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J-1 Academic Exchange Experience

This Disney-designed, work-integrated learning opportunity allows students who are sponsored by U.S. colleges or universities on a J-1 Academic Exchange visa to participate in an internship at the Walt Disney World® Resort. Students may spend five to seven months or a full year working at the Walt Disney World Resort while taking coursework through the Disney Education Program and/or distance-learning classes from their sponsoring university.

During their internship, participants will work in front-line roles such as hospitality, full-service food and beverage, merchandise, and operations. This allows them to build transferable skills that include relationship building, problem solving, and written and verbal communication. Participants explore networking opportunities with Disney leaders; and earn real-world experience with one of the most admired companies in the world.

Our program is more than a work opportunity. We offer participants unique learning opportunities through:

  • Collegiate Courses - recommended for credit by the American Council on Education
  • Professional Development Studies
  • Disney Exploration Series
  • Additional Learning

Each of the Disney College Program Collegiate courses is focused around an area of Walt Disney World Resort expertise and is designed to give participants a comprehensive experiential-learning opportunity that will provide them an unparalleled enhancement to their academic and professional career. All of these collegiate offerings are recommended for credit by the American Council on Education (ACE).

In addition to the ACE-accredited courses, participants may have the option to participate in Professional Development Studies, Disney Exploration Series, and/or a number of additional learning activities. Participants also may utilize resources in one of the Disney Learning Centers at the Walt Disney World Resort, which contain books, videos and computer-led learning activities that could enhance their educational experience.

There are three options for current students and recent college graduates within the J-1 Academic Exchange Experience:

Students may enroll full time in an American college or university on a J-1 academic exchange visa and spend five months taking courses at the U.S. school and seven months working and taking classes at the Walt Disney World Resort. U.S. schools partner with international universities and offer full-time credit options to exchange students to allow participants to choose this option.

We also partner with colleges and universities to offer post-graduate certificate programs. One example is The Certificate in Hospitality Management from the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, offered through the University of Central Florida.

To qualify for the Walt Disney World International College Program, participants must:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be a student enrolled in an accredited degree-issuing college or university or recent graduate
  • Have good conversational English
  • Have an outgoing personality
  • Be willing to share a bedroom

We currently offer programs in the following countries within the following schools. (Click on the name of a country to see its participating schools.)

To discover program options at your school, please visit the contact listed or your International/Study Abroad office.

If you do not see your country/school listed, be sure to check back to this Web site often as this Program is continuously expanding. You also may contact the Walt Disney World International Recruitment Office at wdw.int.recruiting@disney.com or call (00+1+407) 934-7470.

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