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Completing an internship with an industry partner during your research degree is an opportunity to enhance your research capabilities, acquire practical research skills in an industry setting and cultivate transferable employability skills. It also helps establish professional networks essential for a successful career in industry.

What types of work can be an Internship?

Industry Internships during your candidature are flexible and should be undertaken to enhance your research and career development. They can be directly related to, or separate to your research if in your research area.

As a PhD intern you may participate in or contribute to:

• data collection, analysis and modelling
• identifying and/or practicing specific research methodology
• policy research, evidence synthesis, literature reviews
• program evaluation,  impact assessments
• lab, field work or clinical trials (monitoring,  assessments,  feasability studies)
• service research delivery (pathways, access, equity, interventions, outcomes)
• utilsing industry clientele as research subjects
• translating research into practical solutions as guidelines, reports, resources, frameworks or dashboards

Who can be an Industry Partner?

• Government bodies: local, state or federal departments, political parties
• Businesses: start ups, corporations, consultancies
• NFP and non government: charities, advocacy or support organisations
• Community groups: social services, cultural groups

How long is an internship and when should I do one?

The recommended period for an Industry Internship is 3 months (60 days/ 7.6 hours days*). The second year of candidature the best time to commence the internship. You can undertake an internship at any point during your candidature.

Industry Internships can be undertaken in any timing format to fit around your study and research activities or so you can gain more from the experience:

• 1 or more regular day per week over a period of time
• 3 month (60 days) full time block
• or a few shorter blocks over a period

What things do I need?

Industry Partner

• Willing to host for 3 months/60 days over a period within candidature
• Willing to sign legal agreements
• Must have qualified person to supervise
• Evidence of Industry Partner willingness to host candidate in the first 18 moths of candidature (FTE). This can be an email agreement or you can use the "Intent to Intern" form provided by GRS. This must be kept as a record for you to provide when you report on your industry engagement activities.

Supervisor support

• Your supervisor must support the internship activity and timing. They are the best person to evaluate the benefit of the research activity.
• Your supervisor should be the main Faculty contact for the partnership.
• Some Industry Partners will already have agreements with ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ. Your supervisor will be able to check this and any terms related to the agreement.
• If there is not an existing partnership agreement with an Industry Partner, your supervisor will need to ensure a HOWA or Collaborative Agreement is signed by all parties. You can get templates of these from GRS on requiest.

Legal requirements and documents

• To undertake any industry internship with an industry partner you must be enrolled as a student at ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ as all times.
• While enrolled you are covered by ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ insurance.
• If you take leave from your studies you will not be covered by ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ insurance and cannot participate in industry activities.
• A legal agreement must be in place. Legal agreement can be a HOWA, Collaborative Research Agreement, work contract (provided by Industry Partner),
• Ensure all legal requirements are met prior to commencing internship (ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ legal can provide guidance)

*A full-time equivalent day is defined by the industry standard. Where no industry specific standard exists, it is defined by the (7.6 hours per day).

“Participating in a Higher Degree by Research Internship was an incredible experience. It provided a valuable opportunity to collaborate with industry leaders, expand my professional network, and enhance visibility within my future field. Working at the allowed me to translate my PhD skills into practical applications alongside a dynamic team, which will undoubtedly benefit my future endeavours.”
Joseph O’Connell, PhD Candidate

Joseph O’Connell, PhD candidate 2024. Read more about the research Joseph is doing in ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ’s Newsroom

Step 1: Explore opportunities

Are there any organisations you're keen on collaborating with? We encourage PhD candidates to proactively approach and propose internship projects directly to organisations they're interested in. Your supervisor may also suggest organisations of interest.

Step 2: Letter of intent

Once you have an Industry Partner on board get them to sign the document "Letter of Intent". This is the documentation that is required for reporting purposes. The letter of intent also provides talking points to discuss with the partner before a legally binding agreement is signed. You do not need to have the finer details of the internship negotiated at this point.

If you would like a copy of the letter, contact Graduate Research.

Step 3: Internship written agreement/contract

A legally binding document between ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ and the industry partner agreeing to the internship conditions including payment (if required) and ownership of Intellectual Property (IP). This can be a HOWA, collaborative research agreement or work contract.

Step 4: Internship engagement

Throughout your internship, engage with your supervisor to discuss your experiences and explore opportunities to apply your internship insights to your research. This phase is pivotal for enhancing transferable skills and consolidating your research knowledge.

Step 5: Reporting and Documentation

You are required to log your internship upon completion for government reporting purposes using the end-user reporting form in myÂÜÀòÊÓƵ you can read more about the reporting requirements here.

Still Unsure Where to Begin?

Reach out to Graduate Research for personalised assistance and guidance.