Professional Practice and Internship (DPSS30010)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Southbank)
Overview
| Availability | Year Long |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject will enable students to apply and extend the knowledge acquired through the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production). It offers students the opportunity to gain real life professional experience and extend their own professional network.
Students complete a 120-hour industry internship (placement). The placement is complemented by sessions designed to develop employability skills and attributes, linking them to industry expectations.
On completion of the subject, students will have enhanced communication and interpersonal skills, and an understanding of career planning and professional development.
Placement
Students are required to complete a minimum of 120 hours of industry placement with an approved external partner/s (organisation or individual practitioner) related to their specialist area within the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production). The placement should draw on specialisation-based skills learnt in their course. Students will work across a range of tasks relevant to the external partner's objectives in discussion with the host organisation or individual practitioner and the Subject Coordinator.
Students are responsible for identifying a suitable placement prior to the start of the year with support from the Subject Coordinator or delegated supervisor. All placements must be approved by the Subject Coordinator.
Academic support and supervision are provided by the Subject Coordinator or delegated supervisor. Prior to semester commencing, the Subject Coordinator will provide support with industry relations, legal agreements, and communications. Work supervision during the placement is provided by an identified manager/mentor in the host organisation or by the individual practitioner.
Travel
This subject has an industry placement component, students may choose to travel outside of Melbourne to undertake this placement.
Additional Costs
This subject may incur costs in addition to tuition fees associated with travel for the students chosen industry placement.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- recognise and identify production roles in the performing arts;
- describe the structure of performing arts organisations and the roles and responsibilities of staff in an organisation;
- relate performing arts organisations or individual practitioners to their position in the overall live performance industry;
- review and reflect on the process and product of the internship and articulate insights into professional development gained from the experience;
- contextualise the value of industry and professional networks and their importance to independent practice, lifelong learning and career progression;
- produce written professional profile and business materials;
- demonstrate employability skills and attributes, linking them to industry expectations.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
All of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| DPSS20012 | Production Practice 2 | Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Southbank) |
12.5 |
| DPSS20013 | Production Studio 4 | Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank) |
25 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| DPSS30002 | Design Internship | No longer available | |
| DPSS30003 | Technical Internship | No longer available |
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Internship Proposal, outlining intended internship activities, location and timeframe
| Early in the teaching period | 15% |
Written assignment of a professional curriculum vitae and artist's biography
| Mid Semester One | 20% |
Written assignment
| Mid Semester Two | 20% |
Written assignment on internship equivalent to 1800 words due throughout the semester
| Two weeks after internship completion | 45% |
| Hurdle requirement: Successful completion of 120 hours of industry internship based on a workplace supervisor's report confirming the student's punctual and reliable attendance, active participation and appropriate endeavour. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
| Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 75% of all scheduled classes. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
| Hurdle requirement: Students must submit all elements of assessment to be eligible for a pass in this subject. For the purposes of meeting this hurdle requirement, each submitted assessment must be complete and constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task. Submitting only part of an assessment (e.g. only the title page) or an assessment on an irrelevant topic will not meet this hurdle requirement. | N/A |
Additional details
Placement
Prior to undertaking the placement students are made aware of all placement details and expectations.
The placement coordinator will monitor the student's progress during the placement which may involve site visits, discussions with the industry partner, verbal and/or written progress reports.
The placement industry partner provides a written report to both the student and the placement coordinator.
All assessment is conducted by the subject coordinator.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
- Year Long
Coordinator Lisa Osborn Mode of delivery On Campus (Southbank) Contact hours 138 hours, comprising 18 hours of workshops/tutorials on campus, and an industry internship (placement) of up to 120 hours off campus. Total time commitment 204 hours Teaching period 6 January 2025 to 26 October 2025 Last self-enrol date 31 October 2025 Census date 31 October 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 7 November 2025 Assessment period ends 21 November 2025 Year Long contact information
Lisa Osborn: lisa.osborn@unimelb.edu.au
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
Last updated: 4 March 2025