Overview of steps you can follow in the internship search process

Here, you can find an overview of steps you can follow in the internship search process, together with the options of support Student Career Services offers. 

Step 1: Preparation

1. Make an appointment with your study advisor

Discuss the planning of your Master’s programme, including your internship, with your study advisor. Check, in consultation with your study advisor, which chair groups are allowed to supervise your internship. Ask your study advisor for tips regarding finding appropriate internships.

2. Define your internship goal

Before looking for potential internships, ask yourself what you would like to learn during your internship. This self-reflection phase is very important. You can also ask fellow students about their internship experiences or read professional journals to gain knowledge.

Do you not know what kind of internship you are looking for or what would fit you? The career coaches of Student Career Services can help you with this self-reflection phase.

Step 2: Search & application

1. How to search for internships?

After you know what you want to learn, you can start searching for internships. Start searching at least three to six months in advance, and at least six months in advance if you plan to do your internship abroad.

You can search for internship positions by:

• Checking the vacancies on the WUR Career Platform
• Checking the websites of the WUR research institutes or contact them for internship positions
• Asking your network (lecturers, study associations, etc.) for contacts/opportunities
• Checking out the vacancy board in Forum, near room 010, behind the reception

Tip: join the job & internship search support sessions, held each academic period, organised by Student Career Services. Sign up via the WUR Career Platform.

2. Contact your chair group

Every chair group has different procedures regarding the internship. Therefore it is important to contact the internship coordinator of the chair group you want to do your internship at. Make sure that you know how the relevant chair group arranges their internships. If you are not sure at which chair group you want to do your internship, it is best to contact your study advisor. After you found an internship, you need to check if this internship is in line with the internship requirements at the chair group.

3. Apply for internships

Have you found some interesting internships? Congratulations! Now it is time to apply for them. Make sure to check out the guides for writing a CV and motivation letter on the WUR Support Portal and have your application checked by someone. 

4. Open applications

An open application is advisable only if it’s mentioned as an option on the organisation’s website. Otherwise, it’s best to call first to check if submitting an open application is possible. When writing your open application, tailor it by specifying the department, project, or activities you’re interested in. This will increase your chances of success.

Step 3: Procedures

1. Contact your internship coordinator

Have you found an internship position? Congratulations! The next step is to contact your internship coordinator from the chair group to arrange the formalities.

2. Internship contract

Before the internship starts, you, the host supervisor and the internship coordinator from the chair group have to agree on the formalities of your internship. These agreements need to be stated in the Internship Contract. The WU Internship Contract is the preferred contract to use for your internship. A non-WU internship contract requires an extra check with the legal services of the specific science group that the chair group belongs to. You should factor in about two extra weeks for this check. You, the host supervisor and the internship coordinator of the chair group need to sign the contract.

3. Learning agreement & internship plan

The learning agreement is a description of the internship assignment, your personal learning goals, the agreement on supervision, planning, evaluation moments, and (if applicable) risk assessment. You and your WU supervisor must sign the learning agreement.

The Internship Plan is a project proposal for your internship. You should make clear whether your internship is a Research Internship (completed with a ‘research report’) or a Professional Internship (completed with a ‘context report’ and deliverables of projects that have been part of your internship).

Further information on the above and WU travel policy, insurance and grants can be found in the Course guide on internships. You can find information on reimbursement of vaccination costs and travel costs in the Student Charter.