Internship and exchange

Til Kleinertz — May, 2023

Exchange

The content of the SBE Bachelor’s study programmes has an international orientation and focus. The learning goals of the Bachelor’s study programmes of the SBE at Maastricht University are that graduates have:

1. Knowledge and insight (our graduates are able to understand and use academic knowledge in a self-directed manner) and
2. Academic Attitude (our graduates have developed an academic attitude)
3. Global Citizenship (our graduates are aware of their responsibility in a global, ethical, and social context) and
4. Interpersonal Competences (our graduates are able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal competences in an international context).

These four learning goals are characteristic for all SBE Bachelor’s study programmes. They are translated into programme specific learning objectives, which are offered and measured in obligatory as well as elective courses of the programme.

In almost all SBE’s bachelor’s programmes it is compulsory for students to spend one semester at a partner university abroad. You can find the list of partners to choose from on the intranet but they range from Paris to Hong Kong to Sydney to Los Angeles. Overall there are over 150 different partner universities spread over all continents. You cannot go on exchange to a university that is not a partner university. You have to be selected and nominated by SBE’s IRO (International Relations Office). Depending on your study programme at SBE, you go on exchange in the first or the second semester of your third year of the BSc. Note that you have to write your bachelor’s thesis while still taking courses at SBE, so not during your study abroad.

You can apply for your semester abroad as soon as you have successfully completed your first year, meaning you have obtained all 60 ECTS credits. If you have obtained only 53.5 or 56 ECTS credits in your first year, you can still participate in the selection procedure for studying abroad. However, your place in the ranking (all students participating in any given selection are ranked according to average grade and number of ECTS credits) will be below all students who have obtained 60 ECTS credits. On intranet, you will find a timeline showing all registration/application deadlines. Failing to stick to these deadlines means postponing your study abroad with one semester, possibly even causing a study delay!

The IRO (International Relations Office) will arrange a departure session prior to the start of your exchange. If you missed the information session or would like to access the recording or presentation, you can find them below.

While you are on your exchange, you represent the School of Business and Economics and Maastricht University as an ambassador. This means that if your host university holds a study abroad fair, you may be asked to volunteer and promote our School. The IRO or your host university will coordinate this, and the IRO will send promotional material to your host university. It is your personal responsibility to familiarize yourself with all the rules and regulations (including deadlines) of your host university, as you will be their guest.

Internships

Maastricht University School of Business and Economics offers students the opportunity to pursue internships during semester breaks, allowing them to gain practical experience outside the university setting. Here are key points to note about such internships:

Availability: Internships are available during semester breaks (in Maastricht this means mainly the 2–3 months of summer vacation), varying in duration from weeks to months.

Eligibility: Students must meet academic requirements and may need to go through a selection process to secure internships.

Types of Internships: Students can explore diverse fields and industries, such as business, finance, marketing, consulting, and entrepreneurship, with local, national, or international organizations.

Support: The university provides support and guidance throughout the internship process, assisting students in finding suitable opportunities and offering advice.

Academic Credit: Depending on alignment with the student’s curriculum, it may be possible to earn academic credit for the internship.

Professional Development: Internships offer students opportunities to develop professional skills, expand their network, and gain insights into their chosen field, contributing to personal and career growth.

When seeking internships unrelated to the university or its organization, students should proactively search for opportunities, leverage networking contacts, and explore industry-specific internship platforms or job boards. It is essential to thoroughly research and understand the requirements and application processes of external internship opportunities. By staying proactive and seeking guidance from career services, students can maximize their chances of securing valuable internships during semester breaks.

Emerging Marketing Internship

As part of your specialization in Emerging Markets (EM), it is mandatory for you to complete an internship. It’s important to note that rules, regulations, selection procedures, and available internship opportunities may vary each academic year or semester. Therefore, please ensure that you carefully read the information specific to the relevant academic year or semester. On the Intranet pages dedicated to EM, you will find comprehensive information regarding your Emerging Markets internship, including details before, during, and after the internship.

To receive a passing grade, you are required to write an internship report following the guidelines provided on the right side of this page. It’s important to note that your EM supervisor, not the company supervisor, will assess and grade your report.

In addition to the internship report, you must also submit the EM Score Form. This form should be partially filled out by your company supervisor. Prior to sharing the form with your company supervisor, make sure to complete your details on the first tab of the spreadsheet, and then request your supervisor to fill out the second tab.

Once you have submitted both the EM Score Form and the Internship Report, the EM Internship Office will process your documents and forward them to your EM supervisor at SBE. There is no need for you to send these documents directly to your EM supervisor, as we will handle that on your behalf. You will receive a confirmation email upon our receipt of both documents. Once your internship supervisor has evaluated your internship report, we will send you an email with the completed Score Form and forward it to the Exams Office for grading.

Business Engineering Internship

During your third year, you will undertake the Thesis Research Project, which is supervised either by Maastricht University staff or by professionals at other universities, research institutes, or companies, both within the Netherlands and abroad. This project serves as the culmination of your Bachelor’s phase and involves conducting your own research. To present your findings, you will participate in mini-symposium presentations.

Optional Study Abroad:
For international students, there is an opportunity to study abroad during your third year at one of our partner universities or research institutes. This provides a valuable chance to broaden your understanding of different cultures and practices. Our extensive network consists of over 150 partner institutions worldwide, located in countries such as Australia, Singapore, South Africa, the United States, and various European nations.