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Internship Educational Science

Vak
2025-2026

NB Language spoken in course is English unless only Dutch-speaking students participate

Description

The internship provides students with the opportunity to learn about a variety of approaches and methods that are used in the field of Educational Science, and to prepare for future positions in this field. Students can choose to work as an educational expert at an external organization (Practical Internship) or participate in an ongoing research project at the Leiden Institute of Education and Child Studies or at an external (academic) organization (Research Internship).

Practical internship
An internship at an external organization could take place in a diversity of settings and institutions relevant to the field of Educational Science, such as schools, museums, governance bodies, developers of educational materials and educational advice services. The practical internship provides students with the opportunity to build professional experience in an educational setting.

Research Internship
Students can also choose to do a research internship, either by participating in ongoing research at the Leiden Institute of Education and Child Studies or at an external (academic) organization. The research internship provides the student with the opportunity of designing, executing and reporting (practical) research in the field of Educational Science.
Students are allowed to search for their own internship or by applying to vacancies that are posted on Brightspace. Before starting an internship, the internship proposal needs to be approved by the internship programme coordinators, to ensure it fits the standards of the Master’s programme. Day-t0-day supervision will be provided by the external organization. A tutor from the university will oversee the general progress of the internship and assess internship reports (internship plan, interim reflection report, final report) and presentation.

Course objectives

The general objectives of an internship are:

  • Integration of knowledge and skills in research and practice previously acquired in course work, in particular in realistic work situations;

  • The acquisition of further relevant knowledge and skills, and insight into practical situations in the work field;

  • Intensive acquaintance with a relevant field of research or work;

  • Learning to function independently and responsibly in an organization (professional attitudes);

  • Gaining insight into one’s own potential and limitations, both with regard to skills and with regard to personal functioning.

Timetable

For the timetable of this course please refer to My Timetable

Mode of instruction

Students decide with the internship institution how long the internship will last and how many days per week the student will work at the internship institution. This should amount to at least 420 hours (15 EC equals 420 hours). Within these hours students are also required to participate in regular internship meetings, write an internship plan, an interim reflection report and a final reflection report. Both halfway and at the end of the internship, an (online) evaluation meeting takes place with the student, the internship supervisor (from the organization) and the internship tutor (from the university).
Attendance is required for the internship meetings, taking into account a ‘4+1 rule’. During the internship period, the student needs to attend at least four (4) internship meetings in which intervision is central. In addition, the student is required to attend another meeting (+1) in which the student gives a final presentation about his/her internship. Absence must be reported in advance by email to the internship coordinator. To replace the missed meeting, the student must attend another meeting or hand in a substitute assignment. If more than one meeting is missed, the extent to which the learning objectives and assignments of the internship can be achieved must be evaluated in consultation with the internship coordinator.

Assessment method

The internship is concluded with a final report. This report contains:

  • A description of the project or assignment executed during the internship, and a critical analysis of the approaches, methods and models used.

  • A reflection on the professional development: learning experiences during the internship given the learning objectives, the work situation, work tasks and one’s activities and performance during these activities.

The final grade of the internship is based on:
1. The evaluation of the internship supervisor
2. The quality of the internship report and internship product(s)
3. Participation in group meetings

All parts should be assessed as at least satisfactory. The internship program is concluded by a final presentation about the internship during a group meeting.

Brightspace

During this course Brightspace is used.

Reading list

Depending on the subject of study.

Registration

Education
Students must register themselves for all course components (lectures, tutorials and practicals) they wish to follow. You can register via My Studymap up to 5 days prior to the start of the course.

Exams
NB The exam of this course is a paper. This means that you do not have to register for this exam in My Studymap.

For general information on internships and advice in the search process, please contact the Internship Bureau