Eric Gentry working in a lab

Preparation & Training

Experience your host culture as an informed, engaged citizen

MISTI wants to ensure that you have the biggest impact you can when you travel abroad for your internship, research position, teaching placement, and study abroad. That’s why we have designed country-specific Prep & Training sessions, which are required to help you engage with an international team, immerse yourself into your new surroundings, and embrace new perspectives while creating groundbreaking innovations.

The cultural preparation MISTI provides is your first step toward acquiring the tools and knowledge you need to provide technology leadership in any part of the world—qualities that every MIT graduate should have.

 

How does MISTI Prep & Training work?

Before your MISTI experience abroad, you are required to attend a series of training modules developed by MISTI staff. These country-specific sessions cover topics such as:

  • Travel and logistics
  • Intercultural communication
  • Workplace expectations
  • Values, norms, and behaviors
  • History, geopolitics, and religion
  • Health and safety

Some of these training sessions are also open to the larger MIT community. 

Explore the preparation and training for specific programs by country to learn more about these sessions, as well as other country-specific resources, such as suggested readings and links to videos and other online materials.

 

Preparation for MISTI study abroad placements

Preparing to study abroad
MIT student at computer

If you’re participating in a MISTI study abroad program, be sure to check out our step-by-step checklists to help you prepare before your trip—and to wrap things up afterward.

Check out specific MISTI Prep and Training requirements for each program by country.

Students celebrating

MIT-Africa Programs

Global Teaching Labs: South Africa, Botswana, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Ghana, & Rwanda

Internships available in Africa

  • Africa
  • Global Teaching Labs
  • Internships
Students posing on Australia beach

MIT-Australia and New Zealand Program

Internship and study abroad program available in Australia or New Zealand

  • Australia & New Zealand
  • Internships
  • Study Abroad
Belgium cityscape

MIT-Belgium Program

  • Belgium
  • Internships
  • Study Abroad
chile front 1

MIT-Chile Program

Intern or teach in Chile, Peru, or Uruguay

  • Chile
  • Global Teaching Labs
  • Internships
  • Study Abroad
Student in front of intership building in China

MIT-China Programs

Intern or study abroad in Hong Kong or Taiwan

  • China
  • Internships
  • Study Abroad
Students in a boat on a tour of Copenhagen

MIT-Denmark & Scandinavia Program

Teach in Norway

Intern in Denmark and Norway

  • Denmark & Scandinavia
  • Global Teaching Labs
  • Internships
  • Study Abroad
student looking through microscope in lab in France

MIT-France Program

  • France
  • Internships
  • Study Abroad
Student and host talking to each other in lab in Germany

MIT-Germany Program

  • Germany
  • Internships
  • Global Teaching Labs
  • Study Abroad
Students in front of Taj Mahal in India

MIT-India Program

Global Teaching Labs: Bhutan & India

Intern in South Asia: India &  Nepal

  • India
  • Global Teaching Labs
  • Internships

Stay healthy

Health & Safety
Students in Australia jumping for photo

MISTI is here to help you take precautions to stay healthy and safe while you’re abroad.

Events

GlobeSmart Guides and Profiles

GlobeSmart
Students on a rock in India

Supplement MISTI Prep & Training with online tools to enhance your cross-cultural skills.