Can I work during my bachelor?
What is an internship?
An internship is a training activity carried out in a work environment that a student may undertake during the course of study or immediately after graduation.
What are the types of internships?
A curricular internship is possible during studies: it can be mandatory or optional. It is mandatory if the study plan includes an internship activity, optional otherwise. It is also possible to do an internship after the completion of the studies: in this case, it is called an “extra-curricular” internship. In all cases the Politecnico supports students, both in getting in touch with companies and in managing the necessary documentation.
What are the characteristics of the mandatory internship?
Students may include a 5 or 10-credit internship in their study plan. The 10-credit internship is recommended for those wishing to enter the job market immediately after graduation. The 5-credit internship may also be chosen by those who intend to continue their studies taking a master degree. In fact, if a student opts for a 10-credit work placement and decides to enroll in the master’s degree, he or she will have to make up an extra 5 credits of courses. The internship can be done in any semester or period of the year. In order for it to be validated, it is necessary to have the internship in the study plan at the time the activity begins.
How do you find an internship?
Through the portal dedicated to “internships” on the Career Service website, where you can find numerous offers by companies.
How does the process work?
The student finds an internship offer that interests him or her and applies. If interested, the company calls him for an interview and if all goes well, the procedure starts. If the internship is mandatory, the student secretary will intervene and an “academic tutor” is also identified. If the student independently makes contact with a company, the company will have to sign an agreement with the Politecnico (if it has not already signed one previously) and will be able to enter the internship offer dedicated to the student in the portal with the data of the student with whom it has made arrangements. The internship may be initiated upon approval by the faculty member responsible for the approvals of self-procured internships.
Is there any difference in the procedure between compulsory and optional internships?
Yes, the former need an academic tutor who will also take care of validating the activity, the latter are not supervised by a teacher and are managed directly by the career service with a simplified procedure.
Is it mandatory to go through the portal?
“All curricular internships must go through the portal”
All curricular internships must go through the portal. In this way, in addition to having the support of the Politecnico, the student will be protected by insurance coverage during the activity carried out in the company.
How long is the internship?
Minimum two hundred and fifty hours if the internship is five credits, three hundred and fifty hours if it is ten credits. In the case of optional internships, there are no minimum constraints. Instead, maximum constraints are set by law.
What advice should you give to students?
If the student is really interested in entering the working world, it would be advisable to choose the 10-credit internship, because the 5-credit internship, which roughly corresponds to a month and a half of work, allows for somewhat limited work experience that would not be as relevant to one’s resumé. If you intend to continue your studies, it is advisable to make the best of the experience but if possible without getting so absorbed as to neglect completing the studies, which sometimes happens.
“Beware of getting absorbed by the world of work while neglecting your studies”