Objective and content of the internship
The objective of the internship is to support the student’s growth into an expert. The content of the internship is determined by the internship module of each degree programme’s curriculum.
During the first internship period the aim is to practice the organisation’s daily tasks as broadly as possible. The internship applies knowledge and skills in practice, and at the same time new things are learned by doing the tasks.
During the second internship period the student develops and deepens their competence in the chosen area of expertise. The internship strengthens connections to working life and teaches the student to evaluate their own career opportunities.
Both internships include a learning assignment.
Extent of the internship
The total extent of the internship is 30 credits. The internship is usually completed in two periods, but it can also be completed as a single whole, i.e., as a five-month combined internship period.
Internship periods are completed at a time chosen by the student in accordance with the personal study plan. One internship period (15 credits) corresponds to 10 weeks or 400 hours of work, including completion of the learning assignment. In the PSP (HOPS) internships are, as a rule, visible at the times specified in the curriculum.
A combined internship is 20 full work weeks or 800 working hours. The environment of the combined internship must enable the achievement of the objectives of the second internship.
Recognition and accreditation of prior learning in internships
Existing competence can be taken into account in the degree through recognition and accreditation of prior learning. Competence corresponding to the internship’s objectives can be demonstrated by a performance regardless of where, how and when the competence was acquired.
Competence can be recognised on the basis of a work certificate and the discussion based on it, a written report or another form of demonstration agreed with the supervisor. The supervisor defines the procedure for accepting the demonstration on a case-by-case basis together with the student. The requirements for the demonstration are based on the objectives of the curriculum.
Competence demonstrated by a performance is assessed by the same criteria as competence would otherwise be assessed in the module, i.e. the result is given a grade (H) pass / (0) fail and the student participates in the assessment of their competence. The student may supplement their demonstration based on the feedback received.
The criteria for the demonstration must be known to the student in advance. The demonstration is primarily received by the supervisor responsible for the internship.
Guidelines for internships 1 and 2
The internship may be paid or unpaid. During an unpaid internship the student is a Laurea student, in which case the student, a representative of the internship provider and a representative of Laurea conclude an internship agreement. During an unpaid internship the student is insured by Laurea.
The internship can also be paid, in which case the student is in an employment or official relationship with the internship provider. In that case the student and the employer enter into a separate employment contract under the Employment Contracts Act, the student receives pay for the internship and is covered by the employer’s occupational safety provisions.
The student finds the internship placement independently. A company, public entity or other organisation may be suitable as an internship place. One’s own company or the student’s current workplace may be suitable as an internship place if the job content corresponds to the internship’s objectives and the company has a Business ID (Y-tunnus). This is discussed and agreed with the supervisor responsible for the internship.
Laurea also has some cooperation agreements with various partners.
The student may also complete internship periods abroad. The internship placement must be applied for independently, but Laurea’s staff responsible for internationalisation provide guidance and information, for example on grants. For more information: Completing an internship abroad.
Student financial aid during the internship
If the internship takes place during the summer, the student may receive student financial aid and a housing supplement for the summer. Internships completed abroad qualify for increased support. More information is available from KELA.
Checklist – before the internship
- Attend the internship information session at the time announced by the supervisor responsible for the internship.
When the internship has been agreed with the employer,
- Students in Hyvinkää register for the internship period using the electronic registration form via this link: Hyvinkää (Lyyti form).
- Students from other campuses should contact the supervisor responsible for the internship (usually the tutor) directly, who will instruct them to use one of the above links or another registration method.
- Record the internship placement information in the PRM portal.
If you are going to an unpaid internship, sign Laurea’s internship agreement with a representative of the internship provider. Use this internship agreement template, and the provider must be given the contract terms as an appendix to the internship agreement. The supervisor responsible for the internship will check and sign the agreement and advise where it should be stored. Laurea’s insurance covers internships in which you are not in an employment relationship.
A specific internship agreement template is used for unpaid internship agreements, which is signed electronically in the Laurea Sign signature service. See the instructions for completing the internship agreement and sending the signature.
In a paid internship you are employed by the employer and sign a written employment contract with the employer. The contract specifies the terms of employment such as salary, duties and working hours. In employment you are covered by the employer’s insurance.
Checklist – after the internship
Both internships include a learning assignment. Submit it as soon as possible, but no later than one month after the end of the internship to the supervisor responsible for the internship. For a combined internship the student prepares the learning assignment corresponding to the second internship. If the supervisor does not advise otherwise, here are the task descriptions: first internship learning assignment and second internship learning assignment.
A feedback discussion/seminar is held in connection with both the first and second internships at the time announced by the supervisor. If the internship is completed as a combined period, the feedback discussion is held once at the time announced by the supervisor. Participation in the feedback discussion is a prerequisite for receiving the approval mark.
You will receive an approval mark (H) for the internship when you have submitted the learning assignment and a copy of your work/internship certificate to the supervisor responsible for the internship or to the JPMS system (students in Leppävaara) and have participated in the feedback discussion/seminar. In addition, you must have recorded the internship placement information in the PRM program.
Record the completion of your internship in the PRM portal.
Guidelines for legal tradenom internships
On the legal competence track, the legal administration internship placements for the second internship period are three months long, and the period can be completed in legal administration placements only after at least the following complementary studies in private and public law have been completed: criminal and procedural law, family and inheritance law, insolvency law, and contract and obligation law. It is recommended to complete all 60 credits before the legal administration internship.
Three-month legal administration internship placements are advertised separately at different times by the Court Administration, the Prosecutor’s Office and other agencies. The internship is paid. If the legal internship is completed elsewhere than in a legal administration placement, the internship may be started after at least 30 credits of supplementary legal studies have been completed. Outside legal administration placements, the tasks performed must require legal competence for the internship to be approved. Internship periods can also be completed as a single whole (on the legal tradenom track generally as two combined periods), i.e. as a five-month combined internship. In length, a combined internship is 20 full work weeks or 800 working hours. The content criteria for the combined internship follow those of the second internship. A combined internship can be completed at the earliest when the student has accumulated approximately 100 credits.