Social Policy Internship (SOCI90013)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 25Off Campus
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
Semester 2
Dr David McGinniss
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 - Off Campus Semester 2 - Off Campus |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
In this subject Master of Social Policy students will be placed in an organisation which either has governmental responsibilities or deals with government, where they will work under the supervision and guidance of a senior manager in the organisation. Students will be required to use their own networks to make an initial contact with a potential organisation. Their choice will then need to be ratified by the department. Students will carry out research or analytical exercises of relevance to the organisation that will be involved in high-level and complex policy making. Students will study the structure, culture and policy environment of the organisation and develop advanced analytical, research and report-writing skills as well as negotiating and interpersonal skills. Students completing this course should expect to acquire significant insight into the complexities of policy making and management. During the internship an academic supervisor will advise them.
If primary research is carried out during the internship, ethics approval is the responsibility of the host organisation.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should:
- Have an understanding of the organisation in which they are placed and of its policy making responsibilities, approaches and context
- Have well-developed analytic, research, interviewing and report-writing skills
- Have practical skills enabling the provision of consultancy-type research services
- Have high level interpersonal skills developed through interaction with a range of people in and connected with their placement.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- Research through the competent use of the library and other information sources, and be able to define areas of inquiry and methods of research in the preparation of policy research reports
- Conceptualise theoretical problems, form judgements and arguments and communicate critically, creatively and theoretically through report writing, workplace discussion and presentations
- Communicate knowledge intelligibly and economically through report writing and workplace discussion
- Manage and organise workloads for recommended reading, and the completion of policy research reports
- Participate in team work through involvement in workplace placements.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into the 706AA Master of Social Policy
The selection process for this subject includes consideration of academic performance. All students need to have a GPA of 70, and be in the second half of credit points of the degree in the semester they intend to enrol (e.g. completed 100 points in the 200 program).
Permission from the internship coordinator is required. Students are required to apply for permission to enrol into this subject prior to commencement of the internship. Students should make this application via the online application form:
https://artsunimelb.formstack.com/forms/internship_application
The selection process for this subject includes consideration of academic performance in the first half of the degree.
More application information please refer to Subject Notes.
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
PPMN40003 - Executive Internship
Recommended background knowledge
Public Policy, Sociology or Politics at Undergraduate level.
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
Students undertaking an internship with a host agency may be required to satisfy a number of requirements, including:
- undergoing a recent National Police Record Check
- holding a valid Working with Children Check for the relevant state/territory
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Organisational Analysis
| During placement hours | 20% |
A reflective essay
| During the teaching period | 30% |
Professional Portfolio/Report
| During the examination period | 50% |
Progress Report Hurdle requirement: Must be submitted. - 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. | During placement hours | N/A |
Oral Presentation (5-10 minutes) Hurdle requirement: Must be submitted.- 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. | During the teaching period | N/A |
Supervisor Assessment Form Hurdle requirement: Must be sumbitted. 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. | Last week of placement | N/A |
| Hurdle requirement: Seminar attendance is compulsory for all classes. | During the teaching period | N/A |
| Hurdle requirement: Late Penalty and Assessment hurdle requirement: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at five per cent (5%) of the possible marks available for the assessment task per day or part thereof. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass the subject. Each submitted assessment must be complete, constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task and will not be accepted after 20 University business days from the original assessment due date without written approval. | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 1 - Off Campus
Principal coordinator David McGinniss Mode of delivery Off Campus Contact hours Pre-placement induction (2 hours) Mid-semester seminar (2 hours) Required placement hours: 200 Total time commitment 340 hours Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025 Last self-enrol date 14 March 2025 Census date 31 March 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025 Assessment period ends 27 June 2025 Semester 1 contact information
- Semester 2 - Off Campus
Principal coordinator David McGinniss Mode of delivery Off Campus Contact hours Pre-placement induction (2 hours) Mid-semester seminar (2 hours) Required placement hours: 200 Total time commitment 340 hours Teaching period 28 July 2025 to 26 October 2025 Last self-enrol date 8 August 2025 Census date 1 September 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 26 September 2025 Assessment period ends 21 November 2025 Semester 2 contact information
Dr David McGinniss
Time commitment details
340 Hours
What do these dates mean
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- 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.
Additional delivery details
- Permission from the internship coordinator is required.
- The selection process for this subject includes consideration of academic performance.
- All Internship students need to be in their final 100 points of the degree in the semester they intend to enrol.
Students are required to apply for permission to enrol into this subject prior to commencement of the internship. Students should make this application via the online application form:
Application Form
Applications will be reviewed in three rounds:
Round 1 (Summer and Semester 1 availability): closing 31 October
Round 2 (Semester 1 availability): closing 31 January
Round 3 (Semester 2 availability): closing 31 May
The selection process for this subject includes consideration of academic performance in the first half of the degree.
Students will receive outcomes within two weeks of the closing date for the relevant round. For further information including FAQS on the Application and Selection Process see:
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Subject notes
Students should make this application via the online application form:
Applications will be reviewed in two rounds:
Round 1 (Semester 1 availability): closing 31 October
Round 2 (Semester 2 availability): closing 31 May
Students will receive outcomes within two weeks of the closing date for the relevant round. For further information including FAQS on the Application and Selection Process see: https://arts.unimelb.edu.au/students/wil#faqs
*Late applications will be considered in both semesters if you meet the eligibility requirements and have secured a placement except in the event of the quota subject places reaching capacity. Please contact Experiential Learning Officer if you’re submitting a late application form: ssps-internships@unimelb.edu.au
- Off-campus study
This subject has a workplace component
Semester-long internship subject. In this subject Master of Social Policy students will be placed in an organisation which either has governmental responsibilities or deals with government, where they will work under the supervision and guidance of a senior manager in the organisation.
- Related Handbook entries
- Links to additional information
Last updated: 4 March 2025