Self-sourced internships

Self-sourced internships

What are self-sourced internships?

Are you interested in either the ENGR90033 or CHEN90028 internship subject but would prefer to find your own internship? A self-sourced internship gives you the chance to find opportunities with a company of your choice.

Many students prefer to find their own internship and we encourage you to self-source an internship that directly aligns with your career aspirations.

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.

Why choose a self-sourced internship?

Develop job search skills

Build your confidence and develop expertise in navigating the job market

Forge your own pathway

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

The perfect match

Find companies that align to your values, interests and goals

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.

Information for international students: All international students on student visas should ensure that they are compliant with the working conditions attached to your visa. ENGR90033 Internship and CHEN90028 Chemical Engineering Internship are elective subjects which may count towards you working hours, even if your internship is unpaid. For further information, check your visa details and conditions with the Department of Home Affairs and/or contact engit-placements@unimelb.edu.au.

How it works & Applying

  1. 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 from the Student Enrichment Team with information about the internship program.

  2. 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 and 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.

  3. Submit your application for assessment and approval

    Once you have successfully secured an internship you will need to submit an application to the Placements for approval.

    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.

    • A position description that identifies what you are doing within the role, your duties and your responsibilities. This needs to outline what skills are required for the role and also include the name of the company.
    • The number of hours per week (a minimum of three days is required to fulfil the 320–350 hours requirement).
    • Start date and end date of the placement.
    • Your supervisor’s contact details, including both email and phone.
    • The address where you will be based for the majority of the placement.
    • Confirm if the placement is paid or unpaid
    • A copy of your host organisation’s OHS policy/management plan and details of their incident management procedures
    • Your student ID, degree and major
    • Use your student email for all subject communications.

    Submit a Vocational Placement application form

    You must allow ample time to obtain any requested OHS information from your host company. Applications will not be accepted without the required documentation.

    If you are planning to intern for a small start-up organisation, we may ask you to provide further information than the minimum required, to assist in having your internship considered.

  4. 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 you have received this email from our team.

    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.

    Please note the following information:

    Unpaid Internships or Internships with Stipend Payments
    - Internships must not exceed 320 - 350 hours
    - Students MUST enrol into the internship subject to be covered by the University's insurance

    University-Sourced Paid Internships
    - Students MUST enrol into the internship subject

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.

ActivitySemester 1 2024Semester 2 2024Summer 2025
Deadline to submit your self-sourced internship for assessment and approvalMonday 05 February 2024Monday 01 July 2024Monday 4 November 2024
Internships StartMid-late February 2024Late July - early August 2024Mid-late November 2024
Internships FinishLate May 2024Late October 2024Mid-late February 2025

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

Teaching dates for each Semester via the handbook: https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2024/subjects/engr90033/dates-times

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

If the internship is less than 10 weeks, it must be completed in the Semester 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:

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:

  • 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:

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.

Student Visa Holders

From 1 July 2023, work restrictions for student visa holders have been re-introduced.

Student visa work restrictions were relaxed throughout the pandemic, and completely removed in January 2022 to allow primary and secondary student visa holders to work over their normal limit of 40 hours per fortnight to address workforce shortages. This will end on 30 June 2023.

From 1 July 2023, work restrictions for student visa holders will be re-introduced and capped at the increased rate of 48 hours per fortnight.

Find out more here on our Working on a Student Visa page.

During your Internship

Check out our top tips to get yourself prepared for your new internship role

Get tips on starting your first role to help you settle into your new job and make a great first impression.

  • Before you start
    • Review your employment contract
    • Speak to your supervisor
    • Look up transport
    • Check the dress code
    • Research the organisation

    Find out more here.

  • First weeks and months on the job
    • Build relationships
    • Establish yourself as reliable and high performing
    • Keep learning
    • Update your social media

    Find out more here.

  • Managing doubts and uncertainty
    • Allow yourself some time to settle in
    • Talk to your manager so seek help/advice

    Find out more here.

What to do when facing a complication during internship

  • Make sure you 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
  • Note the key dates if you would like to withdraw your internship without fail