Student internships
Give talented students the opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge in your organisation.
If you have a science or technology-related function in your organisation, consider offering an internship opportunity for an enthusiastic University of Melbourne student. All organisations, including government, NGOs and private enterprises, can participate as host organisations.
Through the internship program, organisations can access students from all science and technology disciplines at the University of Melbourne. High-calibre interns are available from both undergraduate and graduate courses.
Our intern was able to gain practical experience in the field of food science and technology and apply the theoretical knowledge acquired in university coursework to real-world scenarios. The contributions to the company’s quality assurance department is commendable, and I would like to thank the University of Melbourne for providing us with the opportunity to host this internship. Priya Muthumuni, Aquaworks Pty Ltd
What are the benefits to your organisation?
- Access motivated students with the latest knowledge in their field
- Gain a fresh perspective
- Meet and ‘road-test’ potential future employees
- Develop connections with the Faculty of Science
- Excite the next generation of science and technology workers
- Promote your organisation as an employer of choice among our students
How does it work?
Internships at a glance
| Internship type | Internship duration | Remuneration |
|---|---|---|
|
Bachelor of Science students (second or third-year)
Bachelor of Agriculture students (second or third-year) | 80–100 hours | Unpaid |
| Masters students (various courses) | 80–100 hours | Unpaid |
| Masters students (environment, agriculture and conservation streams) | 200 hours | Unpaid |
Key dates
-
Summer 2024
Date Activity 4 September 2023 Organisations can start recruiting students 3 November 2023 Last day for hosts to advertise roles 17 November 2023 Confirm successful students by 1 December 2023 Last day for successful students to apply for internship credit 20 November 2023 Earliest internship commencement date 8 January 2024 Latest internship commencement date 23 February 2024 Latest internship conclusion date -
Semester 1 2024
Date Activity 2 October 2023 Organisations can start recruiting students 26 January 2024 Last day for hosts to advertise roles 9 February 2024 Confirm successful students by 23 February 2024 Last day for successful students to apply for internship credit 8 January 2024 Earliest internship commencement date 11 March 2024 Latest internship commencement date 17 May 2024 Latest internship conclusion date
What can interns do?
The nature of the work can vary greatly, depending on the organisation and the intern. It can be a mixture of many tasks and activities such as:
- Field or lab work
- Data analysis
- Marketing or communications activities
- Literature searches
- Shadowing employees
- Administrative work
- Business as usual or project work.
What does the host organisation provide?
The host organisation must provide:
- A meaningful experience
- A safe working environment
- Experienced staff to induct, supervise and mentor the intern
- A brief student evaluation at the conclusion of the internship.
Each host organisation can administer its own selection process, and can negotiate work hours with the student. Placements can be in a block or over a longer period of time.
For PhD interns, the host organisation provides a stipend of $3000 per month. Other undergraduate and graduate interns do not need to be paid.
Insurance and agreements
The University's Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance covers liability for the University and any of its students in relation to internships, work placements and industry projects.
Host organisations will be asked to sign the University's standard Letter Agreement. This outlines the terms and conditions, managing confidentiality and the assigning of IP.
Recent internship partners
- CSIRO
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
- Bureau of Meteorology
- WEHI
- Bega Cheese
- Coles
- Florey
- Melbourne Museum
Getting started
Do you have an internship opportunity that you would like us to promote to relevant students? Submit your position description to us or email the team to discuss the possibilities.