Work experience
Monash has a number of Engineering-related work experience programs for Engineering students:
- Engineering Co-op Internship Program (Bachelor of Engineering students)
- Industry Based Learning (Software Engineering students)
- Graduate Work Integrated Learning (Master’s students)
- Monash Engineering Summer Research Program (all students)
- Monash Industry Team Initiative (all students)
If you are interested in experiences outside of those organised by Monash you will need to search for them yourself – doing so helps you develop the job searching and organisational skills you will need as a graduate. Monash will support you by sending regular communications about opportunities and providing professional development workshops and resources.
One such resource is the Engineering Student Career Hub website where we’ve collated all the programs and resources at Monash that can help you develop your employability skills.
If your work experience is Engineering-related, your time can count towards 100% of your CPD minimum hour requirement.
If your work experience is not Engineering-related, your time can count for up to 50% of your CPD minimum hour requirement.
Bear in mind that students generally aren’t encouraged to undertake Engineering-based work experience until their first year’s results have been released, they’ve passed at least 48 credit points, and they’ve been officially allocated to an Engineering specialisation.
Smaller CPD experiences can be completed as soon as you’re an enrolled Monash Clayton Engineering student.
Download the CPD requirement letter and evidence template to provide to your employer to request work experience opportunities and the appropriate supporting documentation.
Finding work experience
The Monash Career Centre Portal can help you assess your existing employability skills, develop new ones, and understand what your next steps should be.
Search for vacation work and employment opportunities through job boards:
- Career Gateway - Monash University online job board
- Young Engineers Australia Jobs Board
- GradConnection
- GradAustralia
- SEEK
- INDEED
Pay attention to the posts on your Department Student Hub Moodle site – job opportunities are often posted there.
Set up your LinkedIn profile and follow companies you are interested in working for. Career Connect have a great LinkedIn workshop to help you maximise the benefit of the platform.
Attend industry events put on by the Engineering Teams & Clubs as well as the Engineering Career Ready Series .
Network at Engineers Australia and/or IEEE events.
Companies will often reach out to academics seeking suitable candidates – get to know your unit supervisors and the academics who work with industry partners in the fields of interest to you.
Career Connect Jobs and careers is a valuable resource for additional information and links to assist you in:
- Finding Work – Job-hunting methods
- Applying for a Job – Application methods, cover letters, interviews
- Understanding workplace rights – Workplace rights
- Planning your career – Develop a career plan
- Improving employability – Developing your skills
- Attending career events – Career development programs
You can also use Student Futures to find professional development opportunities that are right for you. There are many options listed.
You might also find information contained in this Work Experience Resource Kit (PDF, 0.61 MB) useful
Paid work experience
Students do not need to get written approval for work experience if they are being paid by their host organisation. Getting paid for your work (the legal minimum wage or higher) means you should be covered by the employer’s insurance. Please check with your employer that you are covered by appropriate insurance before you commence any work. You should never work without adequate insurance coverage.
Unpaid work experience
Engineering students who wish to undertake an unpaid work placement can request insurance coverage from Monash University using the Student-sourced Unpaid Vocational Placement forms below provided that the following requirements have been met:
- your placement must take place in Australia (overseas placements are not able to be covered by this insurance)
- you must have passed 48 credit points of study and been officially allocated an Engineering specialisation
- no prior internship can have taken place at the same host organisation unless the roles are significantly different
- precise dates and times of the entire placement must be provided in advance
- no more than 420 hours can be approved
- you must not have already begun your placement when applying
- at least ten working days’ notice must be allowed (for processing time)
- you must be supervised by the host organisation to be eligible for coverage under the Monash insurance policy.
- Please note that once you have met your CPD hours requirement, Monash is no longer able to approve insurance coverage for placements. The maximum number of hours that Monash can provide insurance for, across all unpaid placements, is 420.
If you wish to proceed with requesting Monash insurance coverage for your unpaid work experience taking place in Australia, the application process involves the following steps:
- Download and complete
- Student-sourced Unpaid Vocational Placement Form 1 – Host details (Someone from the host organisation will be required to complete their portion of Form 1.)
- Student-sourced Unpaid Vocational Placement Form 2 – Faculty Approval Request
- Email the completed forms to eng.cpd@monash.edu or bring them to the Student Services counter during business hours (Ground Floor at 14 Alliance Lane, Monash Clayton). Please ensure you have completed all sections of the forms. Incomplete forms will be returned without being processed.
- The Student Services team will review the forms and secure the necessary academic approvals.
- If everything is in order the Student Services team will issue you with your insurance letter. You can then present this letter to the host organisation, keeping a copy for your own records.
Students are urged not to attempt work experience without proper and adequate insurance coverage.
Before accepting an unpaid opportunity, check to see if the arrangement being proposed is in-line with Fair Work Australia.
Some resources that will help you understand your rights when engaging in work experience are below:
There will be severe penalties for anyone caught falsifying claims on their CPD. Failure to supply accurate and honest details about the activities you have attended, the hours you spent at those activities, the skills you have developed, the experiences you were exposed to, or accurate contact details and supporting documentation for verification purposes, would put your graduation in jeopardy if you were suspended or excluded from the university. Monash University’s policy on Academic Integrity applies in each of those instances, and for all CPD submissions. Furthermore, as a future Engineer, you should be upholding the Engineers Australia Stage 1 competency of ethical conduct and personal accountability.