Information for Monash Students

Whether called internships, placements, secondments, or embedded projects, engaging in these short-term research opportunities with external partners allows you to apply your expertise to real-world challenges, grow your network, and explore future career pathways— all while progressing your PhD.

Combine research, professional development, and external engagement across sectors like business, government, and enterprise.

Matt Skidmore

Matt's internship with the Scanlon Foundation has helped shape his PhD.

Mahsa Naseri

An internship with Aurecon gave Mahsa a chance to compare industry and academia.

What is a research internship?

A research internship is defined as a position with a research end-user where a student has undertaken research and development (R&D) related to their higher degree by research (HDR).Industry partners are looking for individuals with strong leadership qualities and high-level communication skills. You should also be making good progress in your research and be confident that taking on the internship will not impact your research and/or course progression.

A research end-user is defined as an individual, community or organisation external to academia that will directly use or directly benefit from the output, outcome or results of the research.
- Examples include businesses, governments, non-governmental organisations, communities and community organisations.
- Specific exclusions: other Universities and organisations that are affiliates, controlled entities or subsidiaries (such as Medical Research Institutes) of Universities.
R&D involves creative and systematic work undertaken in order to increase the stock of knowledge - including knowledge of humankind, culture and society - and to devise new applications of available knowledge.
- Research internship projects will have defined research tasks and outcomes.
- Examples of research tasks include: design, build and/or testing of a product or solution; collation and analysis of data; systematic reviews.
- Examples of research outcomes include: reports leading to recommendations to support solution development /change to policy or business practice; creation of a new/improved product/design/system.
- It is not work experience, but rather research activities.
The research internship must be related to your degree.
The Australian Council of Graduate Research recommend we consider this in broad terms:
- Related to your area of research.
- Use the research skills/experience gained during your PhD.
- The research skill/experience will benefit your research or research area.

How to apply

1. Check your eligibility View

2. Find and secure an internship View

It can take some time to find a great internship opportunity, so it is important that you discuss with your supervisor your intention to do an internship as early as possible in your candidature. You will need in-principle support from your faculty and supervisor, before securing your internship.

So how do you find an internship?

Already have your own opportunity you wish to pursue?

Contact the Monash Internships Team (MIT) to start the process: PhD.Internships@monash.edu

Working in partnership with APR.Intern we aim to connect you with organisations to give you an industry context to apply and further develop your research skills.
APR.Intern
Australia's national, cross-sector internship service provider that connects PhD students with industry partners for short-term, tightly focused research internships. You can search the APR.Intern site for available internships. Put in a general application via the Expression of Interest page using their templated documents provided and join their database in your field of research. You can also subscribe to monthly e-newsletters and weekly internship alerts.

Looking to secure the internship now, but planning to commence it at a later date? You should secure your internship via this letter of intent.

If you have any questions about the legal implications of any content in paperwork involved for your Research Internship (e.g. agreements, forms, student declarations) including how these may affect your rights, you are recommended to seek independent legal advice so that you make informed decisions. Monash Graduate Association (MGA) offers free legal advice to Monash students and may be able to assist with your questions.

3. Submit your application to commence your research internship View

4. Outcome of application and internship commencement View

5. Post-internship View

Register to hear about internships

Register your interest to get on our radar for upcoming industry opportunities and updates. Registering will add you to our internal database and ensures we can reach out with available projects.

Available internships

Exclusive opportunities for Monash students. Apply today.

Self-Sourced Internships Secure your own opportunity through the Monash Internships Team. Contact.

Advertised Opportunities Find out what other internships are available through APR.Intern. Explore.

Duration

At least 60 working days (≈3 months) to make a real impact.
Timing

Explore in year one, start after confirmation, finish before thesis submission.
Benefits

Apply research in industry, grow your network, and receive a stipend.
Flexibility

Full-time or part-time; onsite, remote or a mix of both — tailored to your candidature.

Still have a question? Check out the frequently asked questions below.

FAQs

Students undertaking an approved internship remain an enrolled students, bound by the student charter, statutes, regulations, policies and procedures (including those relating to the conduct of ethical research) of the university as amended from time to time, and agree to pay all fees, levies and charges directly arising from their enrolment.
You are unable to take a leave of candidature to undertake the internship.
Consider the potential project you may wish to undertake
Examples of R&D activities include:
- Policy evaluation and review
- Data analysis and visualisation
- Quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation
- Translation services
Tips when planning for your preferred project
- Determine your career goals and interests
- Define your requirements (as per Monash internship requirements outlined above)
- Start searching early
- Reach out to specific companies
- Use our service providers
- Search online
- Reach out to your network (including your supervisor who may have existing industry contacts)
Yes. Industry internships can be undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis. Part-time students can undertake an internship on a part-time basis.
A research internship can be either paid or unpaid. A paid internship is provided as a tax free stipend through Monash University. Students can be in receipt of an equivalent award, scholarship or salary related to their course of study while receiving payment for the internship.
Where the internship is paid, you will receive regular fortnightly scholarship payments from the commencement of your internship. For scholarship assistance, please contact your Faculty Graduate Research Office.
Part-time stipend payments are subject to tax.
Yes the R & D activities you will be undertaking as part of your Internship must be broadly related to the area of your research project.
If you wish to include outcomes of R & D activities in your thesis, this will need to be discussed and agreed to with the industry partner and included in the written agreement.
Yes, you must be actively enrolled and be participating in an internship to be covered by Monash University insurance.
No, you will not be able to take a leave of absence in order to commence a Research Internship. You must remain actively enrolled. You may apply to take leave during your internship. Any days or periods of leave do not count towards the 60 full time equivalent days of engagement.
The internship agreement is signed by the Industry partner (e.g. research end user) and Monash (see below). The student schedule (included within the agreement) is signed by the student, Industry (e.g. research end user) and Monash (e.g. ADGR). Your faculty should guide you through this step.
Advertised through APR.Intern: you will be advised by the service provider or your Faculty when to sign the agreement.
Self-sourced internship agreements managed through Monash Internships Team may also be supported by your Faculty.
A Letter of Intent (LOI) secures in writing the intent to undertake a research internship with an industry partner. The Letter of Intent details key information including the R&D activities you will be undertaking, the duration of the internship and industry partner details. It is signed by you, the industry partner (eg. research end user) and Monash (eg. Associate Dean Graduate Research). Your faculty will be able to support you in obtaining the Monash signature.
- The LOI should be completed within 18 months (FTE) of commencement of your candidature.
  - You only need to organise a LOI where a fully executed agreement will be completed at a later date (beyond the 18 month mark).
  - Once the formal agreement is in place, you can progress for your candidature variation application and upload both th LOI and agreement to the online form in order to commence the internship.
The letter of intent is not binding and simply secures in writing the intent of the student, industry partner and Monash to undertake a research internship. There is no impact on the letter of intent, should the dates change or if the internship is no longer going ahead.
It is recommended that an internship commences after the completion of Confirmation and must be completed prior to thesis submission. Students should ensure they have sufficient candidature remaining to undertake the Internship (within 4 years of candidature FTE).
The internship can be undertaken at any time, however the internship needs to fit within your PhD research program. You should discuss and plan your internship with your supervisor to identify the best time to complete your internship.
Where you have the support of your supervisor and faculty/institute, you are still able to undertake a research internship.
If you are engaging in R&D activities, these activities can be performed on-site with the end-user, on-campus, and online.

Return to research internships

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General enquiries: mgro-industry@monash.edu

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