The Students@Work Internship program provides work and skill development opportunities to current University of Melbourne students.
As a Students@Work intern, you’ll have the opportunity to gain invaluable experience working with a University of Melbourne team on campus.
About the internship program
The program matches applicants with internship opportunities around the University of Melbourne. Internships are between three and nine months and are for 14 to 21 hours a week, including semester breaks.
To apply, you must be a current University of Melbourne student with at least two semesters remaining in your course.
Benefits
- Paid internship (UOM 4.1 level)
- Skill development and experience to enhance your employability across a range of roles
- Flexible employment that accommodates study, exams, SWOTVAC and external internship opportunities
- Convenience of on-campus employment so you can engage in campus life and make use of campus facilities
- Tailored skills development, careers support and professional development sessions throughout the duration of your internship
- Networking opportunities and a sense of community in a professional context
- Receive a Melbourne Plus Community Engagement credential. Further information can be found in the Melbourne Plus catalogue.
- Connect with other interns through fun activities, and join the S@W Leadership Committee to organise activities, develop your leadership, communication and event management skills, and be eligible for a Melbourne Plus Leadership credential.
AAGE Top 50 Intern Programs
The Students@Work Internship Program ranked Number 16 on the Australian Association of Graduate Employers’ (AAGE) list of Top 50 Intern Programs for 2023.
The AAGE Top Intern Programs list was created from a survey of over 1,800 interns from 105 different organisations. Ratings are based on 15 categories including induction and training, quality of supervision, content of work, performance feedback, organisation’s culture and values and social life.
Internship streams
Internships are grouped into streams based on operational area and role responsibilities. Every internship is different, but the following examples show the kinds of tasks and projects you might work on as part of each stream. Check out the intern profiles of past interns and what they achieved in their placements.
All roles include administrative tasks, but the Students@Work team will support you throughout your placement to make sure you are getting the most from your internship. You can also talk to your supervisor if there are particular skills or projects you would like to work on.
You can apply for any stream you are interested in, even if it’s outside your field of study. Not every stream is available in every intake.
Click a stream to see examples of tasks and projects you could be part of.
Data analysis and reporting Data analysis and reporting
| Finance Finance
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Human Resources Human Resources
| IT and web support IT and web support
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Legal and risk Legal and risk
| Marketing – Communications Marketing – Communications
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Marketing – Events Marketing – Events
| Multimedia and design Multimedia (graphic design, video and media)
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Policy support Policy support
| Service Improvement / Project administration Service improvement / Project administration
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Property – Planning, Design and Development Property – Planning, Design and Development
| Student / academic support Student / academic support
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Research management support Research management support
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Key dates 2024
Please note that these dates may be subject to change.
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
Semester 1 | Closed |
Semester 2 | We're planning to reopen the intake for Semester 2 around June/July, although the exact timeline is yet to be confirmed. Once we have confirmed the updated timeline, it will be posted here and shared with our mailing list. Be sure to stay updated by becoming a member! |
How to apply
Applications open ahead of each semester and will be listed on Careers Online. The listing will have the position description, available streams, full eligibility criteria, and detailed instructions on how to apply.
If you’re an international student, it’s your responsibility to understand your Student Visa conditions and keep up with any updates from the Department of Home Affairs regarding your work rights.
Recruitment stages
Stage 1: | Fill out the application form and attach:
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Stage 2: | The video interview requires you to respond to four questions in a recorded video interview format. The Assessment Centre involves a group activity, group presentation and one-on-one interview. They are held on campus in person. |
Stage 3: | You will hear back from the Students@Work team within 4 weeks after applications close. |
How to prepare your application
Learn how to make your application stand out with the resources below. You can also join our mailing list for updates on information sessions and workshops.
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Smart Resume
Improve your resume, online professional profile and pitch with AI-driven feedback to increase your chances of success.
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Selection criteria
Learn how to effectively tailor your responses to selection criteria.
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Preparing for an interview
Practice makes perfect: find advice for preparing for interviews in a variety of formats, from in person to online.
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Speak to a Career Adviser
Book an appointment with a Career Adviser to get tailored advice on applying for work, building your network and planning your career.
Student intern profiles
Read profiles of some past interns and learn about their experiences.
Cin Tong
"I have heaps of opportunities to improve my autonomy, showcase my creativity and contribute to the team."
Maya Gregory
"You may feel like it is a lot, that you aren't qualified, or that it's not exactly related to what you want to do in the future. I really encourage all those people to consider how much they can learn from being a part of the S@W internship program."
Mollie Crompton
"Come in with an open mind and be ready to learn because there’s so much you can do, you just have to push yourself to try!"
Diego Machillanda Flechas
“I was given autonomy over my own work and how best to complete it and my contributions in team meetings were paid the same attention as everyone else’s."
Rose Gertsakis
“Every small chat with colleagues along the way has been insightful and enjoyable, and I couldn’t have asked for a better team of people to lead me through my first internship.”
Wenn Lynn Ooi
“I felt like I was a part of the team, making significant contributions to existing and upcoming projects. It gave me a great sense of fulfilment and empowerment.”
Hiring manager testimonials
Hear from some of our hiring managers about the benefits of working with students.
Belinda Price
"Our interns have gone on to be PhD candidates at Melbourne, applied for further overseas study programs, completed postgraduate degrees and been hired by our team in fixed term roles at the completion of their internship."
Paul Gruba
"Make them feel welcome and part of the team, listen to their advice, and do not be afraid to give them complex, meaningful work – they are quite amazing!"
Eleanor Colla
"The recruiting process is well-managed, timely, and allows me to meet with an appropriate amount of candidates without being overburdened or overwhelmed."