INTERNSHIP THESIS FALL:
Description
From the beginning of June until the end of August students will be given the opportunity to do an internship with an NGO, interest group, government or international organization, political party or media organization. Students are responsible for finding an internship position. It is important that the organization is willing to allow and facilitate the student to implement a research project relevant to the organization or its activities.
The internship is followed by a three month internship project seminar in block II (November-December). During the internship seminar the student will write his or her thesis on the research project. This research paper takes the form of an academic paper. That is: it invokes theory to help answer a clearly formulated question (or hypothesis) on the basis of systematically collected data. Both the internship, and the internship project seminar count for 15 EC (in all: 15 + 15 = 30 EC). Students will only be awarded the 15 EC for the internship upon successfully completing all components of the internship project seminar. It is not possible to obtain EC for either of the components of internship project seminar separately.
Procedure
Please first consult your Study Advisor on the impact of an internship on your study plan.
Applications with your motivation letter and resume should be sent to the internship coordinator Dr. F.G.J. Meijerink (meijerink@fsw.leidenuniv.nl). He provides support in finding an internship position, but the ultimate responsibility for finding a position lies with the student. Students who have already found an internship that meets the requirements will be given priority in the selection process.
Students that have been selected for the internship program and have found an internship position submit the following documents to the internship coordinator: 1. an internship plan, 2. a formal internship agreement, and 3. a short research proposal including the subject, main research question, research methods, and several publications relevant to the subject.
Plan and agreement (see forms B1 and B2 on Brightspace) have to be submitted before the internship starts, the research proposal should be submitted ultimately by June 11 (see deadlines below). After the internship has ended the student hands in the filled out and undersigned 4. Supervisor Assessment form (see form B3) and 5. an internship report (1500 words: see examples on Brightspace).
Given the emphasis on doing research during the internship, it is important that the participants of the program should verify at potential internship positions the consent of the internship organization for doing research within the organization. In case of doubt, consult the internship coordinator. The Institute of Political Science acts as a facilitator and advisor to find a suitable internship position where both internship work and internship research can be done. The research ideally yields data that can be used in the internship project seminar which leads to the thesis, with a length of approximately 8,000 to 10.000 words. Specific organizational as well as facilitating aspects can be derived from the Schedule and Deadlines hereafter.
Assessment Method
Internship (15 EC, level 500): Pass/Fail based on Assessment form by organization internship-supervisor (B3 on the BS); information from interim report and meetings with supervisors; and on internship report written by the student. The internship report must count 1500 words and entails: description of the internship, including the type and aims of the organization; the various activities the internship entailed, and the function of these activities for the work of the organization; a reflection on the internship in light of the academic study of political science, and on the contribution of the internship to the development of professional skills.
Internship project seminar (15 EC, level 600): 1. Research proposal (Pass/Fail by supervisor and second reader); 2. Graded thesis.
Registration
General information meeting for both Leiden and The Hague MSc students: Thursday 25 February 2021, 15.15 - 17.00h ONLINE. More information on participating in this meeting will be shared via our Newsletter
Internship: June-August
Thesis supervision: Individual meetings from November - December.
Deadlines
Friday 11 June 2021: First version of research proposal.
Other deadlines: see the general deadlines for the regular Thesis Seminar of the February starters.
Contact
For more information about the internship option please contact Dhr. Dr. F.J. Meijerink (meijerink@fsw.leidenuniv.n