The acquisition will see TIG, which has placed more than 15,000 students from over 150 nationalities into internships, become part of API’s wider international education offering. TIG brings 15 years of experience and a network of thousands of host companies across nine global cities, as well as remote internship opportunities.
For API, the acquisition represents a significant expansion of its ‘Learn, Work, Thrive’ student framework, which aims to connect academic experiences abroad with practical professional development and long-term career outcomes.
The combination of accredited study abroad programs, international internships, and API’s ConnectAIQ student platform “raises the bar for how the sector connects global learning to careers,” the organisations said in a statement.
Patrick Vogt, CEO of API, said the move is ultimately about creating more opportunities for students to benefit from international experiences.
“At API, students come first. Everything we do starts with what helps them learn, grow, and launch their careers, and when we serve university students well, we serve universities well,” said Vogt.
“The Intern Group has spent 15 years opening professional doors for students around the world, and together we can make career relevance a core part of global learning from day one, not an afterthought,” he continued.
“This sets a new standard for our industry: one connected global journey where students learn, work, and thrive, and where universities can show the outcomes that matter.”
The acquisition will strengthen the ‘Work’ element of API’s three-part framework, allowing students to access international internships as standalone experiences or combine them with semester and summer study abroad programs.
The organisations say the combined offering will help address some of the barriers that prevent students from pursuing international opportunities, including affordability, academic credit, safety, and concerns about the impact on graduation timelines.
Students will also have access to API’s housing, safety and on-site support services.
David Lloyd, co-founder and CEO of The Intern Group, said the acquisition would help make international professional opportunities accessible to a wider student population.
“Talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn’t,” said Lloyd.
“Our students have always gone abroad to launch careers… As the ‘Work’ in API’s ‘Learn, Work, Thrive’ journey, our internships can now reach far more students, connected to their studies and supported by ConnectAIQ.”
The deal also brings together two established university networks. API currently works with more than 800 member and affiliate institutions, while TIG has partnerships with more than 150 universities worldwide.
Under the new arrangement, API’s institutional partners will gain access to TIG’s expanded internship network, while TIG’s university partners will be able to explore API’s accredited study abroad programmes.
Existing agreements with both organisations will remain unchanged.
Speaking to The PIE News, Lloyd said approximately 35% of TIG’s internship students are from the United States, reflecting the global student mix the companies aim to build on.
Meanwhile, Vogt said API’s US university partners had responded positively to early conversations about the combination, adding that the organisations were already seeing demand for international education and internship programmes that emphasise career relevance.
“Our university partners tell us their students want global experiences that lead somewhere. The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” he said.
He added the combined offering would build on API’s US university relationships and TIG’s international reach.
Technology will also play a central role in the combined offering, with API’s ConnectAIQ, an AI platform intended to connect students with study abroad and international internship opportunities based on their individual circumstances.
Rather than beginning with a traditional application form, the platform is designed to consider students’ academic interests, financial circumstances, and career aspirations before recommending suitable programs.
According to API, ConnectAIQ will also help universities manage academic approvals, scholarships, program discovery, and student participation data, while maintaining institutional oversight of academic requirements and policies.
The company believes this approach will help institutions respond to growing demands to demonstrate the employability outcomes of international education while improving access to opportunities.
Global learning should be a pathway for the many, not a privilege for the few
Patrick Vogt, API
“Global learning should be a pathway for the many, not a privilege for the few,” said Vogt. “With The Intern Group, more students can study abroad, gain real professional experience, and return ready for what’s next.”
The acquisition comes as API approaches its 30th anniversary in 2027.
Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, API currently offers international education programs in nearly 80 cities across 30 countries.
TIG, founded in 2011, will become part of the newly established API Intern Group division, continuing its focus on international internships and career-focused experiences.
Vogt told The PIE that Lloyd will serve as president of the division, reporting directly to him, and that API intends to retain all existing employees.
“Our approach to integration is simple: create one global organisation and don’t break what works,” he said. “Both teams bring deep expertise, and our job is to build on it and grow student participation with our member and affiliate institutions.”
