The Office of Graduate Research are pleased to announce a suite of new resources to promote and support the development of PhD internships.
Why should you consider doing an internship?
PhD internships offer a valuable bridge between academic research and real-world application. They allow PhD candidates to gain hands-on experience in a professional setting, enhancing their understanding of how research can solve practical problems. This exposure helps develop transferable skills that are highly sought after in both academic and non-academic careers.
Here are few more benefits!
- Student success: Experience the satisfaction of working toward impactful research outcomes and career readiness.
- Real-world experience: Apply academic research to practical, industry-based challenges.
- Skill development: Build transferable skills like communication, teamwork, and project management.
- Career exploration: Discover diverse career pathways beyond academia.
- Enhanced employability: Gain experience that demonstrates adaptability and industry readiness.
- Networking opportunities: Connect with professionals and expand your career network.
- Innovation and impact: Contribute fresh insights and advanced knowledge to industry projects.
- University-industry collaboration: Strengthen partnerships and ensure research remains relevant.
- Pathways to collaboration: Internships can lead to joint projects, publications, or commercialisation.
- Mutual benefit: Both candidates and industry partners gain from knowledge exchange and innovation.
Supervising a PhD internship offers valuable professional benefits to supervisors too, including exposure to current industry challenges, opportunities for innovation, and potential for new research collaborations such as ARC Linkage Projects. It also supports career development through enhanced mentorship skills, expanded networks, and contributions to academic profile and wellbeing.
For industry partners, hosting PhD interns brings fresh perspectives and cutting-edge knowledge from the university sector. Interns often contribute to innovation by applying advanced methodologies or technologies to industry challenges. These collaborations can lead to long-term partnerships, joint publications, or even commercialisation opportunities.
Overall, industry PhD internships foster mutual benefit: they enrich the candidate’s research journey while driving innovation and knowledge exchange between academia and industry.
Website Link:
Brightspace sites:
HDR Candidates Hub –PhD Internships Module 1 and PhD Internships Module 2
HDR Supervisors Hub –Supporting Internships
Other resources:
PhD Internships Handbook for Host Organisations (pending)
PhD Internship Expression of Interest Form
Contact for further information: graduateresearch@csu.edu.au
Accelerate your postgraduate research career with a 3-6 month, paid industry internship.
Australian Postgraduate Research Intern (APR.Intern) connects PhD and Masters students with industry through short-term 3-6 month internships.
These opportunities empower students to thrive in a practical research environment and for businesses to innovate and be future-ready.
APR.Intern is Australia’s only not-for-profit PhD internship program that spans across all sectors, disciplines and universities and are supported by the Australian Government’s Department of Education and Training.
Bridging the gap between industry and academia, APR.Intern helps to create a level playing field for all PhD students — in particular, women and underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) including regional, Indigenous and disadvantaged students.
Start planning for 2026 by submitting a General Application
During the application process, students also have the option to submit a profile to the online student database that is regularly shared with Industry Partners, with a view of creating new internship projects. Submit an Expression of Interest.
FAQs
Is there any remuneration?
Yes, there is $3000 monthly stipend for the duration of the internship.
How will it impact on your PhD candidature?
If you successfully apply for an internship you have a number of options around how to manage your candidature.
- Take one session of leave from your HDR program. During this time, you will be enrolled in a ‘shell subject’ to ensure your enrolment with the university continues;
- Undertake the internship whilst continuing your HDR program. Perhaps move from full-time to part-time study: or
- Undertake an internship during the examination period or other ‘down’ time during your candidature.
Can International students participate?
Yes, these are internships and are not considered to be ‘work’ and as such do not impact on visa restrictions.
I’m interested. What’s next?
- Go to the APR.Intern website and see all of the current opportunities available.
- Discuss your interest with your supervisor.
- Submit your application.
Read this interview with a Charles Sturt PhD candidate, Deb Metcalf, about her experience doing an internship with APR.Intern.