MITRA4400 – Field Term - Internship for Modern International and Transnational History Students

You spend a semester on an internship in an organization or business. The aim of the placement is to give you insight into and increased awareness of how you can apply the skills and competences you have acquired during your studies in a practical context, and which competences and skills the labour market requires. This course gives you the opportunity to gain practical work experience in an organization from the private, public or voluntary sector that is relevant to your education.

The semester is divided between work for the host organisation and independent work on a term paper. You can complete the internship in Norway or abroad and either find a suitable placement on your own or apply for internships advertised through your study programme. See "admission to the course" for more details about what is possible in your programme. Abroad, the host organisation may be a Norwegian diplomatic mission, a Norwegian company with an office abroad, a foreign company, or a voluntary/interest organisation (NGO).

After completing this course, you will have required:

• insight into the work methods, tasks, and organization of the workplace.

• knowledge of the norms and values that are central to the organisation.

• experience of a work community and work environment where communication and collaboration are key elements.

• knowledge of how your professional competence and skills can be used in practice, and the ability to present your experiences from the internship.

• generic skills such as the ability to plan, execute, meet deadlines, solve problems, be creative, and collaborate.

• the ability to communicate your knowledge and skills to potential employers and a solid experiential basis for future employment and working life.

The course is only available to students admitted to the master’s programme in Modern International and Transnational History

Admission is limited by the number of available internships. It is the host organisation that decides, based on applications, who they wish to offer an internship to and thereby who is admitted to the course. For internships the student finds independently, the department will decide whether the internship can be approved. The student may not hold paid employment with the host organisation during the same period as the internship.

Internship through the department’s agreements:

You can apply for an internship through the department's agreements with the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), the Peace Research Institute Cyprus Centre, the Nobel Institute, the Norwegian Institute Rome or C-Rex: Center for Research on Extremism.

Application deadline: 1 April / 1 October (if the deadline falls on a public holiday, the deadline will be the next working day).

You must submit:

• A motivation letter
• CV
• Transcript of records

Documents must be in English if the vacancy is advertised in English. All documents must combined and sent as a single PDF. Applications should be sent to student@iakh.uio.no

Internship you arrange on your own:

The student must contact potential host organisations and secure a placement in order to be admitted to the course.

• By 1 March / 1 October the student must have notified the department that they are in the process of finding a placement independently.
• By 1 June / 1 December the contract with the host organisation must be signed.

If the deadline falls on a public holiday, the deadline will be the next working day.

The department can provide an introductory letter for the student with information about the study programme and the academic competence the student has acquired. When contacting potential organisations, it is recommended to include the introductory letter together with your CV and a motivation letter/application. A condition for approval of the placement and admission to the course is that the tasks the host organisation can offer the student are academically relevant. The host organisation must also appoint a contact person who will follow up the student during the placement period.

Documentation required to get the placement approved:

• Confirmation from the organisation
• A short description of the tasks the student will perform (max. 1 page)
• Contact details for the contact person at the host organisation

The documents must be combined and sent as a single PDF to the department: student@iakh.uio.no

If the department approves the placement, a contract will be issued that must be signed by the student and the host organisation. The department will sign as a third party.

Internship through the Faculty of Humanities’ agreements

The Faculty of Humanities has framework agreements with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Research, and the National Library for student internships. These agreements are administered by the faculty. Applications are sent via the department to the faculty, which forwards the applications.

The faculty also has an agreement for international placements via Global Career Center (GCC), where GCC is responsible for managing the application process, placement and follow-up of the student.

Internship at a Norwegian diplomatic mission with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Application deadline: Tentatively 1 March and 15 September (may vary)

Requires Norwegian citizenship.

You must submit:

• Application (in English)
• CV (in English)
• Transcript of records (in English)
• Letter of recommendation (from a current or former instructor/supervisor)

The documents should be combined and sent as a single PDF to each mission you wish to apply to (max. 3 missions). Applications should be sent to student@iakh.uio.no

Placement through the Global Career Center (GCC)

Application deadlines: 1 May and 15 October.

You register your interest in placements through the Global Career Center on the Faculty of Humanities’ GCC webpages.

When the faculty nominates you for a placement through the Global Career Center, you will be contacted by a GCC consultant for a follow-up interview. Your preferences for type of host organisation and tasks will be the basis when GCC contacts relevant placements.

Placement at the Ministry of Education and Research or the National Library

If you wish to apply for a placement at one of these organisations, please contact the department.

The course has no regular seminar teaching but will be delivered through various forms of supervision. You will be assigned a contact person/academic supervisor from the department. Academic follow-up and guidance will be provided during the internship period. Supervision may take place by e‑mail, phone, Zoom/Teams, or in person.

Compulsory assignments

• Students must fill out an information form before September 15th where their project is outlined.

Students who plan to work on a commissioned report during their internship should talk about the content of an assignment with a representative of their host institution.

Students who plan to work on a research project will be offered feedback from the MITRA program director or another member of the academic staff on up to two drafts of the project.

Students studying or travelling on field work abroad must have travel insurance. Please make yourself acquainted with your insurance cover as a student.

The exam consists of either:

• A commissioned report assigned by the host institution and approved by the department of 6000 words, footnotes included. Attachments and bibliography are not included in the word count.

Or

• A research project of 6000 words, footnotes included. Attachments and bibliography are not included in the word count.

The exam has to be submitted during the same semester as the student’s internship.