Internships

UTS:Engineering has a distinctive five-year engineering program which prepares students for professional practice. All local Bachelor of Engineering students take part in the Diploma in Engineering Practice which integrates two six-month periods of paid engineering internships in a engineering setting into their degree. UTS:Engineering places over 600 students each year and offers opportunities for students in Sydney, interstate and overseas.

What is an Internship?

The UTS:Engineering Internship program involves Industry-Based Learning segments for engineering undergraduate students. This enables students to engage in experiential learning during paid employment for two six-month periods during their degree. This ensures our graduates are in very high demand with employers. In 2007, 94% of all UTS engineering graduates available for full-time employment were employed as professional engineers.*

*Source:  2007 Graduate Destination Survey, Graduate Careers Council of Australia

Why hire an intern?

Benefits for the Employer

• A recruitment strategy to secure the right graduates at an early stage in their degree
• To solve short-term staffing needs
• Help shape the future generation of engineers
• Gain new perspectives into your organisation
• Increased awareness of new technologies and research

Benefits for the Student

• Insight into a career in Engineering
• Valuable work place skills and knowledge
• Confidence and communication skills
• Develops a mature perspective
• Gain access to professional networks
• Enhanced learning and working experience

How to Employ an Intern

Any organisation can employ a student by registering with the Industry Partnering Unit (IPU).  

Simply fill in the Company Registration Form, if it is your first time to register the  company or if already registered, proceed directly to the Internship Description Form and submit online or by fax to 02 9514 2611.

When companies register with the IPU the following services are provided:

1. We will contact you when it is time to submit your job vacancies
2. Once we receive your Internship Description Form your job vacancies 
   will be advertised directly to our students through I2MS
3. We will screen the student applications based on type of student and course of study on your behalf, ensuring studentsare eligible to apply thus only forwarding you the relevant resumes

Then all that the company has to do is:

1. Review resumes and contact students in a timely manner
2. Interview and select the candidates
3. Negotiate a contract of employment directly with the successful student(s).

Internship Levels

Each internship should be for a period of 24 weeks experience (or equivalent part-time) in an engineering setting. Students and employers may choose to continue with part-time employment after the internship period.  

The two internships students complete during their degree are:

First Internship (Junior) - Early to Mid-stage in their degree, these students offer companies an intelligent and enthusiastic temporary employee willing to contribute significantly at relatively low cost. Some students will choose to stay with the same company for their second internship provided they are given increased challenges.

Second Internship (Senior) - Approaching the completion of their degree, these students will be close to qualifying as an engineer and can undertake challenging projects, frequently leading to final-year collaborative Capstone Research projects. They are often in high demand with many offers of employment after their second internship.

Engineering Disciplines Available

Students are available in the following areas of engineering:

• Civil                                                     
• Civil (Construction)
• Civil (Structures)
• Civil (Water)
• Civil (Materials)
• Civil and Environmental
• Electrical
• ICT
• ICT (Computer Systems)
• ICT (Software)
• ICT (Telecommunications)
• Mechanical
• Mechanical and Mechatronics

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Student Availability

Dates and Timing

Students are normally available to start work for Autumn semester between December and March and working up until July and for Spring semester students begin their internship between July and September and continue until February. An internship is for a period of 6months if completed on a full time basis.  

Employers should submit their Internship Description Form between September-December for the Autumn semester and between April-June for the Spring semester.

Resumès will usually be sent to you 2 weeks after submission of your job descriptions. However, this timing varies depending on demand and the time of the semester. The Industry Partnering Unit is flexible and will try to accommodate your requirements.

Number of Students Available

Approximately 350 students are available and register with the Industry Partnering Unit each semester.

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Options for Employers

The number of interns employed and frequency of employment varies between companies. Some employers recruit only one intern whereas others employ several interns concurrently often from the same or different engineering disciplines. Some employers are in regional Australia, and some recruit UTS students from overseas.

UTS Engineering is flexible and there are many ways that we accommodate 
employer's internship needs. For further discussion please contact the Industry Partnering Unit, details below.

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Salaries

Typical pay rates in 2007 are given below. These pay rates are only a guide. Companies should negotiate rates directly with students. Your success in attracting interns will depend upon the nature and quality of the position you have available, as well as rates of pay. (It is anticipated that all internships will be paid unless when working with a non profit organisation.)

THE NEXT STEP

Contact our Industry Partnering Unit to discuss your requirements.

Industry Partnering Unit
UTS:Engineering
University of Technology, Sydney
PO Box 123, Broadway
NSW 2007
Tel: 02 9514 2381; 02 9514 2026
Fax:02 9514 2611

Email: internships@eng.uts.edu.au

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