Do you want to turn theory into practice while building, fostering and enhancing professional contacts and networks in industry?
Adelaide University offers a research internship which will ultimately help graduate researchers to build critical skills and expertise, whilst providing a strong complement to their academic studies and a head start for future employment opportunities.
“I just wanted to follow up again with a thanks and further positive feedback to the internships program and team. I was invited back to the organisation I completed my internship with a year later in an advisory role and was able to provide more assistance and collaboration with them in Tanzania. I subsequently was invited as a keynote speaker to present their work at a major industry conference in Chicago last month. Internships open the door to incredible opportunities for students. So, thanks again – my continued feedback is to say I wish we could do more than one!”
- Jade Fountain, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
"[My internship] was a truly rewarding experience ... I was fortunate to work with a team at the Australian Energy Market Operator on the forefront of Australia's clean energy transition and could make meaningful contributions to a major project going on there. Fortunately, the team at AEMO was also impressed with my work, and I was offered a part-time Power System Engineer position to continue working on the project (while of course doing my PhD full time)."
- Sahand Karimi-Arpanahi, School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
"The internship is an excellent opportunity for research students to learn from the industry and understand the gap between research and practice in the industry."
- Yiming Huo, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine
If you are a graduate research student that has self-sourced an internship, identified an internship opportunity with your supervisor or have more questions, please complete the Expression of Interest form and our team will contact you.
All graduate researchers undertaking a Research Internship are required to complete a complementary researcher development module, offered through AUs Graduate Research Innovation and Training program (GRIT).
Thesis inclusion: You may be able to include internship outcomes in your PhD thesis, depending on the nature of the internship, the partner organisation, and the activities involved.
Eligibility after 18 months: If you’re more than 18 months full-time equivalent (FTE) into your PhD, you can still undertake an internship, but you won’t be eligible for a scholarship or transcript statement.
Candidature duration: Internships do not extend your PhD candidature. Approved internships are supported with a scholarship for up to 60 business days.
Scholarship payments: If you hold an RTP or AURS scholarship, your internship scholarship will be paid as a continuation of your existing award (up to 3 years and 9 months total funding).
Non-scholarship holders will receive two equal payments—one at the start and one at the end of the internship—if full-time attendance is maintained.
Internship length: The university supports internships of up to 60 business days. Longer internships must be financially supported by the partner organisation.
Assessment requirements: You’ll need to complete a mid-way reflection and a final reflection form at the end of your internship.
Location flexibility: You can undertake an internship interstate or internationally, as long as the host organisation meets the eligibility criteria of a research end-user.
