,000 to $13,000 per hourDoctoral studies: from $8,000 to $12,000 per hour
South Korea
Seoul National University is South Korea’s leading national university, founded in 1946 by the merger of ten educational institutions in Seoul. It is part of the unofficial SKY trio, along with Korea University and Yonsei University. It attracts international students with strong programs in engineering, computer science, natural sciences, pharmacy, and international studies.
Bachelor's degree: $4,700 to $6,500 per yearMaster's degree: from $5,500 to $8,000 per yearDoctoral studies: from $4,500 to $7,000 per year
South Korea
Bachelor's degree: $6,400 to $11,800 per yearMaster's degree: from $8,000 to $14,000 per yearDoctoral studies: from $7,000 to $12,000 per year
Canada
Bachelor's degree: 26,000 to 45,000 RMB per year (approximately 3,600–6,300 USD)Master's degree: from 29,000 to 188,000 RMB per year (about 4,000–26,000 USD)Doctoral studies: 32,000 to 60,000 RMB per year (approximately 4,500 to 8,400 USD) – most PhD students receive funding through CSC or university scholarships
China
Fudan University is one of the leading universities in China and Asia, founded in 1905. It is part of the C9 League, an elite association of nine leading Chinese universities, which is often compared to the American Ivy League. For foreign applicants, Fudan in Shanghai is a combination of a high academic level, an international…
Undergraduate: 23,000 to 40,000 RMB per hour (about 3,200-5,500 USD)Master's degree: about 28,000 to 50,000 RMB per hour (about 3,900-7,000 USD)Doctoral studies: about 30,000 to 55,000 RMB per hour (about 4,100-7,600 USD)

Countries

South Korea
Singapore
Japan

Japan is one of the most unconventional destinations for studying abroad. Japanese diplomas are highly valued in the international job market, universities are ranked among the top in the world, and students work with technologies that have not yet been mass-produced in other countries. If you are ready to immerse yourself in a unique culture and a systematic approach to knowledge, this is the right choice for you.

China

Chinese universities are rapidly rising in world rankings, and the country has turned into one of the largest educational hubs on the planet. Diplomas from leading Chinese universities are recognized by employers around the world, the cost of education is lower than in Great Britain or the USA, and the government actively finances foreign students. On this page - everything you need for admission: universities, cost, scholarships, documents and student visa.

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