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Internship Semester

An internship semester offers you the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in the real working world and gain valuable practical experience that will enhance your professional development.

Leon Willemsen

Internship semester

In the course of your studies at University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE) you will absolve an integrated practical semester. Within the standard period of study this would take place in your fifth semester. During this exciting time frame you will make the first steps towards your desired field of work and have the opportunity to reflect on your chosen orientation. In order to ensure your best learning experience, we have compiled the most important guidelines for your practical semester at UE.

Further Information

- Make sure to visit the internship colloquium of the previous semester. 

- Please finish all of your open projects to ensure an easy start as well as a seamless resumption of your studies.

- Begin your search for an internship at least six months in advance to avoid being stressed. If you do not succeed at first, keep on looking! Often internships are confirmed on short notice.

- Apply with a purpose: Reflect on your expectations and needs and think about where you would like to be heading after your graduation. An internship could grant you entry into an industry of your choice.

- Invest in your portfolio and make use of the experiences from documentaries and process books.
Be mindful of a smart content structure, a clear layout and short explanations. A portfolio consists primarily of your artistic résumé, student work or free projects. Shine a light on your strengths! Add a statement on why you are interested in the particular employer and use your portfolio to emphasize your qualifications.

- Show off the diversity at UE, your interdisciplinary knowledge and your ability to work in a team that you have cultivated in group workshops. Make sure to note your proficiency in foreign languages.

- Usually, applications are handed in via email. In the best case, you compress your résumé with all relevant information, professional strengths and interests and a cover letter into a well-formatted PDF file (mind the file name, e.g.: internship_YourName.pdf). An email can also contain links to more extensive files. As emails tend to get lost easily, it is advised that you call in after a couple of days.

- When attending an interview, please bring a printed and casebound copy of your portfolio (no plastic!) or a notebook or tablet to show your work.

- As an alternative to an internship, you can choose to go and study abroad for one semester. For further information, please contact the international office.

- You can also attend your internship abroad. It is advised to plan this and mind special requirements such as visa, vaccinations etc.

- If you find yourself by all means unable to find an internship on time, it is possible to postpone it up until just before your bachelor's semester. This is not advised in other circumstances.

- Begin documenting your projects right from the start in a format and rhythm of your liking.

- Make use of the setting and practice voicing your concerns to your superiors: If you feel under- or overexerted, say so!

- Make sure you and your employer have signed a legitimate contract.

- As a student absolving an obligatory internship, your employer is not obliged to pay you minimum wage. This has helped internships become more attractive to agencies and other companies. You can confidently ask about appropriate wages. These range from no income to 700 €/month.

- If you feel mistreated or do not attain the desired learning results, you are free to switch to another internship at any time. Please insist on a written confirmation that notes your work days. You are required to work a total of 105 days during the practical semester.

Following your internship you will present your experience in the internship colloquium. It is scheduled in the fourth or fifth week of the new semester. Please prepare yourself accordingly. The presentation should include your finished projects with descriptions of your personal experiences. You have around seven minutes to display your work. A possible structuring could include the course of your internship, your learning successes, your personal highlights (your very own, shootings, realized drafts?), criticism, suggestions for the UE curriculum, photography and videography.

The written and printed internship report as well as your internship certificate are to be handed in at the examination office. Only then your ECTS credits will be activated. It is advised that you also add your practical work to your portfolio. If you have further questions or are faced with additional challenges, please contact your head of programme or the examination office.

The best start to success is based on real-life experience! The  Career Development Centre is happy to support you in gaining an internship abroad. Discover the goings-on at an agency as an intern, or work on exciting creative projects in another country. 

The choice is yours – you can decide where you want to intern and can contact your company of choice as you wish. If you like, you can speak with your Dean or the Career Development Centre for advice. We are happy to consult you when it comes to participating in an internship abroad. 

The 5th semester of your bachelor’s degree programme at UE is set aside for taking an internship or studying for a semester abroad. 

You need to work full time, this is usually between 37,5 and 40 hours a week and not more than 8 hours per day for 105 days. 

In Germany, there are two different types of internships available. Voluntary internships can be completed out of personal interest. For these internships, labor law provisions apply in the same manner as for part-time student jobs: Companies need to pay a “minimal wage”. At UE study abroad or the compulsory internship is required as part of the curriculum, however, you should negotiate a salary. 

For an internship within Europe, you can apply for support from the Erasmus+ programme.

- Monthly financial support: Depending on the country, from 250 to 450 euros
- Application deadline: Three months before starting the internship
- You will be asked to complete an Erasmus+ language test and submit a report on your experience by the end of your stay abroad

Application Documents:

- Application form (see download box)
- Motivation Letter (English)
- CV
- Transcript of Records (at examination office)
- Confirmation of health-, casualty and accident insurance during the internship period abroad
- (if applicable) Internship Contract with time/duration of the internship

You can find the application documents in the “Downloads” box. Depending on the country and your area of work, you may also have additional financial support options. See here for more information. 

If you do not want to apply for financial support, you do not have to officially apply with the Career Development Centre for an internship abroad. You apply for your internship with your employer.