MSc-Internship: information and documents


Summary

Step-by-step information about the MSc internship at WUR, including course guides, contracts, OSIRIS process, and assessment.

null

Table of Contents

Intro

The MSc internship is part of all Master programmes at Wageningen University. During your internship, you apply and further develop your competences in a professional context outside WU, gaining relevant work experience in a potential field of employment.

The binding rules around the MSc internship are described in the Education and Examination Regulations (EER for academic year 2025-2026) (knowledge article), particularly article 46. In addition, the course guide (internal link) describes the practical implementation of those rules.

This article guides you through the internship process, from finding an internship to final assessment.

Step 1: Orientation and finding an internship

Before you start looking for an internship, check which chair groups can supervise an internship within your MSc programme. You can find this information in the Study Handbook (external link) under your programme description.

Ways to find a thesis topic:

  • Find internship opportunities via WUR career platform @ Student Career Services (external link)
  • Attend thesis/internship information meetings of your programme or related chair groups, visit chair group websites, search for organizations in your field of study or contact internship coordinators directly. Your study adviser can help you explore your options.

Important: Start searching for an internship at least 3-6 months in advance (6 months if going abroad).

Requirements before you start:

  • Check the mandatory knowledge requirements for your chosen chair group in the Study Handbook
  • Discuss your internship plans with your study adviser
  • Ensure you meet any programme-specific study progress requirements
  • Verify that your internship meets academic level requirements (see course guide section 1.3)

Step 2: Preparation - learning agreement and contract

Once you have found an internship and supervisor, you start the process in OSIRIS (external link). Once you have found an internship, you need to complete both a learning agreement and an internship contract before you can start. 

Learning agreement

Subsequently, the first steps are to complete a learning agreement in OSIRIS (first discuss the contents with your supervisor) and internship contract (between you, the university and the host organization).

The learning agreement (between you and your WU supervisor) includes:

  • Project description and your internship activities
  • Personal learning goals
  • Supervision arrangements
  • Planning and evaluation moments
  • Expected completion date

More information:

MSc Internship Course Guide - Part A (internal link) - see section 4 "Preparation" 

Internship contract

You also need a separate contract between you, the host organization, and Wageningen University. This contract covers practical arrangements, confidentiality, liability, and intellectual property.

Download the contract (available in Dutch and English):

  • MSc Internship model contract - UNL (English) (see attachment)
  • MSc Internship model contract - UNL (Dutch) (see attachment)

Need help with the contract?

  • Explanatory notes UNL contract (English) (see attachment)
  • Explanatory notes UNL contract (Dutch) (see attachment)

The contract must be signed by you, the host organization, and your internship coordinator before you start. If the host organization wants to use their own contract instead of the UNL model, discuss this with your internship coordinator, who will check if it meets WU requirements.

Internship abroad?

If your internship takes place outside the Netherlands, additional arrangements are needed (permission, insurance, visa, travel-safety training).

More information:

MSc Internship Course Guide - Part A (internal link) - see section 3.3 "WU travel policy, insurance and grants" 

Step 3: During your internship

Your internship typically takes 16 weeks of full-time work (24 ECTS). Some programmes allow extensions to 30 or 36 ECTS - check with your study adviser.

During this period, you:

  • Complete your internship plan (first 4 weeks)
  • Work on project assignments at the host organization
  • Have regular meetings with your host supervisor
  • Keep in contact with your WU supervisor
  • Participate in a progress evaluation meeting (before 1/3 of your internship period)
  • Reflect on your personal learning goals throughout the internship
  • Write your scientific report and reflection report
  • Give an oral presentation at your host organization

Each chair group may have additional guidelines about topics such as:

  • How internships are allocated to students
  • Requirements for reports (format, length, structure)
  • Guidelines for literature references
  • Specific timelines for presentations and report submissions

Ask your supervisor or internship coordinator for your chair group's specific course guide (Part B), which is usually available on the chair group's Brightspace site.

More information:

MSc Internship Course Guide - Part A (internal link) - see section 5 "During your internship" 

Step 4: Final Assessment

Your internship is assessed by two independent assessors, with one acting as examiner who determines the final grade. Your host supervisor can - under certain conditions - be one of the assessors. The assessment is based on six components:

  • General professional competences - collaboration, communication, professional attitude
  • Domain-specific competences - applying knowledge from your MSc programme
  • Scientific report - written report on your main project or challenge
  • Oral presentation - presentation of your results at the host organization
  • Oral defence - final discussion about your internship
  • Reflection report - reflection on your learning goals and professional development (pass/fail)

You submit your final reports in OSIRIS, typically 10 working days before the oral defence. If your host supervisor is not one of the assessors, they will provide input for the assessment.

The assessment criteria for each category, as well as descriptions of what is expected from you for a certain grade, are described in the assessment rubric (PDF document)

More information:

Course Guide

For complete information about all aspects of the MSc internship, including learning outcomes, ethical guidelines, data management, and procedures for delays, consult the course guide. This course guide is the authoritative source for all internship procedures and requirements at Wageningen University. 

Download: MSc Internship Course Guide - Part A (see attachment)

Need More Help?

Questions about your specific situation?

  • Contact your study adviser for programme-specific requirements or study planning questions
  • Contact the internship coordinator of your chair group for practical arrangements and internship-specific questions
  • Check the Study Handbook for course descriptions and requirements: overview of all MSc-internships at WUR (external link)

Common questions

  • How do I know what the maximum size of my internship is?
    • Internships come in two flavours: one that can be extended to 30 credits, and one that can be extended to 36 credits. Both have a course code of the form XYZ7nn24 (XYZ is chair group code, 24 is minimum number of credits).
    • First find the internship course that is included in your programme (find your programme in the study handbook).
    • In the list of courses you see the maximum size (either '(24-30cr)' or '(24-36cr)')
    • The information is also contained in the details of the course: click on the course -> Grading of this course. There you will see which size the course can have.
  • Can I extend my thesis beyond 36 ECTS?
    • This depends on your study programme (see previous question). Check with your study adviser to what extent exceptions are allowed by the examining board.
  • Are there specific courses I must complete first?
    • Check "Mandatory knowledge" in the Study Handbook under your chosen thesis course code.
  • What if I encounter delays?
    • See section 6 "Assessment" in the course guide for procedures regarding force majeure or insufficient results.
  • Can the host organization use their own contract?
    • Yes, but it must be checked by your internship coordinator. Use the checklist in Appendix II of the course guide.
  • Do I need a work permit for an internship abroad? 
    • This depends on your nationality and destination. Contact your internship coordinator for guidance.