Design Internship

Design Internship is an opportunity for students in the Bachelor of Design to undertake a work placement relevant to one of the twelve majors. During the internship, you will draw on your discipline skills and will have a chance to work alongside professionals in your industry.

Students are responsible for finding a suitable work placement prior to the commencement of semester. We recommend that you begin approaching potential host organisations at least four weeks prior to the start of semester, to ensure sufficient time for approval. When you contact an organisation that agrees to take you on as an intern, let us know as soon as possible by completing the steps found below. We will check that the host organisation and workplace are appropriate before allowing you to begin your internship.

All students undertaking an internship are required to attend pre and post placement seminars, and to complete 80 - 100 hours of an approved work placement. This means that you will need to spend the equivalent of 2 days per week for 5 weeks at the placement.

Step 1 Log onto SONIA

Please log onto https://unimelb.sonialive.com/ using your personal unimelb login details and click on Faculty of Architecture, Building & Planning. You can also download the Sonia for Students app on your phone.

Step 2 Join your Internship group

Find your subject internship group  (eg 2023 – Semester 1 ABPL30068 Design Internship) and create your internship. Search for your Host Organization or if not included in the list, please add a new Host Organization. Once you submit these details, it takes 1-3 days to receive approval.

Step 3 Forms

Complete the Vocational Placement Risk Assessment form on SONIA. This form will be reviewed and once approved, you will be notified of any next steps.

Step 4 Wait for your Letter Agreement

The faculty will draw up a Vocational Placement Letter Agreement, the legal agreement between the University of Melbourne and the Host Organisation. Your placement is not insured and cannot begin until the Letter Agreement has been signed.

N.B. This step is for the faculty to complete, the student does not need to do anything at this point.

Download the Design Internship subject guide

More information

Please email design-internship@unimelb.edu.au with any questions about the internship application process.

Need enrolment assistance?

Stop 1 provides enrolment and other support to Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Environments and Melbourne School of Design students.