PhD students may pursue external internships with the approval of their dissertation adviser. An internship may be undertaken for professional development, to explore opportunities outside academia, or as an integral part of the student’s dissertation research. In some cases, an adviser may recommend an internship as an important component of the student’s dissertation work.
Please keep the following guidelines in mind:
- Adviser approval: Students must receive approval from their dissertation adviser before arranging an internship.
- Duration: The timing and duration of an internship should be determined in consultation with the dissertation adviser.
- Funding: In general, funding for the time spent during the internship will need to come from the internship, meaning that students will leave UW payroll while on the internship. Students should discuss any alternative arrangements with their adviser in advance.
- Purpose and dissertation research: An internship should have a clear purpose within the student’s doctoral training. This may include exploring a career in industry or a particular company, developing industry-specific skills, or conducting research that contributes directly to the dissertation. An internship may, in some cases, be an integral part of the student’s dissertation research rather than a separate activity from their PhD work.
- Summer quarter: Although the timing of an internship should be determined in consultation with the adviser, Summer Quarter can be a particularly good time to pursue an internship. Students who have had GAIP insurance during the preceding Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters will generally have GAIP coverage during Summer Quarter regardless of student status.
- Reporting internships: We maintain a record of internships undertaken by our PhD students. Please let the Graduate Program Manager know when you have an internship and provide the company or organization’s contact information.
Students are encouraged to discuss potential internships with their dissertation adviser well in advance to ensure that the timing, funding, and role of the internship are consistent with their dissertation and degree progress.