Self-sourced international internships

What are self-sourced international internships?

A self-sourced international internship is any internship where you are working for a company based outside of Australia. You can be working at a host company in your home country if you are currently overseas, or you can work remotely for an overseas company if you are based in Australia (or in a third country). Self-sourcing an internship gives you the chance to find opportunities with an employer of your choice for the ENGR90033 or CHEN90028 internship subject.

To make sure your chosen position is appropriate for the subject, all self-sourced internships are subject to an assessment and approval process by the Student Enrichment team.

Most commonly, applications are assessed for the following regions. For other destinations, contact engit-placements@unimelb.edu.au to enquire.

Mainland China (currently limited to Chinese citizens or residents)
Taiwan
India
Singapore
Malaysia
Japan
South Korea
New Zealand
North America
Western Europe
Peru
Chile

All applications for on-site work are dependent on the local COVID-19 situation. When planning overseas internships, please be mindful of ongoing COVID-19 related restrictions and requirements in various countries.

Why choose a self-sourced international internship?

Build your confidence and develop expertise in navigating the job market

Gain overseas experience and develop cross-cultural awareness and skills

Take control of the direction you'd like to take your career in

Questions?

Visit our FAQs

Email engit-placements@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Eligibility, Fees and Internship Requirements

Subject Eligibility and Fees

Please refer to the Handbook for eligibility for each subject:

There is no minimum WAM requirement for self-sourced internships for ENGR90033.

If you are unsure of your course requirements or elective credits, you should book a course advice appointment with Stop1.

Regular subject tuition fees will apply to this subject. Find out what fees you're required to pay.

Internship Requirements

You must make sure that your internship meets the following requirements for the ENGR90033 and CHEN90028 internships:

The work you are undertaking on a day-to-day basis must compliment your degree.
You must be able to fulfill the required number of hours (320-350 total).
Your internship must be undertaken within 10-16 weeks inside Semester 1, Semester 2 and Summer Term timeframes.
During your internship, you must be supervised by a staff member from within your organisation who is a technical expert in that area or is an engineering or IT professional (depending on the position) and who can provide you with technical support in your work.

How it works & Applying

Check your eligibility

Before you do anything else, remember to check your eligibility first via the ENGR90033 or CHEN90028 handbooks and/or by speaking to Stop1.
If you are eligible for these subjects, you will be receive an email by the Student Enrichment Team with information about the internship program.
Find an internship

For a self-sourced internship, you will need to contact potential companies and people to explore possible opportunities.
Before you start contacting organisations about possible internships, ensure you are clear about requirements for your internship subject. Once you find a host organisation, you may wish to share the Information for Hosts with potential supervisors as an information source.
As a University of Melbourne student, you will have access to regular information sessions, workshops and resources to assist you with researching and approaching organisations for internship opportunities. Make the most of these opportunities to ensure you are presenting yourself in the best light during a targeted, professional internship outreach. Learn more about how to prepare for your internship search by reading the Preparing for and securing an internship section.
Submit your application for assessment and approval

Once you have successfully secured an internship you will need to submit an application to the Student Enrichment Team for approval. Please note that applications may take a few weeks to assess.
As part of your application, you will be asked to provide the following information and documentation. We recommend reading through the application form and collecting all information first, before starting your application. For the best chance of a successful application, your position must meet the internship requirements and your application should include all requested information.
- Information on your host organisation and the position you will be undertaking, to ensure suitability for the subject
- An overseas travel risk assessment
- Occupational Health and Safety documentation, to determine if your host company has appropriate workplace safety provisions in place
The Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology reserves the right to not approve overseas internships where there are concerns about the level of risk involved or the position description or host organisation is deemed unsuitable.
Submit an International Internship Request
You must allow ample time to obtain any requested OHS information from your host company. Applications will not be accepted without the required documentation.
Finalising agreements and subject enrolment

If you are made an offer and accept, an agreement will be sent to your host to sign. If you have secured an unpaid internship, you will also need to sign a student Deed of Assignment.
Once we receive the agreement from your host (and student Deed if necessary), you will be sent an email approving your enrolment into the ENGR90033 or CHEN90028 subject and you can submit an enrolment variation via Stop1. You cannot enrol until this time.
Your enrolment approval email will also include important information on professional conduct and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS). To remain enrolled in the subject you must read and confirm that you understand this information.

Employment and visa information for students working remotely from Australia

Australian Employment Law

If you are working remotely from Australia, please note that Australian employment law applies. This includes (but is by no means limited to) stipulations such as Australian minimum wage and payment of superannuation. You should ensure that your host company is aware of this.

If you are in doubt about any aspect of employment law, please seek legal advice. The University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU) Legal Service may be able to assist with this.

International students on Student visas

If you are working remotely from Australia, and are the holder of a Student visa, restrictions on working hours associated with that visa will apply, even if your host company is based overseas.

All international students on student visas should ensure that they are compliant with the working hours limitations attached to your visa. ENGR90033 Internship & CHEN90028 Chemical Engineering Internship are elective subjects which may count towards your working hours, even if your internship is unpaid.

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. Read more here.

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 CHEN90028 does not)
- Work undertaken in Australia including remote work for a company based overseas

Please note that work undertaken as part of ENGR90033 and CHEN90028 is not formally registered as part of your course because they are elective subject s and are 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).

Key Dates

The below provides you with an overview of the key dates for upcoming semesters. Please note that the internship commencement and conclusion dates will vary for each individual undertaking the subject dependent on their hours of work per week. You should refer to course handbooks for detailed information on assessment dates.

Activity	Summer 2024	Semester 1 2024	Semester 2 2024
Deadline to submit your self-sourced international internship for assessment and approval	Tuesday 31 October 2023	Monday 05 February 2024	Monday 01 July 2024
Internships Start	Mid-late November 2023	Mid-late February 2024	Late July - early August 2024
Internships Finish	Mid-late February 2024	Late May 2024	Late October 2024

Internship start and end dates must align within the Semester 2 2024 dates to be counted toward internship hours (320 - 350).

Teaching dates for Semester 2 2024: Monday 22 July 2024 to Friday 25 October 2024.

If the internship is between 10 and 16 weeks of placement, students can commence their internship 2 weeks before Semester 2 start date. In addition, students can work 2 weeks beyond the Semester 2 end date.

If the internship is less than 10 weeks, it must be completed in the Semester 2 teaching dates. There are no allowances to this.

Preparing for and securing an internship

Prepare early and effectively for the ENGR90033 or CHEN90028 internship subject to increase the likelihood of securing an opportunity.

Sourcing your own internship?

You should spend time to create or update your application documents and plan and research to find opportunities.

Applying for a uni-sourced internship?

You should spend time to create or update your application documents and prepare for interviews.

Create or update your application documents

Internship employers will be interested in the skills and experiences you have gained so far through your studies and elsewhere. You should use your application documents to convey your experiences. Importantly, you should tailor your resume and cover letters for each position you apply for.

What should my resume include?
You should make sure that your resume includes:
- Your education history
- Any industry experience
- Your achievements (e.g. awards won or projects you’ve contributed to)
- Technical skills
- Transferable skills you can bring to the role (e.g. communication or working in a team)
If you're looking for an international internship outside of Australia, it is important to research and tailor your application documents for the local job market in the country where you are applying. The requirements for documents such as resumes vary by country.
How can I add to my resume?
There are many things you can do to boost your knowledge, experience and skills. To ensure you put an effective application forward, why not consider if you need to add to your resume by:
- Undertaking some volunteer work
- Working in a part time or casual role
- Joining and contributing to a professional association
- Getting active in your professional student club
- Brushing up on skills in demand in your industry
- Practising your written and spoken communication skills
- Keeping up to date with developments in your industry
Set up a plan a semester prior to when you expect to undertake your internship and upskill in areas where you have gaps.
Where can I get help with creating or developing my resume?
As a University of Melbourne student, you have access to a range of resources and information on resumes via Careers and Employability. We recommend checking out:
- The Resume Builder (via EmployMe)
- The Smart Resume tool - have your existing resume reviewed instantaneously

Plan and research to find opportunities

Sourcing a position for the internship subject can feel daunting, but it need not be. There are strategies you can put in place to help you find that perfect opportunity.

I want to find my own internship - how should I go about this?

Self-sourcing an internship will involve you contacting potential companies and people to explore possible opportunities. Before you start doing this, it is important that you spend some time creating a targeted approach by identifying industries, companies, projects and/or contacts of interest. This will assist you in being clear about what you are looking for and will additionally help you to build knowledge of possible careers in your discipline area. You will make a better impression when you are contacting industry professionals if you are well-informed and clear about what you are hoping to achieve.
Remember to include small to medium businesses in your research. Often, they don’t have the resources to promote formal internship programs but can offer you a great internship experience. In Australia, there are around 2 million businesses and most of them employ less than 200 employees!
If you are seeking an internship for either the ENGR90033 or CHEN90028 internship subjects, make sure you are clear about the subject requirements before you start contacting organisations about possible positions. Read up on self-sourced internships in Australia and self-sourced international internships.
Are there any resources to help with my internship search?
Yes! As a University of Melbourne student, you have access to a range of resources and information on job search strategies via Careers and Employability. We recommend checking out:
- The How to get an Internship module (via the Careers & Employability Canvas Community)
- E-learning resources (via EmployMe) including Help! I need to apply for an internship
University-sourced internships

Students eligible for the ENGR90033 and CHEN90028 internship have the opportunity to access domestic and international university-sourced internships via the Engineering and IT Internship Portal.
The Portal lists positions available through our network of industry connections and includes large corporations as well as smaller start-ups. Positions relevant to multiple disciplines are advertised here.
Note: International university-sourced internships are only available in Summer Term.
Learn more about applying for university-sourced internships

Prepare for interviews

Attending interviews can feel nerve-wracking. It's important to spend time practicing and preparing beforehand, to increase the likelihood of a successful interview.

What can I do to prepare?
- Study the organisation’s website or look for articles about the organisation in the media
- Re-read your application
- Review the selection criteria and ensure you can provide interesting examples to demonstrate the skills that are listed
- Prepare some questions to ask your interviewer at the end of your interview
What help is available to me for interview preparation?
As a University of Melbourne student, you have access to a range of resources and information on preparing for interviews via Careers and Employability. We recommend checking out:
- Preparing for Interviews module (via the Careers and Employability Canvas Community)
- Interview 360 - practice your interview techniques

Resources, Support and Workshops

The Faculty of Engineering and IT (FEIT) and Careers and Employability have a range of resources and workshops to help with the process of securing an internship.

Self-sourced international internships