Practical and applied learning
We offer you flexibility for how and when you’ll get workplace experience. There are programs where you can work a couple of hours a week over a trimester, programs where you do an intensive full-time placement and programs with other time commitments to fit into your schedule. Develop real-world knowledge and skills in your chosen field while you study and be up-to-date with industry best practice when you graduate.
Getting the chance to work in industry while you’re still studying will help you to:
- apply and consolidate knowledge gained in your course
- experience workplace and industry culture
- explore career options relevant to your discipline
- gain credit towards your degree
- develop professional work practices and networks
- have an edge in the jobs market.
Workplace learning opportunities
We offer a range workplace learning programs through our courses, faculties and schools. Check out just some of our highlights of practical learning and industry experience below.
Law
Through the Deakin Law Clinic, you’ll interview real clients under the supervision of a qualified solicitor, conduct research on legal issues and offer advice where appropriate. You’ll also have the opportunity to attend court proceedings.
Teaching
Every Deakin teaching student’s course experience is enriched by the Professional Experience Program. Working with more than 1400 schools across Australia, a dedicated team will help you find the right placements based on your interests, skills, residential location and mode of transport.
Information technology
Through the Global Science and Technology Program, you can add an international experience to your IT degree by working in an IT company in Vietnam, study entrepreneurship in Europe or travel to the US and take a semester of subjects at a partner university.
Nursing
Early exposure to clinical environments lets you develop and consolidate your skills, so you graduate job-ready. When you’re not on a clinical placement, you’ll be learning essential clinical nursing and midwifery skills at purpose-built spaces with state-of-the-art equipment.
Each faculty and school offers a range of workplace learning programs suitable for various study areas and courses. Internships, placements, work-integrated learning programs, community-based volunteering and fieldwork mean you gain the practical experience employers and industry are looking for.
Turn learning into practice
Deakin University work placement program
Students and employers discuss the benefits of Deakin's work placement program.
Work-integrated learning units
Learn all about the benefits of participating in a work-integrated learning unit as part of a Deakin degree.
Gain industry experience with an internship
Students, staff and employers talk about internships in the Faculty of Arts and Education.
Internships
FreelancingHUB
The DeakinTALENT FreelancingHUB is a work-integrated learning initiative designed to develop job-ready graduates. The FreelancingHUB allows interns to explore working as a professional freelancer within a cross-disciplinary, cross-cultural team. Examples of projects run in the past include an impact report for the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, and a business plan for the City of Greater Bendigo.
International internships
Depending on your course, you may also have the chance to undertake an international internship. These are usually intensive and can be done on your own or as part of a team.
Working with industry
We’re proud of our broad industry connections. Our industry partners inform course curriculum, so that what we teach matches current industry practice. These partnerships also open up a range of work placement and study abroad opportunities for students.
Financial assistance for workplace learning
Deakin is keen for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to take part in workplace learning programs. To help achieve this, we have Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP) government funding for our work placement program, as well as the WIL Financial Support Scheme.
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
The HEPPP funding aims to help domestic undergraduate students who:
- are from low socio-economic backgrounds
- have a disability or disabilities
- are from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island backgrounds
- are from rural and remote areas
- are from a non-English speaking background
- are women in non-traditional areas of study.
WIL Financial Support Scheme
Students are eligible for the WIL Financial Support Scheme if they are:
- a domestic undergraduate student enrolled in a WIL unit
- experiencing financial hardship
- experiencing other forms of hardship.
Work your passion
Biomedical internships
Learn from biomedical students as they discuss their internship and industry-based learning programs at Deakin.
IT internships
Find out more about work-integrated learning and internships from an IT student and his industry supervisor.
Environment industry-based learning
Learn how industry-based learning at Parks Victoria benefited this Bachelor of Environmental Sciences student.