When the study progress reform and its requirement for 30 ECTS credits per semester comes into force in September, Master’s degree students will have to be much more aware of the possibilities they have, if they want to find an internship.

At the same time, they will have to be more prepared to compromise on the requirements they have for where they will take an internship, predicts chairman of the ARTScouncil at AU, Jeppe Kaas.  

"In principle, it is possible for the majority of students at Arts to take an internship during all of the semesters on the Master’s degree programme. But in practice the system is so inflexible that it’s really only possible during the third semester if you want to live up to the internship requirements and avoid coming in arrears in terms of ECTS credits," he says.    

There is really nothing new in all this, but until now the students have had the possibility of simply putting their studies on hold or studying part-time to make room for the internship they dreamed of – without having to be dependent on internship requirements and ECTS credits.  

But this is no longer the case and for the majority of students, the possibility of an internship is limited to the third semester of their Master’s degree programme.

"It can be a problem for students who would like to take an internship, but do not manage to find a relevant internship at that time. They will not get the chance to grapple with the labour market and might instead end up choosing some subjects at the university which may not be equally relevant for their profile," he says.

According to section manager at AU Student Administration and Services, Arts, Jesper Sølund Hansen, the consequences of the study progress reform have already affected the first students, who had hoped to see an increase in internship opportunities. 

"Previously some students have included an “extra" internship. Now we are starting to hear about students who are under pressure from the compulsory registration for courses, because they have planned internships beyond what they can receive ECTS credits for," he says.    

Chairman of ARTScouncil Jeppe Kaas also fears that AU will tighten up the rules for the Master's thesis due to the study progress reform, and that this can force more students to drop internships.  

"It can be a stress factor during the internship if you have to begin preparing your Master’s thesis earlier by applying for a supervisor and finding relevant material. Especially if you are in an internship abroad," he says.

Translated by Peter Lambourne

Internships at Arts

Many of the Master’s degree programmes at Arts include the possibility of taking an internship worth 30 ECTS credits. Most subjects have placed the possibility during the third semester. It is also here that students can choose to take a study abroad period or an elective subject/profile course. The internship supervisor must approve the internship host organisation and the students must write a final report before the 30 ECTS credits can be received.