The Business Internship Program is a UniSA Business initiative, which ensures all business students are given the opportunity to gain workplace experience during their studies. We have two streams of internships currently available - traditional and virtual.

The team manage student coursework internships, and work with Course Coordinators to ensure courses link with industry and assessments are designed to enhance student employability.

There are a variety of internship courses designed to fit into undergraduate and postgraduate programs as electives. View the available courses.

There are two things students need to consider when deciding which course to enrol in.

1. The number of available electives
   Some programs only offer one or two elective courses in their structure. Where programs offer up to four elective courses students will need to consider how many electives they have already completed, and how many electives they have available in their study plan.
2. Course prerequisite requirements
   All internship courses have prerequisite requirements. For example, undergraduate internship courses are available exclusively to third year students; this means undergraduate students must have completed 72 units of study before they can enrol.

You can enrol in internship courses through your myEnrolment portal (UniSA login required). 

Students enrolled in internship courses will receive information via email about how to apply for internship opportunities approximately 10 weeks before the study period starts.

Internship opportunities will be advertised via InPlace (UniSA login required) around 10 weeks before the study period starts. There will be a two week application period where students can identify which internship opportunities interest them and rank them in order of preference.

Students will be asked to submit a copy of their CV and a cover letter when they submit their preferences to help Course Coordinators to rank and allocate internships. UniSA's Career Hub (UniSA login required) offers some great online resources to support students with developing a CV and cover letter; look under self-help resources.

For information on how to submit your internship preferences please see the Applying for placement and internship opportunities guide.

Yes, UniSA Business allows students to identify their own internship opportunities. You are not required to find your own internship, but if you have a niche interest or something specific you want to achieve by undertaking an internship, it may be beneficial to look into finding your own opportunity.

When looking for internship opportunities keep your course requirements in mind. You need to have a clearly defined project to work on that will provide an output. For example, a student may undertake a review of a business process and provide a recommendation in the form of a report or presentation.

If you source your own internship opportunity you will need to complete the self-placement submission form via InPlace as soon as possible. The information in your self-placement submission form will flow onto the Business Internships team and we will contact the agency you have identified and finalise your internship arrangements.

See how to complete the InPlace self-placement submission form.

When you submit a self-placement submission the ‘to do’ icon will remain on your home screen until we finalise your internship. This may take some time and your patience is appreciated. If you have any questions or concerns about your self-placement submission you can send an email to business.internships@unisa.edu.au.

Undertaking an internship with your employer as part of your studies is not normally permitted. Working on an internship project that is an extension of your job will not meet course requirements.  

Internship opportunities should provide new and challenging experiences. These opportunities focus on your learning and development. This involves experimenting, risk-taking, making mistakes, and dedicating time to analysing your experiences for the purpose of scholarship. Undertaking an internship project with an organisation is significantly different from participating in regular employment with the same organisation.

If you have a potential internship opportunity with your employer that is significantly different from your paid position, please email business.internships@unisa.edu.au to apply in writing for an exemption. This will require the approval of the Course Coordinator. For example, if you are working for an organisation in a general administrative capacity, and you are a marketing student who has an opportunity to work on a marketing and communications plan, or a commerce student who has an opportunity to work on an accounting project, you may be eligible for an exemption.

No, you can complete your internship days flexibly over the course of the study period.

Host organisations understand that students undertaking internships will have study commitments, and that they are required to attend university classes while on internship. Internship schedules and contact hours are negotiated between the student and host organisation prior to commencing.

Please be mindful when enrolling in summer and winter school courses (i.e. study period 4 and study period 7) that host organisations may expect a more intensive mode of attendance. 

Yes. UniSA Business provides Professional Indemnity, Public Liability and Personal Accident students for all students undertaking a coursework internship.

Business students who pursue internship opportunities outside of their coursework are not normally covered by the University’s insurance scheme.

Enrolments for internship courses close well in advance of the commencement of each study period. View the closing dates for enrolments here.

You can email business.internships@unisa.edu.au.

Please download the below guide for instructions on how to use the InPlace system to submit a self-sourced internship.

Self Sourced Placement guide

If you have any questions or concerns about your self-placement submission you can send an email to business.internships@unisa.edu.au.