This course provides an opportunity for students who have located an organisation that is willing to take them on as an intern and link this with a process of formal academic assessment and review. The competitive nature of internship placements means that in the majority of cases organisations review and assess a student’s suitability to undertake an internship. This means the university cannot always guarantee successful placement within an organisation by way of enrolment in this course, nor in an organisation of the student’s choosing.

Students are encouraged to apply for internship programs and approach research institutes, international organisations, non-government organisations, government agencies or members of parliament. Where students are successful in being accepted as an intern they can then formally enrol in this course and link their internship experience to a program of academic assessment. The course coordinator assists students in locating a suitable organisation for undertaking an internship, however, students interested in completing this course are encouraged to commence their research and internship applications well in advance of the commencement of semester. It is not unusual for internship placements to take up to six weeks to formally organise.

It is generally recommended that an internship represent at least one day per week with an organisation for 12 weeks. The exact nature and structure of the assessment process for the internship will be jointly negotiated between the internship course coordinator, workplace supervisor and the student. The work placement will be supplemented with workshops at UNSW, which focus on policy-making processes and reflective, professional practice.