Want to do an internship during your programme? There are two possibilities: you can do an internship that is part of your programme; or, if your programme does not offer an internship or you want to do more than what is foreseen in your programme, you can do a non-programme internship.
Non-programme internships
What is a non-programme internship?
- It’s a choice, your programme does not require it.
- It’s a professional experience to boost your CV.
- You’re covered by UCLouvain insurance.
- There is no supervision by a faculty member.
- There are no grades and the internship will not appear in your study programme.
What documents do I need to provide?
- An internship agreement (see point 1: Standard agreement template for sending a student on an internship (OUT)).
- A risk analysis (see point 1) to be completed by the host institution. This is a legal requirement. This document must be completed and submitted with the internship agreement.
Programme internships
FIAL internships
View the list of FIAL programme internships
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Internship title |
Faculty manager |
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LARKA2685 |
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LARKE1240 |
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LARKE1351 |
Internships (excavations, museums, laboratories, excursions, etc.) |
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LARKE2710 |
Internship and professional practice (120-credit master's) |
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LARKE2720 |
Internship and professional practice (60-credit master's) |
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LFIAL9011 |
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LFIAL9012 |
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LFIAL9021 |
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LGERM9004 |
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LHIST2992 |
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LHIST9531 |
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LHIST9532 |
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LHIST9535 |
History communication internship or professional communication project |
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LINTP2900 |
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LINTP2903 |
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LLING9995 |
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LLING9996 |
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LMULT2990 |
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LMUSI1350 |
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LMUSI2895 |
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LMUSI2896 |
Internships and entertainment and management practice (musicology) |
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LMUSI2897 |
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LMUSI2899 |
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LPATR2262 |
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LROGE9005 |
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LTHEA2810 |
Professionnel internship: stage direction and/or set design and/or costumes |
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LTHEA2820 |
Professional assistantship: stage direction and/or set design and/or costumes |
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LTHEA2830 |
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LTHEA9101 |
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LTRAD2900 |
Doing an internship in Belgium
Where can I search for internships in Belgium?
Recommended websites:
- Eureka Career Center. Register on the UCLouvain platform to find out about new offers and receive help in developing your career goals.
- Course and Career Guidance Centre (CIO). The CIO helps you find employment.
- Monster. Search for internships and jobs in Belgium and internationally.
- monstage.be. Internships and student jobs for current students.
- UCLouvain Science Parks. Interface between UCLouvain and nearby companies.
- studentjob.be. Internships, student jobs, and jobs.
- Culture. Culture sector internships.
- Stages Média. Audio-visual sector internships.
What documents do I need to provide?
- An internship agreement. Ask your programme manager for it. It must be signed prior to the internship by the faculty member responsible for the internship, by the host institution/company and by the student.
- A risk analysis (see point 1) to be completed by the host institution. This is a legal obligation. The document must be completed and submitted with the internship agreement.
Doing an internship abroad
What are the advantages of doing an internship abroad?
An internship abroad will make your CV more attractive on the job market because it will allow you to combine work experience with international experience.
Specifically, you will be able to:
- improve your language skills;
- learn to work in a multicultural environment;
- gain greater autonomy and independence;
- gain a unique personal experience in a different culture.
All FIAL programme internships can be carried out abroad, with the exception of those for teaching purposes.
Where can I search for an internship abroad?
FIAL regularly offers internship opportunities.
Many websites offer internships. Some will offer you an internship for a fee. Be careful, there are some unreliable sites. Check for costs you have to pay (internship, accommodation, transport, etc.).
Some reliable sites:
- Eureka Career Center. Register on the UCLouvain platform to find out about new offers and receive help in developing your career goals.
- Course and Career Guidance Centre (CIO). The CIO helps you find employment.
- Internships abroad for students and graduates.
- Internships abroad.
- Network of universities, companies, associations, research centres and chambers of commerce.
- Internships abroad via the Erasmus programme.
- Training and internship with an international trade scholarship (AWEX).
- Internships in publishing, web and multimedia, art, conservation.
- International internships and volunteering.
- Internship opportunities in Europe.
- Internship opportunities in Australia.
What scholarships and funding are available?
If you want to do your internship in Flanders or elsewhere in Europe, you can get funding through the European programmes Erasmus+ and Belgica.
If you want to do an internship elsewhere in the world, funding is available through the Mercator/FAME programmes or grants offered by other organisations (AWEX, ARES, WBI, etc.).
- The internship agreement.
- The risk analysis (see point 1) to be completed by the host organisation. This is a legal obligation. This document must be completed and submitted with the internship agreement.
- Insurance. In the context of an internship abroad, you do not benefit from a comprehensive travel assistance and health insurance policy. You are strongly advised to purchase the necessary travel assistance and/or healthcare insurance for your trip abroad (Europ Assistance, Touring Assistance, etc.). The premiums are your responsibility.
What is the procedure and timetable for a 2022-23 departure?
Term 1 departures: Erasmus, Belgica, Mercator/FAME
13/05/2022: Submit to Margaret Mulcahy a copy of the international internship agreement signed by the student, the internship supervisor in the host company/organisation and the UCLouvain academic supervisor AND the risk analysis for first term departures (paper or electronic version).
Term 2 departures: Erasmus, Belgica, Mercator/FAME
16/09/2022: Submit to Margaret Mulcahy a copy of the international internship agreement signed by the student, the internship supervisor in the host company/organisation and the UCLouvain academic supervisor AND the risk analysis for second term departures (paper or electronic version).
FIAL international internship testimonials
Many of our students do an internship outside Belgium. Their testimonials show the undeniable added value of the experience. A few key words often stand out: broadening horizons, building a professional network, increased confidence, practising foreign languages ...
Click on the countries below to read testimonials.
Europe (with Erasmus+ scholarship) |
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“My internship abroad gave me the opportunity to acquire an entrepreneurial spirit and adaptability and broadened my horizons. But most important, it allowed me to build an international network that will perhaps be useful for my career abroad via a first job. It was an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience that I was lucky enough to have and I would recommend it to everyone.” Catherine Sneij (MULT) “After a first master’s degree in ROGE (English-French) with the research focus, I decided to do an extra year in business language so I could do an internship abroad and add the experience, in addition to my Erasmus experience, to my CV. Looking back on it now, the internship was one of the best experiences of my higher education! I didn’t think I was ready to enter the workforce straight after my studies, but the three months in England allowed me to get familiar with the working world before being totally immersed in it. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to get their feet wet before taking the plunge!” Lara Geelen (ROGE) “I highly recommend all students do a company internship. The experience was highly beneficial for me. It gave me a first impression of the working world and allowed me to develop many practical skills related to my course. I learned how to work in a team on various projects but also to become more independent and build up my self-confidence. The internship also helped me to learn what professional field I should aim for at the end of my course.” Mégane Noirfalisse (ROGE) “The internship with Swiss Life Global Solutions is a great opportunity as an international experience given that many people in the company come from different backgrounds. Moreover, the team I worked with included me as a true member, directly from the beginning. They were also not afraid to give me responsibilities. Plus, it was a great opportunity to work on a fun and charitable project, as it involved the company’s charity event.” Matthias Dellisse (MULT) “I recommend Luxembourg as a place to do an internship. The country may not seem very attractive at first sight, as it is small and close to Belgium. However, working in Luxembourg could lead to links beyond the trainee-supervisor relationship. The people are very open, as they meet people from all over the world every day. You can speak English (German, French or even Portuguese) in a restaurant or in the shops and the person in front of you will answer in the chosen language perfectly. For me, Luxembourg can be seen as a cultural crossroads and no matter which path you choose, the people are very welcoming!” Kathia Kadri (MULT) “I did my internship at the English Alpha School, where I worked in the field of marketing. Working in an English-speaking company where all employees and trainees communicate in English allowed me to practise and improve my level of English even after working hours. Moreover, the internship allowed me to discover a new culture (which is very different from Belgium’s), visit many beautiful places and admire the architecture of this beautiful Mediterranean island. My internship in Malta has not only made me more independent and autonomous, but also enriched my CV, which is a great asset for my future professional life.” Dominika Kolisevova (MULT)
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Outside Europe (with AWEX/EXPLORT scholarship)“I did an internship in Canada with the AWEX EXPLORT programme. I strongly recommend doing an internship abroad because it allows you to experience another work culture as well as the practice of the language of your master’s degree outside the company you work for. A work experience abroad adds a touch of originality to your CV and also demonstrates that you’ve been able to adapt and integrate into a new working environment. Also, on-site networking is valuable for the future. The search for an internship abroad can be difficult depending on the country. Personally, I sent dozens of letters of motivation to Canada and only received automatic replies. Sometimes you have more luck when you go there so, I preferred to apply for the EXPLORT programme.” “Doing an internship with AWEX can add a lot to your CV. The internship was really rewarding, as I was able to discover a new market and its cultural and professional practices, develop my English and improve its use in everyday life, and create and develop my own personal network.” Joanna Ip (MULT) “I went to Beijing, China, for a three-month internship as part of the Explort/AWEX programme. Though I studied ROGE English-Spanish, my minor in Chinese during my bachelor’s course proved to be very useful, as I had to face culture shock from my first day in Beijing. Indeed, I noticed a big disadvantage throughout my internship: the language barrier. The use of English is not widespread among the Chinese population and a knowledge of Mandarin is essential to communicate with Chinese people, even during business meetings. Nevertheless, being abroad adds an interesting dimension to an internship. The concept of intercultural communication takes on its full meaning, especially in China, a country very different from Belgium. It’s important to be open and understanding so that you don’t get bogged down at the first difference with the Western world. China is fascinating and a very special country that deserves our interest. I learned a lot during the internship and met a lot of interesting people. I’m very happy that I was able to do my end-of-course internship abroad, especially in China!” Céline Nguyen (ROGE) “I was absolutely delighted by my AWEX internship in Kuala Lumpur and think it was a really profitable experience. My personal goals were to acquire a first international work experience in economics, find out if I could work in a field unrelated to my background in languages, and if I could work in another country and experience the culture in South-east Asia. They were all achieved during my internship at the Belgian Trade Commission in Kuala Lumpur.” Emilie Devries (MULT) “My four-month internship in the Mexican office of AWEX was an unforgettable experience. First of all, I had the opportunity to get a first professional experience within a very welcoming team, which quickly helped me to find my bearings and entrusted me with many interesting and diversified tasks. It was also an opportunity for me to discover and appreciate Mexican culture, which is rich in colours and flavours. I highly recommend the Explort programme to any student eligible for it: your internship will be an enriching experience that you won’t regret!” Justine Bleeckx (MULT)
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Dorica Tshitwenu FIAL graduate Analyst, Deloitte Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
“I was able to find my job during the pandemic thanks to my internship in Luxembourg and I don’t think I would have had the money to afford this type of experience without FIAL and UCLouvain. So a big thank you.”