Internship Programme

During years two to four, students will undertake a 12-week internship or placement to gain experience of work in a professional environment and in transferable skills that will be beneficial in their future careers.

Students who have an OIIC, Collaborative or CASE project will carry out a three month placement with their external partner.  These can be related to the PhD topic.  Students who do not have a partner involved with their project will carry out an internship with an external organisation of their choice.  These will not be linked to the PhD project and this must be taken into account when planning out the project.

Areas that may be explored during internships include industrial R&D, science policy, science communication, publishing, entrepreneurship and project management. As the purpose of the internship is to expand a student’s skills beyond their research project, students are not allowed to use the internship to undertake DPhil research. However, students can undertake technology transfer, policy or science communication activities related to their DPhil research with the approval of their DPhil supervisor. Students will select their internship in consultation with their programme director and will be required to submit an internship plan that defines the aims of their internship and provides key information about their proposed host organisation. Internship and budget plans are subject to approval by ILESLA staff before they can be undertaken. 

Students undertaking an internship overseas are required to complete an overseas travel and fieldwork risk assessment, which must be approved by the safety officer in their department according to standard University procedures. 

The internship can be undertaken full or part time, but the total time spent must add up to 12 weeks (60 days). Students are required to write a short report (one to two pages) on their internship. 

Internship plans, budgets and reports must be sent to Ilesla-administrator@dtc.ox.ac.uk