FAQ mockup

Q1. What is the difference between an industry placement unit and a (non-credit) internship?
Q2. What is the difference between internships and volunteerism?
Q3. Who can apply for internships and volunteerism?
Q4. Can international students apply for internship and volunteerism?
Q5. When should I start looking for internships/volunteerism?
Q6. Are there deadlines for registering internships/volunteerism with the School?
Q7. What is the expected duration to intern/volunteer?
Q8. Are internships paid?
Q9. What will I be doing during my internship/volunteerism?
Q10. Can I pursue an internship/volunteerism abroad?
Q11. Must I only pursue an internship/volunteerism that is related to the profession of my major?
Q12. Should I expect a job offer from my employer after completing an internship/volunteerism?

Q1. What is the difference between an industry placement unit and a (non-credit) internship?

Industry placement units require students to pursue internships and complete graded assessments that contribute credit points towards their degree. Non-credit internships do not require graded assessments and do not contribute credit points towards their degree. Students who successfully register their non-credit internships and volunteerism with the School are eligible to apply to the General Studies Office for an exemption towards the General Studies U4 Cluster.

Click here to further understand the difference between the two undergraduate industry placement units (BEW3100 Work Placement Program & BEW3110 Work Experience Program).

Q2. What is the difference between internships and volunteerism?

Volunteerism refers to service performed for an organisation for civic, charitable, or humanitarian reasons, and without promise, expectation, or receipt of compensation for services rendered. While internships are designed to provide interns with work experience related to their major field of study, and may be paid or unpaid.

Q3. Who can apply for internships and volunteerism?

Internship and volunteerism are open to all students at Monash University Malaysia. However, some employers may target students in their penultimate or final year of study.

Q4. Can international students apply for internship and volunteerism?

Yes. International students can apply for internships and volunteerism at any time within the duration of their course. Once an international student completes their final semester, they are not allowed to undertake internships. Internship opportunities for international students in Malaysia are competitive. To stand a better chance, we encourage students to start their search early and to apply to as many companies as possible.

Q5. When should I start looking for internships/volunteerism?

Start early by preparing your application documents (resume, cover letter, etc.) and researching the organisations where you wish to pursue an internship or volunteer.

For summer internships, we recommend that you start this process two semesters ahead.

For information on the deadline to register your internship or volunteerism see the How to register page.

Q6. Are there deadlines for registering internships/volunteerism with the School?

Yes. Refer to the How to register section.

Q7. What is the expected duration to intern/volunteer?

Employers prefer a minimum commitment of 2-3 months and longer internships will provide you with greater exposure to the organisation’s operations. Please consult with the Education Office if any of these apply to your internship or volunteerism: a) your internship duration exceeds 3 months, b) your employer extends the agreed duration of internship, or c) an internship term overlaps with an academic semester.

Q8. Are internships paid?

In most instances host organisations offer a monthly allowance or subsidise your transport costs. However, it is very rare to negotiate a salary for an internship.

Q9. What will I be doing during my internship/volunteerism?

Expect to progressively gain hands-on experience of the day-to-day operations of the organisation. Initially your duties may include a wide range of administrative and secretarial support – processing mail, data entry, filing, sorting through documents or scheduling appointments. As your placement progresses, you may be assigned tasks with greater responsibility that a key member of the organisation would normally do.

Q10. Can I pursue an internship/volunteerism abroad?

Yes. Please inform the Education Office about your intention to pursue an internship or volunteerism in another country.

Q11. Must I only pursue an internship/volunteerism that is related to the profession of my major?

Not necessarily. Internships and volunteerism offer the opportunity to explore different career pathways before deciding on your first job.

Q12. Should I expect a job offer from my employer after completing an internship/volunteerism?

No. However, your good performance and the relationships built through the internship or volunteerism can lead to future employment opportunities either with your host employer or their industry partners.