Frequently Asked Questions

Both the internship subjects (ENGR90033 and CHEN90028) are 25 credit points each. The internship subjects can be done in Semester 1, Semester 2, or the Summer Term.

Students enrolled in eligible Masters coursework programs from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology are able to participate. Eligible students will need to have a satisfactory academic record and not be deemed ‘at-risk’.

Full eligibility requirements can be found in the subject handbooks:

• ENGR90033 Internship
• CHEN90028 Chemical Engineering Internship

If you are eligible, you will receive an e-mail at the start of the semester/term with further information about the subject. You will also be given access to the Engineering and IT Internship Portal where you can find and apply to University-sourced internships through a competitive process.

It is important to double check your eligibility before you apply for any positions. If you change your specialisation or make changes to your course plan, this can impact your eligibility.

You cannot enrol into this subject if don’t have 25 points of free elective credit points. We recommended that you speak with Stop1 to check your course plan.

Enrolment can only be approved by the Faculty of Engineering and IT. You can only enrol into the subject once the following steps have been completed:

1. You have secured your internship with a host organisation and submitted all the internship information
2. All relevant legal documents have been signed and returned by your host employer to the Faculty

Enrolment instructions will then be emailed to you and you can use this to submit an enrolment variation at Stop1.

The ENGR90033 Internship subject has a very heavy workload and you will need to manage your time carefully. You should be aware that subject and placement workloads are not grounds for extensions.

If you require any course advice or enrolment assistance, please book an appointment with an advisor at Stop1.

If you would like to complete the internship subject concurrently with a capstone subject or an industry project, these could be approved under the following conditions.

1. You have a WAM of 75+.
2. You have a WAM of 70+ and are completing less than 50 points in the semester.
3. You have a WAM of 70+, and an average of 70+ in the previous semester and completing 20 hours or less a week of placement.

In each case, please be advised that the internship subject workload is very high and that you are not eligible for exemption from their work in the internship or other subjects.

If you do not meet these requirements, please email engit-placements@unimelb.edu.au.

Please note that as both ENGR90033 and CHEN90028 are worth 25 elective credit points (equivalent to two subjects credit points), the fees that you will be charged in total to complete either one of the subjects is equivalent to two 12.5 credit point subjects as both internship subjects are worth 25 points each. The subjects are worth more as they require a combination of industry placement and assessment.

Both self-sourced and university-sourced internships are great options and it is up to you to decide if you would prefer to find your own or not.

If you have a specific organisation you would like to work for and the university does not have a relationship with them yet, then a self-sourced internship maybe the option for you. When self-sourcing, you will need to research if the organisation has internship positions available and approach them when appropriate.

The purpose of the internship subject is to support you during an industry internship. The work you are undertaking on a day-to-day basis must compliment your degree.

In some cases, research placements may be considered where the experience will be suitably similar to an industry placement. Typically, this is where students work in cohesive teams with deliverables for clients.

Visit the self-sourced internships or self-sourced international internships pages for more information.

Referees are people who know you well. You can identify referees from past workplaces, university (this could be a lecturer or course coordinator, depending on your relationship with them), or through other activities like volunteering or mentoring. Employers may contact referees during the hiring process to gather extra information or investigate any concerns they may have.

It’s essential that you choose referees who can talk confidently about your skills and experience.

Include your referees at the end of your resume. You can either write ‘Referees available upon request’ or list their names, contact details (phone and email) and your relationship to them (for example, manager or supervisor).

To help your referees give you the best possible recommendation:

• Ask your referee for their consent in advance
• Discuss the types of jobs you’re applying for and provide them with a copy of your resume
• When you find out you have an interview, forward details of the job to your referees and brief them on what the employer is looking for so they know what sort of questions to expect.

It is most likely that you will be asked to provide details of a referee rather than a letter of recommendation, however, if necessary you may request

Note regarding letters of recommendation: Usually, students don’t need a letter of recommendation, however if necessary (or if requested) you may ask your referee to provide one. If you want to ask a lecturer/course coordinator for one, you should consider if you have an established relationships with them before asking.

When submitting your internship application, it’s important to submit a good resumé, tailored cover letter and, if required, to address Key Selection Criteria. Visit the Careers and Employability webpages to access tools and resources to support you.

It’s important to prepare yourself, as well as your application documents. This might include gaining extra skills and experience, developing your employability and professional skills and preparing yourself for interviews.

From 1 July 2023, work restrictions for student visa holders will be re-introduced and capped at 48 hours per fortnight. This impacts students undertaking an internship from Semester 2, 2023 onward. Find out more here on our Working on a Student Visa page.

This restriction applies to: 
- Paid and unpaid work (unless the unpaid work meets the definition of volunteer work, which work undertaken as part of ENGR90033 and CHEN980028 does not)
- Work undertaken in Australia including remote work for a company based overseas

Please note that work undertaken as part of ENG90033 an CHEN90028 is not formally registered as part of your course because they are elective subjects and not a mandatory component.

As a result, work you undertake within your internship must be limited to approx. 24 hours per week and totaling no more than 48 hours per fortnight. It is suggested that students complete the internship over 14 weeks, which at 24 hours per week equates to 336 hours (meeting the minimum requirement of 320 hours). Read more here

Full-time hours are typically between 36 – 40 hours per week.

Typically, the lower limit is 10-weeks. If you wish to discuss a shorter internship, email engit-placements@unimelb.edu.au

If you are an on a student visa you must be mindful of any limits on the number of working hours you can undertake per fortnight.

All university-sourced internships are advertised on the Engineering and IT Internship Portal (https://careersonline.unimelb.edu.au/workgroups/engineering-and-it-internship-portal)

You should check the portal regularly as new internship positions are added frequently during the advertising period.  Eligible students will also receive weekly email communications highlighting some of the current internship positions.

Note: You can only access this portal if you are eligible

No, but once you receive an offer from an organisation and you have accepted it, you cannot accept another internship offer.

Yes.

If the role is within Australia, you need to make sure that it is listed as being available for remote work.

Some companies may only have one internship position available. Others they may have 2-3 or even more. You should check each advertised position to see if there are multiple roles available.

On average, we have about six applicants for each role, which is lower than the external job market.

Students with strong applications (e.g., prepared a great cover letter, well-tailored CV, relevant experience, knowledge and skills etc.) have a strong chance of securing an internship.

Responding within 48 hours is the standard practice.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind if you are unsure about an internship offer.

You should only accept internship opportunities that you intend to undertake. Host organisations will expect that you will act professionally and that you will not change your mind once you accept their offer. As a University, it is important that we don’t jeopardise the relationship we have with host organisations who have kindly make these opportunities available for you.

Once you accept a position you cannot continue to apply for other university-sourced internships. Any other active applications you have will be withdrawn. This ensures that other students are given the chance to secure an internship.

We know that there are many factors that might influence your decision, including remuneration and location. Remember that internship opportunities are a fantastic way of giving yourself the edge over competitors in the graduate job market and gaining work experience can be invaluable. We encourage you to select an internship that aligns with your career aspirations.

Offers should be accepted in writing within 48 of receiving it. If you accept an offer, please email your host organisation and ask them to confirm:

• The start date of your internship
• The end date of your internship
• The number of hours you will be working per week

Once you have the above information from your host, email engit-placements@unimelb.edu.au with the following:

• Your name
• Your student number
• Your degree and specialisation (if any)
• The position you applied for
• Your host organisation’s name
• The start date of your internship
• The end date of your internship
• The number of hours you will be working per week

No. University-sourced internships are only for students taking ENGR90033 or CHEN90028 internship subjects.

Learn more about Not for Credit Internships here.

You can use a digital (unofficial) statement of results as part of your uni-sourced application. A digital version is available 24/7 via my.unimelb and is free of charge.

Learn more about ordering and requesting documents here.

Yes, you can apply for internships in your home country and in Australia. If the internship is in Australia, it may be possible for you to undertake the internship remotely. If your internship is in your home country and you want to work remotely, or local restrictions require you to, that's fine too. We're flexible!

Internships can be undertaken remotely or in-person. We are understanding about restrictions in different countries and the fact that some students remain in their home countries. We are flexible, adaptable and are here to support students in securing internships. We have been working with remote internships since 2020 and are confident that they present high-quality opportunities for students who learn to navigate the world of remote work. Remote and hybrid work are here to stay, so these are skills all new graduates need to develop.

It depends on the organisation and the induction processes that they have in place. First days are typically about introductions, meetings, understanding the scope of the organisation and the role you will be undertaking with your immediate supervisor.

You need to inform the following individuals:

• Workplace Manager or Immediate Supervisor - Contact your workplace manager to discuss your matter with them
• Academic Mentor - Every student is assigned an academic mentor, so contact them in the first instance
• Industry Placement Coordinator Team – Notify the industry placement coordinators by emailing engit-placements@unimelb.edu.au

If you test positive for COVID-19 while on your internship you need to notify the University. Further information about notification and support for students with COVID-19 can be found here. You should also comply with any COVID reporting requirements in place at your host company (ask your host supervisor).

All applicable assessment tasks must be completed.

Write a thank you email to your immediate manager and to any other work colleagues that have assisted you during your time with them.

Some organisations may offer students continuing employment but this is not guaranteed.

Please visit https://students.unimelb.edu.au/student-support/scholarships-and-financial-support/financial-aid for further information on the support available.