Internship
The examination committee for the masters's program in economics may recognize one internship as an ungraded module with 6 ECTS credits in the specialization area. The module description for the internship can be found in the course catalog and here. The requirements and the recognition process are explained below.
Required documents:
- Form “Application for recognition of an internship”
- Form “Internship certificate” (to be filled by the employer)
- Form “Proof of working hours”
- Internship report (600 – 1000 words) with declaration “Internship report”
All documents must be submitted in original to the examination committee for the master's program, for the attention of Mr Herdtweck. Please use the P.O. box (3rd shelf from the top, left side) in front of lecture hall S031; alternatively, you can hand in the documents to Mr Herdtweck (room 4.05).
Please note:
The regulations on internships were introduced in particular to enable you to complete an internship with federal authorities. Only this case requires the internship to be a compulsory part of your studies and to be documented in your transcript of records. In all other cases, you can freely arrange internships without having to adhere to the formal regulations for the recognition of internships, e.g. a minimum number of hours; you then document your internship in your CV by means of the internship certificate and use available credits for lectures and seminars. Being able to include an internship in your degree does not mean that subsequent employers will expect this form of evidence from you.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
How long should the internship take?
According to the module description, the internship should typically be completed within a period of eight to twelve weeks. 175 work hours fulfilling the conditions of the module description have to be documented. Working hours must be confirmed by the employer via the form “Proof of working hours”. Working hours exceeding 175 do not need to be documented.
Where can I get a confirmation for my application?
For applications to federal agencies, please submit the module description. In addition, you can refer to the section “Information for Internship Providers” at the bottom of this page. The Department of Economics does not provide separate confirmations, especially not for applications to other internship providers. If a “compulsory internship” is an application requirement and they do not recognize the wording in the module description, there is unfortunately no possibility for the department to issue a separate confirmation.
What kind of internship qualifies for recognition?
An internship may be recognized in the specialization area if the areas of work/
tasks/focus of activities you undertake meet the requirements of the module description and the documentation of your internship, especially the internship report, appears plausible to the examination committee: Aims and contents of the module:
- Application of specialist knowledge and methods in economics to issues relevant to practice;
- Learning of practical methods and key competences related to the professional field.
Expected competencies upon completion of the module:
- You are able to apply the knowledge and understanding you have acquired in their studies in a professional context.
- You have worked out and further developed arguments and solutions to problems in your field of activity and have acquired job-related specialist knowledge.
- You have reflected on work processes, evaluated them and, if necessary, designed them independently.
- You have formulated and defended positions and solutions to problems vis-à-vis employees and exchanged information, ideas, problems and solutions with them. In the context of an internship abroad, you have, if applicable, expanded your job-related foreign language skills.
Can I recognize a previous internship or a completed vocational training?
Internships or vocational trainings that have been completed prior to your enrollment in the master's program in economics can not be recognized. An essential learning objective of the module – namely the application of specialist economic knowledge and economic methods – could not yet be achieved at that time.
Does my internship report has to be approved by the company?
No. Only the „Proof of working hours“ and „Confirmation of the employer“ have to be approved by the employer.
Information for employers
Thank you for giving our students the opportunity of an internship in your company. Below you will find the answers to common questions from internship providers. Financial compensation is not relevant for the recognition of the internship. There is no grading of the internship.
Documents:
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What kind of internship qualifies for recognition?
An internship may be recognized in the specialization area if the areas of work/
tasks/focus of activities during the internship meet the requirements of the module description and the documentation of the internship, especially the internship report, appears plausible to the examination committee: Aims and contents of the module:
- Application of specialist knowledge and methods in economics to issues relevant to practice;
- Learning of practical methods and key competences related to the professional field.
Expected competencies upon completion of the module:
- Students are able to apply the knowledge and understanding they have acquired in their studies in a professional context.
- Students have worked out and further developed arguments and solutions to problems in their field of activity and have acquired job-related specialist knowledge.
- Students have reflected on work processes, evaluated them and, if necessary, designed them independently.
- Students have formulated and defended positions and solutions to problems vis-à-vis employees and exchanged information, ideas, problems and solutions with them. In the context of an internship abroad, they have, if applicable, expanded their job-related foreign language skills.
How long should the internship take?
According to the module description, the internship should typically be completed within a period of eight to twelve weeks. 175 work hours fulfilling the conditions of the module description have to be documented. Working hours must be confirmed by the employer via the form “Proof of working hours”. Working hours exceeding 175 do not need to be documented.
Spezielle Informationen für Behörden
Das Praktikum stellt im Sinne des Durchführungsrundschreiben D5–31005/1#11 vom 4. Mai 2020 ein Pflichtpraktikum dar. Im genannten Dokument findet sich auf Seite 4 die Regelung: „Sehen Studiengänge ein Praktikum als Wahlpflichtmodul (Wahl zwischen einem Praktikum oder Seminar, Hausarbeit, Forschungsaufenthalt etc.) vor und entscheidet sich eine Studentin oder ein Student für ein Praktikum, gilt dieses als Pflichtpraktikum nach dieser Richtlinie.“
Sofern in gesetzlichen Regelungen, beispielsweise im Mindestlohngesetz, von einem Pflichtpraktikum gesprochen wird, sind die dafür erforderlichen Bedingungen unter Umständen nicht vollständig erfüllt. In diesen Fällen besteht leider keine Möglichkeit, dass die Universität oder die Abteilung Volkswirtschaftslehre das Vorliegen eines Pflichtpraktikums bestätigt.
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