Overseas internships

• Live and work in another country and culture
• Develop independence
• Build international career networks
• Add global work experience to your resume
• Gain academic credit  - it is possible to gain academic credit for an overseas internship. The type of credit you receive will depend on the degree you are studying. Learn more about gaining academic credit from overseas internships.

Specific eligibility requirements depend on the academic unit being utilised, but all students must meet the minimum program eligibility criteria below:

Undergraduate

• Completing an undergraduate course at Swinburne
  
• Completed at least 100 CP (8 units) if you intend to use a course-specific unit or 150 CP (12 units) if you intend to use the international internship unit
• Have an average weighted mark of at least 60% (or satisfy additional eligibility criteria if the mark is between 50-60%)
• Have available space in your course for the applicable academic unit (domestic students may be able to overload their degree)
   

Postgraduate

• Completing a postgraduate course at Swinburne
• Completed at least 25 CP (2 units) at the time of application
• Have an average weighted mark of at least 60% (or satisfy additional eligibility criteria if the mark is between 50-60%)
• Have a course-specific project unit on the study plan that can be used for internship experience (e.g., MDA80006 Media Industry Experience, EAT80003 Professional Practice in Engineering, or Education and Nursing professional placement units).

At Swinburne, we partner with internship providers who can help you source an overseas internship. 

With hundreds of industry partners in multiple overseas destinations, we can help find you an internship tailored just for you that includes visas, accommodation, in-country orientation, social and cultural activities and business networking events.  

The internship providers that we partner with have in-country staff to provide 24/7 support. They are experts in all things internships, so you can feel confident that you are getting the best experience and support wherever you decide to do your internship.   

Swinburne may run group internship programs with our internship providers, where we specify the dates, duration and location of an internship, and students will travel together to a destination and undertake internships during the same period. There are also independent internship program options, where you’ll still receive the same full support from our in-country partners and a customised internship role, but you won’t be with other Swinburne students. 

If you have a specific company you would like to work for overseas, or if you do not want an internship package, you can self-source an internship placement. Swinburne Abroad will help you to confirm if it is a suitable internship and if you can receive academic credit for it. You won’t have the assistance of an internship provider to assist with visas, accommodation, in-country support etc. and will need to arrange these things on your own. 

Scholarships

Swinburne Abroad offers travel grants and other funding options for overseas internship programs. These are advertised on our Fee Help and Scholarships page.

OS-HELP Loans

If you are undertaking an overseas internship for academic credit, you may be eligible for an OS-HELP Loan.

The OS-HELP Loan is an Australian Government scheme for Australian students that provides funding for international study experiences. This loan is added to your HECS debt, which you do not have to repay until your income reaches the minimum repayment threshold.

The maximum loan amounts in 2024 are:

• $9,504 for destinations in the Asian region
• $7,921 for destinations in any other region
   

For more information on funding see Fee Help and Scholarships.

You will apply for an OS-HELP Loan as part of your online application.

Research

Decide which group program will suit your studies and career goals.

Determine which academic unit you will use

Every internship is for-credit, and every student will be enrolled in to a unit of study whilst on their internship. The unit you utilize will depend on your course, and the duration of your internship program. Check out the options here.

Apply online

Submit an application online via our online application system. You will select your desired internship program, as well as which academic unit you will utilize.

Receive an offer

If your application is successful, Swinburne Abroad will issue you with an offer to the internship program.

However, this does not guarantee acceptance from the internship provider or a host organisation. We will guide you through the process of applying to a provider and finding an organisation.

Apply to internship provider

Swinburne will guide you on how to apply to your internship provider. The initial application requires basic personal information, the industry sector you would like to intern in, and a copy of your resume.

Note: You must select an industry sector that is the closest match to your Swinburne course in order to receive academic credit for the experience.

Phone interview

Complete a phone interview with your internship provider. They will find out more about you, including your studies, skills, your interests and what you hope to gain from the internship. They will use this information to find a host organisation that is suitable for you and your studies.

Searching for a host organisation

Your internship provider will start the search for your host organisation. You may have Skype interviews with potential companies. Payment schedules differ between providers during this time. If eligible, we will guide you on how to apply for an OS HELP Loans and/or Overseas Internships Scholarships at this stage. 

Note: This part of the application process takes the longest. It is normal to receive final details of your internship up to four weeks from departure. You are not guaranteed a host organisation, but it is highly likely you will be placed in an internship.

Pre-Departure

Host organisation approval
Once you are allocated to a host organisation, Swinburne Abroad needs to conduct checks to confirm that it is a suitable placement for you and meets Swinburne’s academic requirements. An internship agreement will be prepared for signing by all parties.

Pre-departure steps
Once Swinburne has confirmed your host organisation, you can work with your internship provider to arrange all logistics such as flights, visas, accommodation etc. Swinburne offers free travel insurance to students (subject to requirements) which we will assist you with. You will attend a mandatory pre-departure session, and submit required travel documentation to Swinburne Abroad. We will ensure you are enrolled in the correct academic unit.

Post-departure

Depart for your internship
It is time to depart on your internship journey! Your internship provider will give you an in-country orientation and ensure you are settled in and familiar with your new city. They will assist you on your first day of work, and throughout your placement they will organise social, cultural and networking activities for you and other interns.

Complete your academic work
You will be enrolled into an academic unit for the duration of your internship, and you may need to complete assessments before, during and after the internship. It is your responsibility to check what academic work you need to complete and to stay in contact with the relevant academic staff.