Compulsory internship
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Checklist for the internship
1.Observe specifications
- Read your examination regulations/module handbook to find out which formal requirements the internship should meet so that it can be recognized for your studies.
- Please also inform yourself about the general regulations for internship modules at the University of Kassel (see downloads below).
2.Internship search
- Find out about career fields for humanities graduates, e.g. by attending career orientation events offered at the university.
- Use different ways to search: e.g. job research via internship exchanges or industry-specific job portals on the Internet, direct searches at companies & institutions, unsolicited applications and recommendations from fellow students or relatives.
Tip: The Moodle course "Internship & Prospects FB 02"shares internship advertisements, job portals and much more about the job search for humanities graduates.
If you need input for a suitable internship, please contact the internship coordinator.
You can also get advice on finding an internship from the Career Service or the university counseling service of the Federal Employment Agency.
3.Registration
- If you have found a mandatory internship, this must first be approved by the internship supervisor for your degree program. This step is necessary as the internship cannot be recognized if it turns out that the affinity to the degree course or other general conditions are not met.
- Please complete the internship registration form (see downloads below) and submit it with the required signatures to the internship coordinator FB 02before the start of the internship. As soon as the registration form has been submitted, the internship will be registered in Hispos and will appear in your transcript of records.
4.During the internship
- Enjoy your internship to the full. Try to gain as much experience as possible and don't be afraid to ask your colleagues or supervisors for new tasks if you feel underchallenged.
- It is also advisable to make notes about your activities and experiences during the internship, as this will make it easier for you to write your internship report.
Once you have completed the internship, you will need confirmation from the internship company. At the end, remember to have the form completed and signed by your internship contact person (see downloads below).
5.After the internship
- Now is the time to review the experience you gained during your internship and reflect on it in your internship report. Please submit the following documents after completing your internship (see downloads below): Cover sheet, internship report (format template), confirmation of a completed internship and the questionnaire. If you have received an internship certificate, you can also submit a copy.
- Please submit the report and the documents digitally. Send an email including pdf file(s) to the internship coordinator.
Keep the confirmation from the internship placement if you are asked to submit the original. After you have submitted all documents, they will be checked for completeness and passed on to the internship supervisor for evaluation. As soon as your report has been assessed as "passed", the corresponding entry will be made in Hispos. If the report has been graded as "failed", you will be informed immediately.
Downloads
- Application for internship BA - PDF 599,50 KB (opens in a new window)
- Cover sheet internship report - PDF 145,31 KB (opens in a new window)
- Internship report template - DOCX 32,73 KB (opens in a new window)
- Confirmation of a completed internship (German) - PDF 172,53 KB (opens in a new window)
- Confirmation of a completed internship (English) - PDF 172,45 KB (opens in a new window)
- Internship questionnaire - PDF 407,00 KB (opens in a new window)
- General provisions for practical modules in the Bachelor's and Master's degree programs - PDF 47,95 KB (opens in a new window)
Internship supervision in the degree programs
While the internship coordinator supports you with examination law and organizational issues relating to the internship, the internship supervisor of your degree program is responsible for the recognition of your internship.
FAQ Internship
If the internship meets the requirements of your examination regulations in terms of type and duration and the activities are classified as relevant to your degree course, the internship may also be recognized in advance without registration. Please contact the internship coordinator.
The examination board responsible for you will decide whether practical experience can be recognized as a substitute for the compulsory internship. You must submit a corresponding application.
Please contact the internship coordinator with detailed information about your practical experience and, ideally, the relevant evidence (e.g. references, internship confirmations). You will find out whether an application is worthwhile and what further steps you need to take.
A part-time job or working student activity generally has no chance of being recognized if you work less than 20 hours per week and the activities do not prepare you for a career after your studies.
An internship contract is only concluded between you and the internship position.
If you are doing an internship abroad, you can also contact the International Office. They will provide you with sample contracts. You can find the contracts under the downloads and links of the International Office.
Some companies/institutions require proof that you are enrolled and have to complete a compulsory internship as part of your studies. The internship coordinator or the Examination Office FB 02 can issue you with a corresponding certificate of the compulsory internship for submission to the internship company.
The internship is usually carried out full-time. Full-time means between 37.5 and 40 working hours per week. For an eight-week internship this results in a workload of 300-320 hours, for a six-week internship (BA Philosophy) a workload of 225-240 hours. The total workload of the module is higher, as you will also be given time for the organizational aspects of the internship.
A part-time internship is also possible by arrangement. Part-time internships should comprise at least 20 hours per week to give you a good insight into everyday working life. In order to achieve the workload of a regular full-time internship, the internship will be extended accordingly.
You can submit the new data to the practice coordinator. If you still meet the time requirements for a compulsory internship, it is possible to make a subsequent change without any problems. The confirmation from the internship placement should match the information provided.
There is a statutory accident insurance for students, according to which they have insurance cover during training and further education and on the way to and from the university. The insurance provider is the Unfallkasse Hessen.
During an internship - regardless of whether it is a compulsory part of your studies or voluntary - you are insured through the insurance provider of the internship position. Please check with your internship provider whether you are also insured via the statutory accident insurance (accident insurance fund in the respective federal state) or via another insurance provider (e.g. a federal cooperative).
If you would like more information on this topic, please contact the German Social Accident Insurance.
If you are doing an internship abroad, it is advisable to find out about private accident insurance.
The Minimum Wage Act has been in force in Germany since January 1, 2015. However, compulsory internships as part of a degree course are exempt from the minimum wage. The same applies to voluntary internships that serve as career guidance or are completed alongside studies if the internship does not last longer than three months.
The Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs can answer further questions about the minimum wage.
Mindestlohn-Hotline: 030/60280028
A compulsory internship is a legal relationship between you and the internship position. Nevertheless, you are enrolled as a member of the university with all rights and obligations during a mandatory internship. However, this also means that you have no legal entitlement to remuneration or vacation.
If the internship position offers you such things, you should record this in a written agreement.
However, you should only take leave for an internship that exceeds the length specified in the examination regulations.
If you receive BAföG, internship pay for a compulsory internship is normally taken into account in full. The allowance from income from gainful employment does not apply here. You can obtain further information from a counselor at the Studierendenwerk Kassel.
If you fall ill during your internship, submit a sick note to your internship company. You should also follow the company's guidelines.
If you are ill for more than 3 days, you should make up the sick days accordingly so that you can fulfill your workload, which is relevant for the recognition of the internship.
As an intern, you are also entitled to an employer's reference. Normally, you should receive at least a simple reference (proof of the type and scope of activities). However, the internship position is not obliged to issue a qualified reference. If possible, however, you should ask for one, as a reference with an assessment of performance and conduct says more than a list of activities.