In this section, learn what students should consider when planning and finding an internship. This includes academic and legal policies to be aware of, as well as the internal and external resources available to search and find an internship in France or abroad.
There are a number of academic requirements to consider when planning an internship that impact a student’s eligibility to do an internship (including minimum GPA, earned credits, working hours, etc.). Please visit the ‘Academic Requirements’ pages for more detailed information.
We strongly encourage students to be in touch with either their faculty advisor or an AUP academic advisor to discuss their academic plan and understand how best to fit-in a for-credit internship.
The above is basic information about internship registration at AUP – please visit the ‘Register Your Internship’ pages for more detailed information.
Every type of internship registered with AUP (whether for-credit, or 0-credit, whether required for the degree program, or not) requires the submission of assignments. These assignments vary depending on the number of credits registered, the student status (graduate or undergraduate), and the student’s degree program. All assignments are to be submitted electronically via a “Student Evaluation and Assignment Submission web form” and in a printed version to the student’s faculty reader (in the case of 2/3/4/8 credit internships). There is a web form for undergraduate students and another for graduate students. Students should note that these assignments should be saved individually, in a PDF format; and all assignments must be complete and uploaded to the web form before it can be submitted.
French law stipulates that internships are reserved for currently enrolled degree-seeking students. Once a student has been coded a graduate he/she cannot carry out an internship. Capstone Internships are AUP’s way of enabling students to complete a final zero-credit internship before leaving AUP. Students are allowed a maximum of two zero-credit registration semesters after their final credit-bearing semester (semester in which they complete degree requirements) during which to register a final Capstone Internship. Read more about AUP’s Capstone Internship policies and procedures here.
Learn more about your rights & responsibilities [pdf] as an intern in France and abroad and contact the Internship Office for more details.
How to target the best employers base on your needs? Everyone needs a strategy built upon self-reflection. Many requirements and constraints apply to planning an internship experience. It is not easy to keep them all in mind, so here is a short list of the practical questions to ask yourself.
The Internship and Careers offices are here to assist you as you consider your options and craft an internship strategy.
Your résumé (‘CV’ in France) and a cover letter (‘motivation letter’ in France) will be needed for almost every internship application. Online storytelling tools such as LinkedIn or web portfolios can be powerful tools in internship (and job) applications. Interview coaching and practice is valuable for all students, especially those who have little to no work experience and have thus never interviewed before.
The Internship and Career Advising Offices collaborate to support students with all of the above and more. Keep an eye on the AUP event calendar for workshops, events, and info sessions (we also post events and reminders on our Facebook page). Additionally, students are welcome to stop in for advice or information during our drop-in hours, no appointment needed. For individualized support, reach out to the Internship or Careers offices for a one-on-one appointment.
The Careers and Internship offices maintain a list of resources available to AUP students who are searching for their perfect internship. Some resources are available only to the AUP community, others are publicly available. Some are general, others are industry or geographically specific. Students are encouraged to explore many resources and to case a wide net as they apply for internships – the more applications sent out, the better chance students will have a variety of internship opportunities from which to choose!
The vocabulary for internships in France can get a bit confusing, and internship policies can be tricky. If you have not found the answers to your questions, try checking out this page explaining internship vocabulary and answering some frequently asked questions. Still confused? Get in touch with the Internship Office.