Graduate research internships

Launch your career with a graduate research internship at Adelaide University

Do you want to turn theory into practice while building, fostering and enhancing professional contacts and networks in industry?

Adelaide University offers research internships 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.

Information for graduate researchers

Eligibility and requirements

Full-time PhD students enrolled at Adelaide University must secure a partner organisation and agreement in writing, including information about the internship scope/research and development activities and internship duration, within the first 18 calendar months of candidature.
*36 calendar months for graduate research students who commenced their degree on a part-time basis.
The research internship/research and development activities must be related to the graduate research student’s area of research.
The internship must be undertaken for a minimum of 60 full-time equivalent business days in duration/three calendar months and can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis.
Mode of attendance can vary, i.e. full-time block, set days per week, part-time, face-to-face or virtual.
The Partner Organisation must meet the Government definition of a research end-user: an individual, community or organisation external to academia that will directly use or directly benefit from the output, outcome or results of the research.
- Eligible organisations include:
  - Businesses
  - Governments
  - Non-governmental organisations
  - Communities and community organisations
- Non-eligible partner organisations are:
  - Other higher education providers
  - Organisations that are affiliates/controlled entities or subsidiaries (such as Medical Research Institutes) of a higher education provider
  - Equivalents (international or domestic) of the above exclusions
Graduate research students must be progressing satisfactorily in candidature and not have previously received funding from University of Adelaide/Adelaide University for participation in a research internship.
International graduate research students must be able to complete the proposed internship and doctoral degree within the student visa duration and conditions (where applicable).

Benefits for graduate research students

A three-month (60 FTE days) internship scholarship (and associated fee waiver) to support graduate research students throughout the internship.
Valuable industry exposure, allowing the development of professional networks and firsthand insights into professional practices, workplace culture and current trends within their chosen field.
Recognition from Adelaide University, reflected as a statement on their academic transcript.
Pre-internship training through the Graduate Research & Innovation Training ‘Preparing for your Research Internship’ course.

Hear from past interns

“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

Preparing for your Research Internship (GRIT module)

All graduate researchers undertaking a Research Internship are required to complete a complementary researcher development module, offered through AU's Graduate Research Innovation & Training program (GRIT).

Additional information

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.