Internships

Internships provide an important opportunity for Khalifa University graduate students to experience a unique facility or specialization offered by an academic institution, research centre or company. Internship experiences can enhance the research students undertake at Khalifa University and facilitate real world applications. Students gain professional experience by interacting with potential research partners and employers, as well as an understanding of the skills needed in different industry sectors. Internship students will promote Khalifa University as a world class institution among government and industry entities in the UAE and all over the world. Students who demonstrate promising potential for independent work and whose research topic lends itself to external collaboration may be considered for an internship.

Internship Guidelines

All registered graduate students can apply for an internship during their studies at Khalifa University. Internships are optional and subject to approval. The following general guidelines apply:

Students must be in good academic standing to be eligible to apply for an internship.
Students must have the permission of their Main Advisor prior to pursuing an internship.
An internship must not interfere with the student’s academic studies, research and teaching duties, thus it is normally undertaken during the summer, for a period not exceeding 3 months. Students may apply for a longer internship period and any such request will be subject to approval.
Students may not sign any agreement with a host organization until their internship application is approved by Khalifa University. The approval process includes review of all agreement documents.
Students may not simultaneously accept employment from Khalifa University or any other organization.
Based on approval from Khalifa University, the student may accept compensation from the host organization for internship expenses such as travel, accommodation, visa, etc. Depending on the financial arrangements made with the host, the student may not be eligible to receive a stipend from Khalifa University during the internship period.
Pursuing an internship will not extend the duration of the student’s scholarship.
The internship will not be noted on the student’s academic transcript.

Before the Internship

The student must consult his/her Main Advisor and secure his/her support before pursuing an internship. The Main Advisor may assist the student in identifying a suitable host organization, if necessary.
The student must obtain a formal letter from the host organization detailing the terms of the internship, including duration and any financial benefits offered to the student.
The student must complete the Internship Application Form, obtain the approval of the Main Advisor, Department Chair, Associate AVP of Graduate Studies at the relevant College and submit it to GSO with supporting documentation. The student’s participation in the internship is confirmed once approval is received from GSO and student’s Banner record is updated, as appropriate.
Applications for Research-Based internship should include the scope of planned work, a list of tasks to be conducted and expected outcomes. The Main Advisor must provide a letter of support stating how the intended internship will benefit and enhance the student’s research at Khalifa University.
Once the internship assignment is approved, the student should register for thesis/dissertation credits for the relevant semester.

During the Internship

The student must maintain active communication with his/her Main Advisor and provide regular updates on the progress of the internship.
The student is encouraged to keep a personal log covering the work carried out at the host institution to facilitate writing the final report that will be submitted to the Graduate Studies Office and the Main Advisor upon completion of the internship period.
The student must behave in the utmost professional manner, be a good ambassador for Khalifa University and adhere to the regulations and guidelines of the host organization.
For Research-Based internships, the Main Advisor should maintain direct communication with the student’s advisor at the host organization.

After the Internship

The student must submit a detailed report to the Graduate Studies Office on the activities carried out during the internship, endorsed by the student’s advisor at the host organization and Main Advisor at Khalifa University. The report must be signed by a representative from the host organization to confirm approval for publication.
The Main Advisor will evaluate the student’s work as part of research performance and incorporate the evaluation in the thesis/dissertation grade for the relevant semester.

Types of Internships

Research-Based

This internship provides students with experience in a research laboratory at a research-intensive international institution or research centre. The work undertaken during this internship must be relevant to the student’s research at Khalifa University. It is the responsibility of the Main Advisor to monitor the student’s progress during the internship.

Industry-Based

This internship provides students with an opportunity to gain experience in industry. Such activity may include collecting data, building case studies and obtaining a deeper understanding of the application area of the research topic or problem.

Course-Based

This internship allows students to attend a specialized graduate-level course available at a high-ranking international institution. Students must obtain the approval of their Advisor(s), the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies at the relevant College and the AVP of Graduate Studies prior to registering for courses outside Khalifa University. Students wishing to transfer credit for courses completed during an internship must adhere to Khalifa University policy ACA 3270 Transfer Credit and Advance Standing.

Application Procedure

The Graduate Studies Office (GSO) manages the internship application and approval process for graduate students. Internship applications are assessed on the basis of student’s academic merit, quality of the application and the perceived benefit to the student’s program of study. Internships may be sought with existing Khalifa University partner institutions, industry entities, or through ad hoc links with leading international universities and research centres.