Guaranteed real industry experience

A Swinburne bachelor degree is more than a piece of paper. Commencing 2021, it's a career-starting résumé with guaranteed Work Integrated Learning.

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Benefits of an internship

An internship looks great on your resume. It shows you have real industry experience before you’ve even graduated from your bachelor or master degree. 

At Swinburne, internships give you the chance to:

  • work on projects with real world impacts in the workplace 
  • experience day-to-day work in a highly regarded organisation
  • learn directly from experienced professionals
  • develop your professional and practical skills
  • apply your knowledge in a work setting
  • build your network of industry contacts 
  • create an impressive resume.
Grace’s Internship at Richmond Football Club
Grace’s Internship at Richmond Football Club

Grace’s Internship at Richmond Football Club

Grace kick-started her career in human resources with an internship at one of the biggest AFL clubs in Australia. 

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Can you do an overseas internship?

Internships are available to undergraduate students and are taken as an elective unit. At Swinburne, we also offer overseas internships to give students real industry experience in international organisations.

Overseas internships

Internships in bachelor degrees

Internships at the bachelor degree level are a workplace experience in a field relating to your area of study, taken part-time over one semester (1–2 days per week up to approximately 140 hours in total) or taken in intensive mode over the six-week Summer Term.  

You’ll earn credit towards your degree and participate in regular online learning activities as part your Professional Internship unit.  

Internship course credit 

A Professional Internship is an academic unit worth 12.5 credit points and in an elective option in all degrees.   

Throughout your internship, you’ll be assessed on your learning experience. This includes an Internship Plan where you’ll have the opportunity to outline your learning aims and objectives for the unit. Other assessments include check-ins, reflective practice and writing that links academic theory to the world of work.  

Local students may select an internship as an extra unit on top of your course if you do not have a free elective. 

Student stories

Professional Placements Semester 2, 2023
  • Monday 10 April 2023: Position descriptions made available to all eligible students
  • Monday 17 July 2023: Last day to confirm Professional Placements for Sem 2, 2023 
  • Monday 21 June -  Monday 31 July 2023: Placement commencement dates
  • Placement will run for either 6 or 12 months
     
Professional Internships Semester 2, 2023
  • Monday 8 May 2023: Position descriptions made available to all eligible students
  • Monday 7 August 2023: Last day to confirm Professional Internships
  • Monday 17 July - Monday 14 August 2023: Internship commencement dates
  • Friday 27 October 2023: Internship end by this date
     
Summer Term 2024
  • Monday 16 October 2023: Project descriptions made available to all eligible students
  • Monday 18 December 2023: Last day to confirm professional internships
  • Tuesday 2 January - Monday 8 January 2024: Internship commencement dates - students begin their internship with host organisation
  • Friday 9 February 2024: Internship end by this date (last day of semester/term)

Internship dates change annually. If you miss the application deadline, consider the next intake. Remember you will need at least three units remaining in your degree after completing your placement.

Eligibility  

As a Swinburne student, you may be eligible to do an internship as part of your bachelor degree, if: 

  • you have completed a minimum of 150 credit points in your degree, and you’re in the last semester of your degree and have a minimum of two units to complete.  
  • you have an elective unit free in your study plan 
  • you have a weighted course average of 60 percent or higher. 

Selection for an internship may include an interview with one of our industry partners.  

Note: Local and international students studying through Swinburne Online (SOL) or Open Universities Australia (OUA) are not eligible for an internship. 

Payment for internships 

Internships are normally unpaid. 

Fees 

Students will be charged one standard unit tuition fee of between A$850 and A$1,812 for the Professional Internship unit, depending on the unit study area. 

Swinburne students enrolled in a Professional Internship unit are covered by Swinburne’s Public Liability insurance policy. All internships will need to comply with the  Australian Government’s Fair Work guidelines for unpaid internships.

If you have a disability or ongoing health issue and are undertaking an internship, Swinburne offers a range of disability support services. Contact the AccessAbility team. 

How to apply for an internship 

You can register for an internship at any  time. Securing an internship is a competitive process and will rely on the quality of your resume, cover letter, academic record, interview and sometimes a portfolio. 

Each organisation will have a slightly different screening process that may involve interviews, group assessments and other tasks. 

We’re here to help though – follow these steps:

  • Register your interest in an internship.
  • Your eligibility will be confirmed within three days.
  • If eligible, you will receive an email with information on how to apply for internships and resources to help create a professional application.
  • View and apply for internship opportunities.
     

Note: You’re able to self-source your own internship, as long as it is relevant to your course of study and the industry partner fits within our guidelines.

Internships for international students

An internship does not increase the length of your course and is covered on your study visa. All you need is one free elective and you can get real Australian work experience while you study, which looks great on your resume! 

Just keep in mind, the hours you work as part of your internship will count towards your visa's work hour limits, unless the internship is a mandatory requirement of your degree. 

If you need more information, you can check the conditions of your visa or contact us.

Register for an internship

Registrations for internships as part of your bachelor degree are now open. 

Register

Internships in master degrees

Post graduate internships are available as part of several masters programs  and run each semester starting in the first week of the semester.

This internship includes assessments and work placements with approved organisations for two to four days per week over a 12-week semester period. The time commitment per week is dependent on whether the internship is a 12.5 credit unit (two days per week) or a 25-credit unit (four days per week). 

Before you apply for internships you need to:

  • register your interest in the semester prior to becoming eligible
  • make sure you meet the eligibility criteria
  • pass a pre-internship interview.

A pre-internship interview may be required as part of your host organisation’s selection process (check your chosen Discipline). This is a competitive process and students will be assessed based on prior work experience, academic record, as well as attitude, career objectives and communication styles.

Please note:

  • The availability of internships is subject to industry demand.
  • Completion of employability workshops is highly recommended to assist students with preparing to enter the Australian workforce in your discipline area.
  • The hours you work as part of your internship will count towards your visa's work hour limits. If you need more information, you can check the conditions of your visa or contact us.

Master degree internship details

The ICT Internship unit is ICT80004 Internship Project.

Typical Projects

These may include (but are not limited to):

  • Business Analysis
  • Systems Analysis
  • iOS Development
  • Android Development
  • Web Development

Typical Assessments
  • Weekly work log and time sheet
  • Project presentation at host organisation
  • Software requirements specification document (for ICT80004 only)
  • Preliminary plan, progress report and final report (INF80005)
  • Report project deliverables to the host organisation

Eligibility criteria and application process
  • Maintain at least a 60 per cent weighted course average
  • Have failed no more than one unit in the preceding semester
  • Pass a pre-internship interview
  • Have a free elective to enable enrolment in the internship unit

Application Process

Register interest

The Engineering Internship unit is ENG80003 Engineering Postgraduate Internship.

Typical projects

These may include (but are not limited to):

  • Industry R&D for feasibility studies
  • Product design and development
  • Process analysis and improvement
  • Inspections, data collection and evaluation

Typical Assessments
  • Learning plan
  • Progress report
  • Reflective report
     
Eligibility criteria and application process
  • Completion of at least 100 credit points of an approved degree:
    • Master of Engineering Science (specialisations as per web site)
    • Master of Professional Engineering (specialisations as per web site)
    • other PG Engineering Courses in consultation with the Course Director
    • Maintain at least a 65 per cent weighted course average
    • Have failed no more than one unit in the preceding semester
    • Pass a pre-internship interview and industry interview as required
    • Must have a free elective to enable enrolment in the internship unit

Application Process

Register interest

The Business Internship units are:


If you are specialising in Information Systems Analysis and Management and have completed INF70005 Systems Project Management and either INF80014 Contemporary issues in Business Analysis or INF80025 Business Information Systems Analysis, you are eligible to apply for INF80005 Business Analysis Internship Project. 

Students who have also completed RAM and BPM are well positioned for INF80005 internships.

Typical projects

These may include (but are not limited to):

  • Building a business case for a product/service
  • Exploring possible solutions to complex problems
  • Developing a discrete part of a particular project or program
  • Proposing and developing support resources to support an industry host’s team 

Typical Assessments
  • Delivery of host specified outcomes e.g., project presentation, written report or similar
  • preliminary plan, progress report and final report
  • Reflection on insights gained through internship

Eligibility criteria and application process
  • 12.5 credit internship
    • Completion of at least 4 units (150 hours) of a Masters unit run by the School of Business, Law & Entrepreneurship
    • Must have a free elective to enable enrolment in the internship unit

  • 25 credit internship:
    • Completion of at least 8 units (300 hours) of a Masters unit run by the School of Business, Law & Entrepreneurship
    • Must have 2 free electives to enable enrolment in the internship unit
    • Maintain at least a 60 percent weighted course average
    • The internship project is based either on-site at an industry partner’s office/site or based on-campus at Swinburne University. To be considered for an industry on-site project students are required to participate in a selection process this semester. Non-participation will automatically result in the allocation of a campus-based industry project

Application Process

Register interest

Studying a masters degree?

Apply for an internship in your final semester of your master degree. 

Register now