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.
The students get in touch with the internship coordinator after finding the internship and the internship coordinator guides the student which form needs to be filled, when and how to submit it. The procedure is explained in detail in the info meeting as well as in the Internship Project Seminar Manual on Brightspace of the project.
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.
Information and Registration
General information meeting for both Leiden and The Hague MSc students: Wednesday 12 February 2025, 17.15h ONLINE. More information on participating in this meeting will be shared via our Newsletter
Internship: June-August
Thesis supervision: Individual meetings from November - December.
The Internhip Project Seminar offers place for 15 students, enrollment is on first come first serve basis
Deadlines
1 May 2025: Registration completed.
Other deadlines: see manual on Brightspace.
Contact
For more information about the internship option please contact Dr. M. Kinacioglu