Internship
Practical experience is very important for starting your career because it helps you with career orientation and provides initial contact with potential job opportunities. In the Bachelor's program in Social Sciences (PO 2021), you have the opportunity to earn ECTS credits for an internship in a field related to sociology/social psychology.
Bachelor
In the Bachelor's program in Social Sciences, students can complete a self-organized internship in the specialization module "Internship: Sociology and Social Psychology in Practice" (9 ECTS). The module includes a 90-minute introductory session at the beginning of the semester, the remainder of the time is spent in the internship. Course credits are achieved by writing an internship report.
The internship, which you will find and organize yourself, must last at least six weeks, be full-time, be completed during your bachelor's program, and have a sociological/social psychological focus that is to be described in the internship report.
Internship Abroad
For an internship as part of a bachelor's degree program completed abroad, in addition to the option of credits being granted for the internship module, students may also have the option of receiving financial support through the Erasmus+ program, even if they have already received other funding for studying abroad.
The Center for International Relations (ZIB) of the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences is the first point of contact for students interested in studying abroad. It provides advice on internship opportunities.
FAQ
Why should I do an internship?
An internship offers many advantages and can be an invaluable experience for everyone. It can give additional orientation in the professional world, provide an overview of specific fields of activity and is an opportunity to explore your interests and personal perspectives in a particular area. With both personal and professional experience, you can apply your study-related knowledge in practice. In addition, an internship can offer career prospects at an early stage of your career and useful contacts for your future career start.
Because of these numerous advantages, the B.Sc. in Social Sciences offers the opportunity to have an internship that is credited to your degree programme under certain conditions.
How do I find an internship?
Consider your interests and goals and the area in which an internship could be beneficial for you. Plan the time period of the internship taking into account its duration. Also check your funding options, such as student grants, scholarships, Erasmus+ or other funding for stays abroad.
In addition to job advertisements, you may also find a suitable internship by researching small companies or organisations and sending them unsolicited applications . It is generally advisable to start looking for an internship early, as this gives you sufficient time for an extensive search and increases the likelihood of discovering available internships - especially with regard to application deadlines.
Where can I do an internship?
A sociological/socio-psychological context is relevant for the recognition of an internship as academic achievement. The list of possible fields of activity is long:
- Companies, management consultancies
- NGOs, foundations and associations
- Voluntary organisations
- International organisations
- Trade unions or other interest groups
- Social associations, e.g. AWO, Caritas, ...
- Political parties
- Journalism
- Administration (municipal, state and federal level); e.g. municipal offices or state offices (youth welfare office, health department, ...)
- Healthcare, health planning, pharmaceuticals
- Arts and culture
- Human resources
- Marketing
- Diversity
- Group-related initiatives: Gender, youth, age, migration/integration, LGBTQI,...
- Market and social research
- Election research
- Media analysis
- Urban and social planning, mobility
- Data science
- Public relations
- Political education
- Publishing
If you are unsure whether your planned internship would be creditable in sociology/social psychology, please contact us for clarification at andre.ernst
wiso.uni-koeln.de
How can I get credits for my internship?
In the Bachelor of Social Sciences, there is the module option internship in the specialisation area with 9 ETCS. An internship report must be submitted as a module examination.
Upon application, the subject-related, practical knowledge - you gained for example from an internship - might also be recognised as part of the ‘Studium Integrale’. One ECTS is counted for every 30 hours of work that are proven - up to a maximum of 12 ECTS. For further information, please contact the WiSo Student Service Point. You can also find further information on the Website of the WiSo-Examination Office.
