Undertaking a work placement can be a great benefit for graduates when seeking future employment. Employers value potential employees who can demonstrate successful work experience because they can integrate into the workplace more quickly and contribute to its successful operation. Undertaking an internship component as part of your USC degree helps you prepare to meet employer expectations.
Internship entry
INT276 is an elective course offered to students who have completed five INT courses at an average level of Credit or above. It provides a flexible framework to allow you to undertake work experience, or participate in a work-related project, in areas relevant to your studies in politics, public policy and international relations. It aims to foster a link between our students and policy or political practitioners. It provides an opportunity for students to obtain academic credit for a course at University at the same time as gaining valuable experience in the workplace before they begin seeking employment in their chosen field.
Opportunities
Our students have been placed in a wide variety of environments working for politicians from different parties at state and federal level. This has included ministers, shadow ministers and in one case a Prime Minister. They have worked for the private sector, in local government, on election campaigns and with non-government organisations.
INT276 gives students the opportunity to put the skills, theories and processes studied in their INT coded courses into practice, develop a range of essential skills sought by employers, establish a work history and create networking contacts.
Structure and assessment
In this course students undertake a work placement appropriate to their studies and interests.
They work for up to 87 hours over the semester at the direction of their workplace supervisor. This equals one day a week for 12 weeks.
Currently the course runs in Semester 2. There is flexibility as to how time is organised with the employer but it should usually be spread over a time frame sufficient to allow the intern to experience a range of duties in the workplace and an opportunity to develop new skills as they put the theories learnt in their University studies into practice in the workplace.
INT276 students are required to attend some seminars, give an oral report and submit a diary. These will be assessed by the course coordinator from the Politics and International Relation area. These requirements are in addition to any work allocated by the workplace supervisor.
Remuneration and insurance
No remuneration or payment is made to the students or to the University for hosting an intern. Students undertaking an internship are covered by the University’s insurance policies for worker’s compensation and third party insurance.
More information
Students can register their interest in the INT276 Internship by contacting the course coordinator Bron Stevens.
Please note: It is important to be prepared in advance for this course as students are expected to participate in the selection of their work placement.
For details on the benefits and responsibilities of students in Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placements, refer to Business – Internships.
General enquiries
For general enquiries contact:
Technical and WIL Operations
Email: TechOpsWil@usc.edu.au
Telephone: +61 7 5456 3415