Faculty of Science internship subjects
Internships provide you with opportunities to gain hands-on work experience while you apply the knowledge and skills you’ve developed. They can even lead to other opportunities for work, study, or research and can help you decide on a career path aligned with your skills, interests, and goals.
On completion of a Faculty of Science Internship subject, you will have reported on a course-related project in a science or technology workplace, learned about the nature of careers in science, and reflected on your own skills, personal development needs, and potential career pathways.
During my placement, I learned three different programming languages and familiarised myself with virtualisation, an exciting area in computer science. On top of that, I had the opportunity to submit an invention disclosure for the work that I did, which one day may lead to a patent application! Scott Gigante, Bachelor of Science majoring in Mathematics and Statistics
Why do an internship?
Following completion of an internship, students report that they can:
- Identify and articulate their technical and professional skills and apply them to relevant contexts and work-settings
- Produce original work in an appropriate format which demonstrates analytical, research and problem-solving skills
- Understand the value of industry and professional networks and their importance to lifelong learning and career progression
- Gain greater confidence in their ability to contribute to a science-related workplace, and an awareness of areas to further develop beyond their degree.
How to apply internship for credit? Checklist below
- Check relevant subject entry in the Handbook to ensure credit eligibility.
- Successfully source an internship (can be paid or unpaid)
- Finalise internship as per Key Dates under relevant subject.
- Apply for the Subject credit - Please allow at least 3 weeks between the time you apply for the subject and when you start your internship to allow application processing.
- Add the internship subject to your study plan while your application is being reviewed.
- Complete any legal paperwork/ additional information requested via your student email as part of application process.
- Internships team will then advise you to enrol via email.
- Complete pre-placement modules – different subjects have different requirements.
- Start your internship and complete assessments as per LMS deadlines.
Undergraduate internships
Learn more about the internships available to undergraduate students.
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Science & Technology Internship (SCIE30002)
Subject information
Placement hours: 80–100
Location: Australia or overseasInternships can take place on a casual, part-time or full-time basis and can be paid or unpaid.
Summer 2024
Date Activity 1 December 2023 Deadline to submit subject application form 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 23 February 2024 Deadline to submit subject application form 8 January 2024 Earliest internship commencement date 11 March 2024 Latest internship commencement date 17 May 2024 Latest internship conclusion date Found a suitable placement and received an offer? Submit your subject application. Please note: Your placement commencement date cannot be less than 14 working days after the submission of your subject application.
Information for hosts
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Industry Internship (AGRI30041)
Subject Information
Placement hours: minimum 80
Location: Australia or overseasSummer 2024
Date Activity 1 December 2023 Deadline to submit subject application form 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 23 February 2024 Deadline to submit subject application form 8 January 2024 Earliest internship commencement date 11 March 2024 Latest internship commencement date 17 May 2024 Latest internship conclusion date Found a suitable placement and received an offer? Submit your subject application. Please note: Your placement commencement date cannot be less than 14 days after the submission of your subject application.
Masters internships
Learn more about the internships available to masters students.
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Science & Technology Internship (SCIE90017)
Subject information
Placement hours: 80–100
Location: Australia or overseasInternships can take place on a casual, part-time or full-time basis and can be paid or unpaid.
Summer 2024
Date Activity 1 December 2023 Deadline to submit subject application form 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 23 February 2024 Deadline to submit subject application form 8 January 2024 Earliest internship commencement date 11 March 2024 Latest internship commencement date 17 May 2024 Latest internship conclusion date Found a suitable placement and received an offer? Submit your subject application. Please note: Your placement commencement date cannot be less than 14 working days after the submission of your subject application.
Information for hosts
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Ecosystem Internship (SCIE90027)
Subject information
Placement hours: 200
Location: Within AustraliaKey dates
Key dates are the same as those provided for the Science and Technology Internship subjects (above). However, students undertaking the Ecosystem Internship subject may have some additional flexibility for placements that extend beyond these dates. Applications must be submitted before the application deadline mentioned under Key dates.
If you would like to discuss whether your proposed placement will be a good fit for the subject, feel free to contact Subject Coordinator, Dr Antanas Spokevicius, at avjs@unimelb.edu.au. Once you have found a suitable placement and received an offer, submit your subject application. Please note: Your placement commencement date cannot be less than 14 working days after the submission of your subject application.
Information for hosts
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International Internship in Environment (GEOG90022)
Subject information
Placement hours: 200
Location: Outside of AustraliaKey dates
Key dates are the same as those provided for the Science and Technology Internship subjects (above). However, students undertaking the International Internship in Environment subject may have some additional flexibility for placements that extend beyond these dates. Applications must be submitted before the application deadline mentioned under Key dates.
Once you have found a host organisation that you would like to undertake a placement with, please get in contact with the subject coordinator, Prof Tim Fletcher, on timf@unimelb.edu.au. He will need to approve the placement and dates before you submit the subject application form. Please note: Your placement commencement date cannot be less than 14 working days after the submission of your subject application. Please ensure you are submitting an application before the application deadline mentioned under Key dates.
Once you've found a suitable placement and received approval from the Subject Coordinator, submit your subject application.
Information for hosts
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Industry Internship (AGRI90076)
Subject Information
Placement hours: minimum 80
Location: Australia or overseasSummer 2024
Date Activity 1 December 2023 Deadline to submit subject application form 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 23 February 2024 Deadline to submit subject application form 8 January 2024 Earliest internship commencement date 11 March 2024 Latest internship commencement date 17 May 2024 Latest internship conclusion date Found a suitable placement and received an offer? Submit your subject application. Please note: Your placement commencement date cannot be less than 14 working days after the submission of your subject application.
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Internship for Agricultural Sciences (AGRI90078)
Subject Information
Placement hours: 200
Location: Australia or overseasFound a suitable placement and received an offer? Submit your subject application. Please note: Your placement commencement date cannot be less than 14 working days after the submission of your subject application.
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Internship for Agricultural Sciences Part 1 & Part 2 (AGRI90083 & AGRI90084
Subject Information
This Internship subject is only available to current students admitted into the MC-AGSC Master of Agricultural Sciences. This is a continuing subject requiring completion of both Internship for Agricultural Sciences Part 1 AGRI90083 & Internship for Agricultural Sciences Part 2 AGRI90084.
Found a suitable placement and received an offer? Submit your subject application. Please note: Your placement commencement date cannot be less than 14 working days after the submission of your subject application.
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MFPI Internship (FOOD90036)
Subject Information
This Internship subject is only available to current students admitted into the MC-FOODPI Master of Food Packaging & Innovation.
Found a suitable placement and received an offer? Submit your subject application. Please note: Your placement commencement date cannot be less than 14 working days after the submission of your subject application.
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MFPI Internship Part 1 & Part 2 (FOOD90037 & FOOD90038)
Subject Information
This Internship subject is only available to current students admitted into the MC-FOODPI Master of Food Packaging & Innovation. This is a continuing subject requiring completion of both FOOD90037 MFPI Internship Part 1 and FOOD90038 MFPI Internship Part 2.
Found a suitable placement and received an offer? Submit your subject application. Please note: Your placement commencement date cannot be less than 14 working days after the submission of your subject application.
The experience of researching potential host organisations, tailoring my CV, cold-calling for positions and interviewing was invaluable experience that will help me more confidently enter the professional world after graduation. Holly Dillabough, Master of Environment
Internships for graduate researchers
Specialist Certificate in Research Practice for Scientists (PhD)
My internship revealed the significant differences between university and the professional working environment. I learnt how collaborative sharing of knowledge can be the most time and resource effective mode of acquiring and strengthening the understanding of domain-specific knowledge. I was able to gain some insight into the working culture of a global, private company which I have found incredibly useful when considering my path towards my future. Most importantly, the internship has encouraged me to provide support to women in the Mathematics and Technical industries. Rose-Maree Locsei, Bachelor of Science
Frequently asked questions
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I'm an international student – can I do an internship?
Most international students will be studying in Australia on a student visa, which means you are not permitted to work for more than 48 hours per fortnight (starting 1 July 2023). Internships taken as part of Faculty of Science degrees will be counted towards this 48-hour limit unless the internship is taken outside of Australia. This means that you must count hours completed for an internship as you would for any other job, regardless of whether the internship is paid or unpaid.
We highly recommend you check the exact conditions of your visa on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Note: some Masters level courses have a mandatory work experience component and are therefore exempt from the 48-hour limit. To check if this applies to your course, see the University's information on student visas.
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I am based internationally – can I complete an internship in my local country?
Yes. If you are already based internationally, you may complete an internship in your country of residence through a for-credit internship subject.
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Can I intern at an organisation that I have already worked or interned for?
No. Your placement must be a new opportunity that you have sourced specifically for the Internship subject. You cannot continue an existing internship or work in a role you have undertaken previously. Entering an entirely new work environment is an important requirement of this subject.
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When should I start looking for a placement?
It is never too early! You will need to have received a placement offer in the semester prior to your intended semester of enrolment for the internship subject, so it is a good idea to start researching potential host organisations early. See the ‘How to find an internship’ video above for guidance.
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Can I do an internship without undertaking a for-credit subject?
Yes. However, please note that whilst undertaking a co-curricular internship, you are not covered by the University’s insurance. For this reason, not-for-credit internships typically must be paid. Under this arrangement, you would be a paid employee of the host organisation and covered by their insurance.
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Can I do a placement outside of my major?
Yes. Feel free to think broadly and ‘outside of the box’ when exploring internship opportunities. Whilst the assessments for the subject will require you to draw connections between your studies and the work you will undertake during your internship, you are welcome to explore career options outside of your specific discipline areas.
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I have already started an internship – can I count this towards the internship subject?
No. If you have already commenced a placement, it will not be eligible for inclusion in the internship subject.
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Can I undertake an internship that is either partly or entirely online?
Yes. All internship placements require Subject Coordinator approval to ensure the Learning Objectives are met. The Objectives are not location-based, which means online/virtual internships can meet the Objectives.
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What documentation do I need from my host to submit my subject application?
The subject application form requires you to attach correspondence confirming your internship offer. This can be either: a) An official offer letter from your host organisation on company letterhead; or b) An email from your host supervisor with their contact details visible. The offer letter/email must be in English, must specify your internship start and end date, and should include a brief description of your duties whilst on placement.