The study progress reform can force more students at BSS to choose not to take an internship as part of their Master’s degree programme.

This is one of the likely scenarios which the faculty must try to accommodate before the coming semester, says manager of AU Career at BSS, Thomas Hvergel Jensen.

"We want to see a closer connection with business and industry and we are therefore very aware of the challenges that the students can face if they want to take an internship," he says.       

Under the study progress reform, the students must register for 30 ECTS credits for each semester. But an internship at BSS gives a maximum of 20 ECTS credits. And it is here that the problem can arise.

"We see a lot of companies who expect students to take a full-time internship for up to six months and I can really understand those students who want to concentrate one hundred per cent on their internship," he says.  

Summer School

It can therefore be difficult to simultaneously take courses at the university to get the remaining 10 ECTS credits. Especially if the internship takes place at an embassy abroad.    

But there is a solution, says Jensen – although it might leave some students a little paler: Summer School

"It’s definitely something that I think will become even more relevant for more of those who want to take an internship. I imagine Summer School getting a boost and us seeing more courses being offered," he says.

Requires planning

Should we feel sorry for the students? He doesn’t think we should.    

"If you want to take an internship and think that it is important for your career and study programme, then the Summer School is the obvious place to look when it comes to filling up on ECTS credits," he says.

On the other hand, it’s a solution that requires extra planning by the students as the internship is often placed in the autumn as the third semester of the Master’s degree programme. To avoid needing ECTS credits when they begin their Master's thesis, the students must therefore collect all the extra ECTS credits the summer before they take the internship.

Translated by Peter Lambourne

Facts: Internships at BSS    

All Master's degree programmes at BSS include opportunities for an internship which must be concluded with an internship report to trigger the ECTS credits. Several degree programmes enable students to earn 20 credits for the internship, thought there are also degree programmes where an internship gives a maximum of 10 or 15 ECTS credits. The number of ECTS credits depends on the length of the internship.