Internships

Only internships that are part of your degree program ("intra-curriculum internships") can be approved by the University of Geneva.

These internships can be paid, or not and must:

• Be eligible for ECTS credits, whether compulsory or optional;
• Be validated by your study program;
• Be covered by a signed tripartite agreement between you, your employer, and your study program.

Are you an international student? Before starting your internship, you must:

• Apply for a work permit from the relevant authorities (OCPM in the canton of Geneva);
• Wait for the authorities' decision before starting your internship if you are a third-country national (outside the EU-EFTA).

Remember to plan ahead!

Each study program sets its own rules regarding:

• The content and educational objectives of your internship;
• The internship duration;
• The period of completion;
• The assessment methods (report, defense, etc.);
• The number of credits awarded.

Check directly with your program to know if an internship is possible as part of your course.

During an internship, you will:

• Shed light on the fields that appeal to you (or the ones that ultimatly don't suit you!) or "Identify what you like (or dislike!) about a particular field";
• Discover companies/institutions from your field;
• Better understand the expectations from those companies and the profiles they are looking for;
• Understand the etiquette and best practices;
• Build a network before even starting to work;
• Acquire a first experience that will be valuable in your resume;
• Get a certificate that will reassure your future employer during a recruitment process.

Internships approved by the University of Geneva are reserved for students currently enrolled in a program that includes a credited internship. However, there are other options for gaining professional experience:

• Trainee or Graduate programs for recent graduates (which allow you to join an organization, receive in-house training, and progress towards a permanent position);
• Volunteering;
• Professional integration programs in your field;
• First job;
• Student job or short-term contract, sometimes referred to as "internships".

Be sure to explore these options!

If the internship is part of the study program, subject to academic supervision, and takes place in an organization located in Europe (outside Switzerland), a SEMP (formerly Erasmus) internship grant can be requested from the Academic Exchange Office.

We offer a range of resources to support you every step of the way as you enter the job market:

• Workshops;
• Individual advice and appointments;
• Internship and job offers;
• Social and financial aid resources, insurance, etc.

Wether you are just starting to think out an internship or are ready to apply, we are here to support you. Log in to our platform to discover job and internship offers that match your profile and sign up for our various services.

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