Internships
You can use part of your elective credits (7.5 to a maximum of 15 EC) to do an internship. You arrange your internship via Osiris Case. You can choose between different types of internships:
- level 2 (practical internship)
- level 3 (research internship)
- an internship abroad (this does require more preparation time than an internship in the Netherlands, see the drop-down menu further on this page)
If necessary, discuss with your study advisor how you can fit an internship into your study programme.
The internship procedure
Before and during your internship, you'll go through various steps. We've outlined the key information on this page. If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with your internship coordinator. Additionally, you can find extra information about all the steps in the internship manual (under important documents).
Before your internship
• Step 1: Search for an internship > Check the website > Contact your internship coordinator > Write an internship work plan when you have found an internship (in Osiris Case). Are you planning an internship abroad? Start on time and arrange your internship in Osiris Stay Abroad
• Step 2: Register your internship in Osiris Case and upload your internship workplan (in Osiris Case).
• Step 3: Your internship coordinator links you to your supervising lecturer and your supervising lecturer approves the level and number of EC's (in Osiris Case).
• Step 4: Discuss your internship work plan with your supervising lecturer and internship supervisor.
• Step 5: Upload your final internship work plan and signed internship agreement (in Osiris Case).
• Step 6: Your supervising lecturer and internship supervisor approve your final internship work plan (in Osiris Case).
• Step 7: The Internship Office will check and sign the internship agreement and register you for the internship in Osiris (in Osiris Case).
During your internship
• Step 8: Your internship starts now! Upload your logbooks so that your supervising lecturer can provide you with feedback (in Osiris Case).
After your internship
• Step 9: Get feedback from your internship supervisor and write and upload your internship report (in Osiris Case). Tip: ask your internship supervisor for a testimonial/reference
• Step 10: Your internship will be assessed by your supervising lecturer (in Osiris Case).
Who is who?
- Supervising lecturer = your programme's supervising teacher
- Internship supervisor = your supervisor at the organisation you are doing your internship
- Internship Office = contact for registration and Osiris results
- Internship coordinator = contact person for all internship questions (apart from registration)
» Download version step-by-step plan for internship work placement (pdf)
Step 1: Finding an internship and drafting a concept version of the internship work plan
You are responsible for finding a suitable internship yourself. Make sure to start your search in time as the (application) process can be very time-consuming. If you have any difficulties during your search, you can get in touch with your internship coordinator to discuss your options. Please keep in mind that most organisations in the Netherlands use Dutch as their working language. Contact your internship coordinator to discuss your options if you do not speak Dutch and wish to do an internship in the Netherlands.
» Take a look at these Humanities Internships for interesting opportunities in the field of Humanities.
Once you have secured an internship position, you will write a draft version of your internship work plan. It doesn't need to include all the details at this stage. The focus should be on describing your internship placement and assignment, explaining your motivation, and outlining your learning objectives.
The exact content of the plan depends on the specific internship you wish to complete:
- Guidelines internship work plan - professional practice internship (level 2) (docx)
- Guidelines internship work plan - research internship (level 3) (docx)
Step 2: Registration internship
Register your internship in Osiris Student > Cases > My cases > Start a new case by using the plus icon in the bottom right corner. A new window will open. Make sure your pop-up blocker is turned off for the new window to open. Choose Internship, Study Abroad and Exchange > HUM: Internship process bachelor > Start. Enter all the necessary information and upload the draft of your internship work plan.
If you intend to start your internship right after summer (in September), you need to apply before the summer break. The deadline for this is the 30 June. If you apply for the internship at a later date, you will only be able to start your internship around mid-September.
Step 3: Allocation of a supervising lecturer
Once you have registered your internship in Osiris Case, it will be forwarded to the internship coordinator. You will receive feedback if necessary, or be asked to make any required adjustments. If the draft version is approved, the internship coordinator will assign you to a supervising lecturer.
Step 4: Discussing your internship work plan
The supervising lecturer will contact you to meet and get to know each other. During the meeting, you will receive feedback on your internship work plan. Also consult your internship supervisor to ask for feedback.
Step 5: Uploading your internship work plan and internship agreement
Based on the feedback from your supervising lecturer and internship supervisor, you improve your internship work plan. Upload your final plan in Osiris, allowing your supervising lecturer to review it. After the supervising lecturer approves, your plan will be automatically forwarded to your internship supervisor.
Before you start your internship, an internship agreement is arranged between the Faculty of Humanities, the host organisation and you as the student. This agreement sets out your liability insurance for the internship, giving you greater legal security. The internship agreement must be signed by you and your internship supervisor from the host organisation (so not your supervising lecturer). Note: never sign an agreement before consulting with your supervising lecturer.
- English: standard UU internship agreement (pdf)
- Dutch: standaard UU stageovereenkomst (pdf)
You will not be permitted to start the internship without this agreement. Upload your internship agreement no later than two weeks before your internship begins in Osiris Case. Note: the Internship Office also needs to sign the submitted agreement later on (step 7).
Exceptions internship agreement
For some organisations, different arrangements apply:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mediastages: these organisations have their own internship agreements that you must sign and upload in Osiris Case.
- Meertens Instituut: you must submit both the faculty agreement and the Meertens Institute’s own agreement in Osiris Case.
Step 6: Approval
Before you can start your internship, both your supervising lecturer and internship supervisor have to approve your internship work plan. Your supervising lecturer will also register the number of EC and the level of your internship.
Step 7: Course registration
The Internship Office will check the submitted documents and sign the internship agreement, and enroll you in the Internship course in Osiris (unlike other courses, you cannot do this yourself). Once you receive a notification via Osiris Case that your internship work plan has been approved and your internship agreement has been signed, you are ready to start your internship.
Step 8: Keeping a log
At least three times during your internship, you must upload a log in Osiris Case in which you record and reflect on your work activities. Your supervising lecturer will give you feedback on your logs. You will receive an email as soon as the feedback can be found in Osiris Case. You will add all logs as an attachment to your internship report. Eventually, your internship will be assessed based on your internship report. It is best to start writing the report early on in your internship. You may spend 10% of your internship working hours on this.
Extend the internship
If your internship goes on for longer than originally intended, discuss this with both your supervising lecturer and internship supervisor. Then fill out the internship agreement extension form (pdf, in Dutch) and email it to the Internship Office. They will upload it in Osiris Case.
Step 9: Feedback and internship report
About three weeks before the end of your internship, you will ask your internship supervisor from the host organisation to provide input for your assessment via Osiris Case. Your internship supervisor will then receive a digital feedback form to fill out in Osiris Case.
At the end of your internship, you must finish your internship report. This report contains an evaluation section and a description of the ‘product’ of the internship. Upload your report, including all attachments, in Osiris Case. Your report will then be forwarded directly to the Internship Office. Remember to send your report to the host organisation as well, if they ask for it.
Step 10: Assessment of your internship
Your supervising lecturer is responsible for assessing your internship. The internship report will be the main determinant for your final grade. Assessment is conducted using a standard assessment form specific to the internship type:
- Assessment form - professional practice internship (level 2) (pdf)
- Assessment form - research internship (level 3) (pdf)
Your lecturer will inform you about your final grade. Copies of the completed assessment forms can be found in Osiris Case. Your grade and the number of EC will be entered in Osiris.
Important documents
Particularities
When you are planning to do an internship abroad, you will need to start making arrangements six months to a year in advance. Applying for documents such as visas and residency permits may take some time. For more information, please contact the Internship Office (Student Information Desk Humanities).
Who to go to?
- Information about doing an internship abroad: internship coordinator
- Writing an internship work plan, connection to supervising lecturer: internship coordinator
- Registering in Osiris and signing the OV-form: Internship Office (Student Information Desk Humanities);
- General information abroad and applying for an Erasmus grant: Erasmus Office or International Office Humanities
To obtain a signature from the faculty on your application for an Erasmus scholarship or public transport allowance, you must provide proof that you will be completing an internship. This may take the form of an agreement, or an email exchange with the host organisation.
- Preparation time: depending on your citizenship, doing an internship abroad usually takes more time to prepare than an internship in the Netherlands. Especially if you are going to a country outside the EU. It is therefore wise to start your orientation early, ideally about a year in advance.
- Personal commitment: one of the aspects that make an internship so educational is the fact that you have to do a lot yourself. Arranging an internship abroad requires even more of your own initiative and perseverance than arranging one in the Netherlands or your home country. Like studying abroad, this can be very rewarding: you experience daily life in another country, you learn more about the culture of the country and (in many cases) the language, and you have much more contact with the local population than when studying abroad. Moreover, it provides you with an international professional network and you work on your intercultural skills in a professional setting.
- Travel advice: please note that in areas where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues a negative travel advice (Code Orange or Red), the university will not approve your internship.
Even if you live in the Netherlands as an international student, it can be interesting and useful to do an internship in another country. Moreover, the working language of most organisations in the Netherlands is Dutch. An internship abroad is therefore a good choice if you do not speak Dutch.
There are several ways to find an internship abroad:
1. You search one yourself. Below you will find some tips on how to search.
2. You can also ask an intermediary organisation for help. Below you will find a number of organisations that can help you; however, there are more.
Don't know yet what kind of organisation you want to do an internship with? A good start to your orientation is to take the free tests from Career Services. For more tips on how to get an internship that matches your interests and ambitions, check the internship manual for students on the internship page of your programme. Can't work it out? Make an appointment with the internship coordinator of your study programme. They will be happy to act as a sparring partner.
Option 1: Finding your own internship
An internship abroad can be done at many different kinds of organisations. Are you a Master’s student? Keep in mind that most Master’s programmes only allow internships that are related to the subject of your studies. Always contact your programme’s (internship) coordinator to discuss your plans.
Some examples:
- Organisations/companies that do work in your field of interest and are in line with your study background;
- A foreign branch of an organisation from your home country (for example: news organisations, embassies, cultural institutes or NGOs); or an organisation in your home country;
- A local company abroad with an international orientation or in a country where you speak the/a language at a high level;
- One of several international organisations or governing bodies (such as branches of the UN, the EU, NATO, or IGOs) or other organisations with an international orientation such as a multinational;
- (Research projects at) foreign universities* or research institutes;
- Museums, events, think tanks, cultural institutions, etc. with a collection/activities important for your specialisation.
* Internship Dutch as a Foreign Language: are you a student of Dutch, or are you interested in the Dutch language, language acquisition or language teaching? Then you can combine a study abroad with an internship teaching Dutch as a foreign language (NVT). Countries with many students of Dutch include France, Spain, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Germany. For more information and available traineeships, please contact Emmeline Besamusca-Douwes.
Option 2: Finding an internship through an intermediary organisation
There are several organisations that mediate in the search for internships. They often charge money for their work, so read the conditions carefully and ask yourself if this is really necessary for you. Not all internship vacancies are equally suitable, but you can use them to see which organisations offer internships and get ideas that way. Some links that may help you further:
- Europe: Jobted, Europlacement, ETCi - UK, iAgora
- Other regions: United States, Australia, Curaçao, South America
- Worldwide: iHipo, AIESEC
When arranging your internship, you can use an international internship agreement (such as this model agreement). Also check what you have to take into account regarding health and safety: are there safety risks? How is health care organised?
Financing
Doing an internship abroad can be quite costly. Here are some useful links (mostly in Dutch):
- Studiefinanciering
- OV-chipkaart
- Erasmus+ grant
- Beursopener (overview of (private) funds). Have you found a fund here and does it require a letter of recommendation from a student dean? Then look here.
Visas and permits
- Depending on your citizenship or current visa, you might need a visa or work permit.
- Bear in mind that arranging a permit can take a long time. In some countries, this can take up to a year! So be sure to check well in advance.
Insurance and liability
- Whether you are adequately insured during your internship depends on various factors, such as the amount of your internship fee, the duration of your internship and your age.
- It is important that you have properly examined your individual situation before you go on an internship and have signed a contract. This also includes which insurances you have and how these are arranged according to the law and the internship contract.
When you have found an internship abroad, in addition to the steps required for an internship within the Netherlands, you must complete two extra mandatory steps to manage your enrollment in Osiris:
- When registering your internship in Osiris Case, specify that you will be undertaking an international internship.
- Once your supervising lecturer and internship supervisor have approved your final internship work plan, you need to register your internship through the button 'Abroad' in Osiris.
Internships for students with disabilities are not always easy to find. If you run into any problems, please contact your internship coordinator. The following websites offer useful suggestions and/or internship vacancies:
- Expertise Centrum Inclusief Onderwijs
Information on completing an internship with a disability, including a useful Guidebook (website in Dutch only). - Onbegrensd Talent
A recruitment and selection agency for highly-educated people with a disability (website in Dutch only).
Student athletes may face more difficult challenges in finding an appropriate internship. Fortunately, a growing number of companies are aware of the needs of this group of student interns and are taking steps to make it easier for this target group to complete internships (e.g. flexible working hours and a longer internship duration). For more information, please contact your internship coordinator.
Utrecht University liability insurance
According to Dutch law (art. 7:661 lid 1 Burgelijk Wetboek) the student-trainee that causes damage to the host organisation during his/her internship is, in principle, not liable for this. Deviation from this principle can only be done in written agreement and as far as the student-trainee is insured for this (art. 7:661 lid 2 BW).
Utrecht University has included in its liability insurance the students of Utrecht University, without limitation of faculty, during their external internships, provided that this internship is done under the auspices and with the knowledge of the University.
See the Nuffic site for rules and conditions regarding permits and insurance.
Careers orientation and internship coordinator
Josi Smit
stageGKG@uu.nl
What can your internship coordinator help you with?
Explain internship regulations • Find an internship • Link you to an internship supervisor • Set up an internship • Process an internship • Complete an internship • Make an appointment • Offer advice on how to explore your career during your programme
Internship Office Humanities
Drift 10, 3512 BS Utrecht
+31 (030) 253 6285
stage.gw@uu.nl
Always mention your student number in your correspondence!