Research internship defined
What is a research internship?
Answer ID 3499 | Last updated on 11/12/2025 03.32 PM
A research internship is an arrangement between the Higher Degree by Research (HDR) student and an external research end-user (REU) organisation to undertake research and development (R&D) activities related to their HDR, can form part of the students course or be undertaken during a HDR period of suspension.
The arrangement is formalised in an internship agreement or other written document approved by the Graduate Research School within 18 months of commencing studies (or part time equivalent) with a duration of a minimum of 60 FTE business days over 3 calendar months, related directly, broadly or tangentially related to HDR studies.
The research internship may be completed on-site, on-campus, or online with attendance full time or part time or a hybrid arrangement and may be paid or unpaid.
Research internship types fall into two main types- Embedded or Standalone/Bespoke/Advertised Opportunities. Below examples are provided:
Embedded in your studies -
- You have an industry funded scholarship (or part funded) such as through an Industrial Transformation Training Centre (ITTC) and need to complete 6-12 months in R&D placements with a partner organisation.
- Your industry (REU) sponsorship or funded scholarship (or co-funded scholarship) is for the full duration or part duration of your PhD studies and your research is embedded or is a discrete R&D project is to be completed through engagement with that REU
- Your REU funded scholarship (or co-funded) and your research is linked to a Co-operative Research Centre (at UWA or other university) such as using data from an industry partner & reporting findings to the CRC or industry partner.
- Your supervisor may involve you with R&D project work as part of a Research Agreement with a REU (e.g. ARC or CRC research agreement).
- You have an Industry PhD award (e.g. CSIRO, National Industry PhD) which may be with your employer.
- Your PhD research involves R&D activities with a REU (e.g. lab work, collection of data, data analysis, reporting or other R&D tasks).
- You have external Ethics approval with a REU & your R&D activities are clearly defined in the application (e.g. Health Services)
- You have a Project Agreement with a REU or industry partner (e.g. CSIRO, consultancy agreement).
- You have a Data Agreement with a REU and are using the data & reporting to the REU.
- Your employer is a REU and provides the opportunity for a defined R&D project for you to complete over 3-6 months (separate to your day-to-day role or via a secondment).
Standalone, Bespoke or Advertised Opportunities -
- You apply for a 3-6 month research internship directly with a REU and are offered a contract.
- You apply for a research internship for 3 months (or more) with UWA internship program partner and are offered an agreement or contract (e.g. CEED, iPrep, APR Intern)
- You apply for an advertised research internship with a REU for 3 months (or more) and are offered a contract.
- You have a Services Agreement with a REU to perform R&D activities for 3 months (or more).
- You volunteer with a REU to undertake a research project with the organisation for 3 months (or more) and is confirmed in writing.
- You may be employed with a REU to complete a R&D project during a summer vacation program over 3 months.
A research internship can be either paid or unpaid and can form part of HDR enrolment. The research internship is captured in an agreement or other written document, relates to the PhD's area of research, provides start & finish dates, duration in days, and outlines the R&D activities to be undertaken and details the arrangements (including supervision, insurance, IP, copyright, publications) signed by you, your supervisor, REU, and authorised by the University. The written agreement or document needs to be signed within 18 months (36 months if part time) on commencement of PhD studies, and may be extended due to suspension within this period.
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