Internships

The Experience Internship Courses are offered as 3-unit and 6-unit elective courses. The internships can either be practical or research based and are designed to provide you with a real opportunity to gain insight into your field of study and interests with relevant and practical work-based or research-based experience. Internships develop your report writing and research skills, links your knowledge gained at the University with its practical application; and helps guide your career aspirations and role in society.

Internships range from 100-150 hours throughout the semester depending on the internship course you are enrolled in. The days and times of placement are negotiated with the host organisation.

The 3-unit Workplace Experience Internship Courses and Festival Internships are also offered to second and third year levels over Summer and some are available in Winter too.

Internships may be sourced in two ways:

1. The Internships and Work-Integrated Learning office of the Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics will assist you in sourcing an internship opportunity;
2. You may identify potential work sites and source your own internship, which subsequently will require approval from the internship office.

Example host organisations

• ABC - Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• Environment Protection Authority (EPA)
• Department for Environment, Water and National Resources
• Mission Australia
• Australian Refugee Association
• History Trust of South Australia
• City of Playford
• Aurora Foundation

Placement in internships will be determined by a range of factors, including your knowledge, interests and discipline, the requirements of the host organisation, the nature of the workplace project and the availability of internships. Although not a determining factor, Grade Point Average (GPA - your overall grade) may also be considered.

Current paid employment cannot count towards an internship.

Opportunities are regularly uploaded to CareerHub, where you can apply for internships directly online following the instructions.  Furthermore, you can also source your own internships via your own networks.

If you have been successful in finding your own internship, you may still be eligible to take the internship course. You must obtain approval from the Internship Team.

Applications must be submitted to the Internship Team at least 4 weeks prior to your start date

What we need:

• An official letter of offer (including start/finish dates, host organisation address, phone number, host organisation supervisor name and contact details)
• Australian host organisations must hold a minimum of $10 million in Public Liability Insurance. The host organisation may be asked to provide a copy of this
• For any overseas host organisation, we will require official documentation on the types of insurances that the host will be providing you with during your internship.
• Statement of duties, if not included in the letter of offer.

Eligibility:

• You must have 1 free elective within your program. This will usually be a general elective, however if you are looking to count this as a prescribed elective ie. Finance Elective, you must be able to prove that your internship is related to that field.
• Your internship must be related to your degree.

If your application is successful, you will be notified by email and the internship team will enrol you into the internship course. Course fees apply.

Note: your host supervisor will be contacted by the internships team to confirm information that you have provided and arrange a site visit. Please ensure you let them know.

The Environmental Policy and Management internship is a 6-unit course designed for final year undergraduate students studying Environmental Policy and Management.

This course gives you the opportunity to spend up to two days per week during the semester, or undertake a concentrated block, working as an intern with a community, business/industry or government agency engaged in environmental policy, planning and management activities, or with an individual or group engaged in environmental research. 

During your internship, you will be assigned a specific project by your host organisation and be asked to prepare a report on the results of your project at the end of your experience. 

Eligibility and selection criteria

To be eligible to apply for the Environmental Policy and Management course:

• You must be enrolled in a relevant undergraduate program within the Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics.
• You must be in your final year of study.

You are encouraged to consider your host organisation and projects at least three months prior to commencing the course. You must contact the Faculty Internship office upon enrolment into the course.

Coffey International Ltd is an organisation that is part of the Tetra Tech group, a leading provider of consulting, engineering, program management, construction management, and technical services. Coffey's international development team has world-class expertise in international development and has partnered with the government and private sector to deliver successful development programs around the world.

The Tetra Tech Coffey International Development Scholarships have been established by the University of Adelaide and Tetra Tech Coffey International Ltd to support up to six students who are undertaking a program of study International Development at an undergraduate or Honours level. The Scholarship is financially supported for the student and covers costs including travel, accommodation, living and other expenses related to undertaking the internship at Coffey.

Eligibility and selection criteria

To be eligible to apply for The Tetra Tech Coffey International Development Scholarships:

• You must be studying on a full-time basis at the University of Adelaide.
• You must be undertaking the Bachelor of International Development at undergraduate level or the Honours degree of Bachelor of International Development HDEVT, or, the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Arts (International Development) HBARTS (DEVT) at Honours level. Selection of the successful candidate will be made by a selection panel including staff from the Department of Anthropology and International Development (DEVT Staff) and Coffey International Ltd. Selection will be based on academic merit and suitability of the candidates. Academic merit will be determined according to students' overall cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA).

How do I apply?

Online application form

More Information

For more information please contact ABLE operations.

The International Relations Internship provides students with an opportunity to gain exposure to an organisation or NGO concerned with International Affairs and participate in a work-based research project. In some cases the internship may include working with the organisations at their offices 1-2 days per week, however the majority will be project-based and may be conducted externally.  

Eligibility and selection criteria

To be eligible to apply for the International Relations Internship course:

• You must be enrolled in the Bachelor of International Relations or have very strong results in courses dealing with international affairs.
• You must have a minimum GPA of 5.0.
• You must be in your final year of study.

You are encouraged to consider your host organisation and projects at least three months prior to commencing the course. You must contact the Faculty Internship office upon enrolment into the course.

Media Industry Transitions (MIT) is a final-year industry internship course in the Bachelor of Media program, and the capstone for the Media major. In this course you are encouraged to source your own internship. In addition to academic requirements, you spend 100 hours in a professional organisation. This gives you an industry experience that helps you to better understand how media and communications theory operates in practice.

Eligibility and selection criteria

• You must be enrolled in a Bachelor of Media program or undertaking a Media major
• You must be undertaking your final year of study.

You are encouraged to consider your host organisation and projects at least three months prior to commencing the course as the process may take some time.

Please ensure you are checking the current opportunities page for Media roles that have already been approved.

You must contact the Faculty Internship Office to receive a copy of the internship documentation which is to be completed and approved prior to commencement.

The major focus of the Music Internship is to complete a specifically tailored project relevant to your studies and career aspirations. The project should be conceived and planned by you in conjunction with the host organisation and the Elder Conservatorium Internship Coordinator.

For more information, please visit the Elder Conservatorium of Music.

The Parliamentary Internship program is a 6-unit course designed for final year undergraduate students studying Politics or International Relations.

This program gives you the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the workings of the Parliament by working with a Member of Parliament on a research topic nominated by the Member.

Eligibility and selection criteria

To be eligible to apply for the Parliamentary Internship Program: 

• You need to be enrolled in a relevant undergraduate program within the Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics.
• You must be in your final year of study.

Entry to the program may be competitive and is not guaranteed. You must enrol as early as possible to be considered as the program is determined by quota. Final selection may be based on academic merit and other factors.

Workplace Experience PostGraduate
The Workplace Experience Postgraduate internship course is offered as 6-unit elective course to all postgraduate students in the faculty.  The 150-hour internship can either be practical or research based and is designed to provide you with a real opportunity to gain insight into your field of study and interests with relevant and practical work-based or research-based experience. The days and times of placement are negotiated with the host organisation.

Leadership in Strategic Communication
Leadership in Strategic Communication is a postgraduate industry internship course as part of the Master of Media (Strategic Communication) program where you source your own internship. In addition to academic requirements, you spend 100 hours in a professional organisation. This gives you an industry experience that helps you to better understand how media and communications theory operates in practice.