Commencement
What are the requirements to be admitted to the internship semester?
For an internship semester, a suitable internship position must be available. The internship placement is independently selected. There is no entitlement to assignment of an internship placement. The suitability of the internship placement is decided by the supervisor.
Can the internship semester start during the semester break or must it start with the beginning of the semester?
The start date is not fixed. Thus, the internship/semester abroad can start during vacations or even in the middle of the semester. The important thing is that the entire period is continuous. Please consider potential overlaps with our exam periods, how you manage this is up to you.
Does the internship semester have to be completed in the semester specified in the study plan or can it be done earlier or later?
In the study plan of the bachelor's programs, the internship semester is scheduled for the sixth semester, but it can also be completed in another semester. The only requirement is that you have acquired at least 89 credit points.
Supervisor
What is the role of the supervisor?
The supervisor should advise and support you in case of uncertainties and problems during the internship semester. He/she usually decides on the recognition of the study performance (credit points, certificate, report) upon completion of the semester.
Additional Internship
Is an additional internship possible?
In principle, an internship can be completed in addition to an already completed and recognized internship semester. However, no additional credit points will be awarded for an additional internship. Please note that many companies require a certificate stating that the internship is a mandatory part of the degree program. Such a certificate cannot be issued if an internship/semester abroad has already been recognized.
Registration and Admission
Which forms need to be submitted and where? What deadlines must be observed? Once all admission requirements are met and you have found an internship position of your choice, you should proceed with the registration of the internship semester at the department. The "Application for Admission to the Internship Semester" must be signed by you and your supervisor and then forwarded to the examination office. Please also forward the completed internship contract to your supervisor, who must submit it with the "Application for Admission" to the examination office. Admission to the internship semester will be decided upon submission of the documents to the examination office. There are no specific deadlines for submitting the application.
Duration of Internship
How long should the internship be?
The internship period must be continuous and last at least 20 weeks. It is not possible to divide it into several parts (e.g., during semester breaks) and work at different companies. If you take vacation during the internship semester, for example, to take exams at the university, you are entitled to up to 2 weeks of vacation. If you take this vacation, the internship semester will be extended accordingly. If serious difficulties arise during the internship semester, such as the insolvency of the company or unreasonable working conditions, it is possible to continue the internship in another company. In this case, however, your supervisor should be involved as early as possible, and contact should be made with the chairpersons of the examination board.
Completion and Recognition
What do I need to fulfill at the end of the internship semester to receive credit points?
You are required to prepare a report and submit it to your supervisor. The deadline for submitting the report is not precisely defined but should be coordinated with your supervisor. However, it should be submitted promptly (within two to three weeks) after the end of the internship/semester abroad. It is important in this context that, for example, you cannot register your thesis if this achievement is not recorded in your status sheet. Furthermore, a certificate of the study achievements obtained during the internship semester must be submitted. Finally, together with the report, the documentation form for the internship/semester abroad should be submitted to the supervisor for signature and forwarding to the chairperson of the examination board.
Report
How many pages should the internship report comprise? What are the requirements?When should it be submitted?
As a guideline, the report should comprise 20 pages. The submission should preferably be made promptly (within two to three weeks) after the end of the internship semester to the supervisor. Content-related and formal questions should be clarified with him/her but usually follow the formal requirements for theses.
Grading
Is the internship semester graded?
No, you will be awarded 30 credit points upon successful completion of the internship semester.
Discontinuation
I unfortunately did not complete my internship semester - can I repeat it? Or can I forgo the internship semester altogether and complete my studies without it?
The internship semester can be repeated once in its entirety. A change between domestic internship, international internship, and semester abroad is allowed. Completely foregoing the internship semester is not possible. It is a mandatory part of the program. To obtain a degree, it must be completed. Note: Unlike subject examinations, you only have two attempts in total. If you fail twice, you will be deregistered!
Funding
What funding options are available for an internship semester?
Overseas Student Financial Aid (Auslands-BAföG) ERASMUS (within Europe for partner universities) Promos (outside Europe) DAAD and HAW Scholarships Additionally, there are other funding opportunities. Please inquire with our international student advisor for the financing option that suits your plans. You can also find detailed information on financing and funding opportunities on the International Office website of our university.
Semester Fees
Can I save the semester fee during the internship semester?
No, as this is a mandatory part of the program. However, you can apply for a refund of the amount for the semester ticket if you can prove that you are abroad or in another federal state. Please inquire about this with the student council (AStA) of the university. They will provide you with a form to apply for the refund of public transportation fees.
Simultaneous Examinations
Can I take exams at our university during the semester in which I am doing the internship semester if I return early enough?
You can participate in the examinations of the University of Applied Sciences Niederrhein if you manage your time accordingly. Please inform yourself early about examination times and, above all, about the registration periods for the exams. Also, note that you need a valid TAN number for registration.
Requirements
What requirements are there regarding the internship placement?
There is no requirement that students of clothing technology must complete the internship semester in a clothing or textile company. The examination regulations only state "... in companies or other institutions of professional practice ...". Also, there is deliberately a broad scope regarding the activities in the internship placement. This means that you can undertake internships in all fields of work related to individual subjects of your course of study or typical future work areas; clarify this with your supervisor! Before starting the internship semester, a contract must be concluded with the company and presented to the supervisor or the examination board. Forms can be obtained from the examination office and on our website, but they are not mandatory. If a company wants to use its own contracts that include the required content elements, this is allowed. The internship semester must last continuously for 20 weeks.
Internship Positions
Is there a list of companies where I can do an internship?
No, such a list does not exist. You can inquire with your study program coordinators or browse the job market on the website of the Department of Textile and Clothing Technology. Apart from that, there are numerous websites (e.g., "Wer liefert was?") of the textile and clothing industry that regularly advertise internship opportunities on their job markets. Furthermore, you should research companies that cover your area of interest or study focus and contact them independently. The search for a suitable internship position always requires a lot of initiative. Trade fairs or events such as "MG zieht an" can also be helpful for making important contacts.