About the Internship Program
The Students@Work Internship program at the University of Melbourne matches applicants with on-campus internship opportunities, offering invaluable work and skill development experience. Internships range from three to nine months, requiring 14 to 21 hours a week, including during semester breaks. Since its launch in 2017, the program has successfully placed over 750 students into internships.
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Benefits of the Program
- 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 20 Intern Programs
The Students@Work Internship program has been recognised in the Australian Association of Graduate Employers' (AAGE) Top 20 Intern Programs List for both 2023 and 2024, highlighting its significance for University of Melbourne students. In 2024, the S@W Program ranked 12th for the large programs category.
The AAGE Top Intern Programs list 2024 was created from surveying over 2,400 interns who were engaged in an internship program at sometime across March 2023 – February 2024. 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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Application Process
The application process involves multiple stages. Students will be able to access support throughout each stage of the process to ensure they are able to put their best application forward and perform well in interviews. Further details about the application process and eligibility criteria are provided below.
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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.
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Eligibility
Please see below for general eligibility requirements, confirmed eligibility requirements for each intake will be listed in the application form.
Students must be:
- Enrolled at the University for the duration of the internship
- Enrolled at the University for the duration of the internship (For Semester 1 intakes, students should have at least two semesters remaining to stay enrolled until the end of the year. For Semester 2 intakes, students should have at least one semester remaining to maintain enrolment until the year's end.)
- Domestic and international students are eligible to apply
- Living in Australia for the duration of the internship
- Able to commit 14 to 21 hours per week
- Monday to Friday only for the duration of the internship including non-teaching periods
- Have a valid Working With Children Check, or be willing to obtain one before the commencement of the internship. This will be at your own expense
- Not have more than 3 weeks planned leave for the duration of the internship
- Enrolled at the University for the duration of the internship
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Key Dates 2024
Please note that these dates may be subject to change.
Date Event June 17, 2024 Applications Workshop, register here June 18, 2024 Applications Open, apply here June 24, 2024 Application Close July 3-5, 2024 Video Interviews July 4, 2024 Interview Prep Workshop (learn how to prepare for one-to-one interviews with a hiring manager) July 5-8, 2024 Mock Assessment Centres July 9-12, 2024 Assessment Centres/Interviews July 15 –31, 2024 Selection and Offers August 2, 2024 Induction August 5, 2024 Internship Commences -
Recruitment Stages
- Stage 1: Application form
- Fill out the application form and attach:
- CV
- Evidence of score of 75 or above on Smart Resume Tool
- Written Responses to Key Selection Criteria
- Fill out the application form and attach:
- Stage 2: Video interview and Assessment Centre or Interview
- In this stage, you will be invited to complete a video interview and either an Assessment Centre or an interview. The video interview consists of responding to four questions in a recorded format. The Assessment Centre includes a group activity, group presentation, and a one-on-one interview. The interview involves a structured panel interview with a hiring manager. Both interviews and Assessment Centres will be conducted in person on campus.
- If you are unable to attend the in-person interview, the hiring manager may be willing to conduct a virtual meeting. However, attending in person is encouraged whenever possible.
- Information about which streams will require an assessment centre will be released in the application form.
- Stage 3: Outcome
- You will hear back from the Students@Work team as per the Key Dates above.
- Stage 1: Application form
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.”
Victor Yoshida
"This opportunity let me delve into the real corporate world. Beyond tech skills, I learned firsthand about how businesses operate—something textbooks can't quite capture entirely. From planning to execution, this experience taught me invaluable lessons for my future career."
Feliciana Lentini
The S@W Internship Program has been a highlight and an enriching experience during my time at the University of Melbourne. I was able to explore a new domain outside of my area of study and ended up gaining a lot of valuable lessons.
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."
Qiao Li
Working with the Students at Work team has been an easy and smooth experience, with each step of the process mapped out and communicated clearly.