Internship information for doctoral students
This information applies to doctoral students who take an internship at some point during their doctoral studies. In addition to this page, students on a Student visa are advised to read the information for international students.
Mandatory internships
Some funded doctoral training programmes require students to complete an internship. If this applies, your programme administrator will assist you in making the arrangements for your internship. Only one internship would be covered by these arrangements.
As part of these arrangements, you must apply to work away for the purpose of your internship. If you are unsure whether you are on a funded programme that requires an internship, contact your programme administrator.
Integral internships
If your proposed internship is directly related to your research, such that the work you do during your internship will inform your doctoral research and be written up into your thesis and therefore have no impact on your maximum thesis submission deadline, your internship is considered integral. For UKRI funded students, a UKRI policy internship will also be considered integral.
Before the internship: you must ensure that the terms of the internship have been agreed. Your Department Postgraduate Office can provide a template agreement if necessary. You must apply, and receive approval for, a period of working away for the purpose of an internship. The application will need to explain how the internship is integral to your doctoral research.
After the internship: you must submit an internship report to your Supervisor and Departmental Postgraduate Administrator. You should also ask your internship provider to submit a report. Your Department Postgraduate Office can provide a template agreement if necessary.
Internships that are not integral or mandatory
If your proposed internship is not directly related to your doctoral research or a requirement of your funded doctoral training programme, it would not be considered integral or mandatory. This would apply, for example, if you wish to undertake an internship that is relevant to your future career plans or for more general skills acquisition.
Before the internship: you are advised to ensure that you and the internship provider agree the terms of the internship. You must apply, and receive approval for, a period of non-medical intermission for the purpose of an internship.
After the internship: you may choose to submit an internship report to your Supervisor and Departmental Postgraduate Administrator. There is no requirement for your internship provider to submit a report.