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GET YOUR BUSINESS FUTURE-READY WITH PhD INTERNSHIPS
Where Industry meets Academia
At APR.Intern, we’re here to help your business grow. We facilitate invaluable PhD internships to transform businesses of all sizes and sectors with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). We will connect your business with a specialist PhD student to accelerate innovation through a results-driven 3-5 month research project.
We’re here to provide an easy and cost-effective solution to some of the challenges facing Australian businesses today. PhD internships help close short and long-term skills gaps and bring specialist knowledge from both the research student and their academic mentor.
Your business gains the research student’s unique skillset and, equipped with the industry’s latest knowledge, will ensure your business is future ready.
You’ll get access to Australia’s brightest PhD talent to undertake a short-term research project, and in many cases, continue into the future. Businesses also have the opportunity to be progressive industry leaders by supporting the future PhD workforce with invaluable, hands-on experience.
THE BENEFITS
- Helps your business stay ahead of industry trends
- Rapid results in 3-5 months
- We facilitate everything, so you can save time and avoid HR costs
- Retain intellectual property (IP)
- Fill a skills gap with specialist PhD students
- Fast-track innovation with students’ academic mentor expertise
- Grow your diverse STEM workforce
Open Up Your World
0.31 min
HOW IT WORKS
- Talk to APR.Intern – we’ll guide you through the process from start to finish.
- Outline your project needs.
- We’ll source student and mentor teams from universities across Australia to find your best match.
- Interview and select the right candidate for your business.
OUR NETWORK
As the industry arm of the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI), we are connected to PhD students from all Australian universities.
We are supported by the Australian Government Department of Education, through the ‘Supporting more women in STEM careers: Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) – National Research Internships Program’, to broaden our industry connections and support the industry-based training of PhD students across the nation. As such, a 50% Australian Government rebate is available to small, medium and large enterprises, and government agencies from all industry sectors.
Take a look at our other strategic partnerships here to benefit both students and businesses here.
PROGRAM COSTS
Domestic Student Placements
An Australian Government 50% rebate is available to all Australian businesses that place a domestic PhD student, bringing down the cost of a 3-month research project to $10,000.
These internships are supported by the Australian Government Department of Education, through the ‘Supporting more women in STEM careers: Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) – National Research Internships Program (NRIP)’.
International Student Placements
The total cost of a 3-5 month internship with an international student, placed outside of the Australian Government’s NRIP Program, starts from $25,000 for a 3-month research project. This includes:
- Student Internship Scholarship of $3,000 per month
- Academic Mentor one-off fee of $5,500
- APR.Intern one-off fee of $5,500 for administration and case management
- One-off payment of $5,000 to Government as a co-contribution for operational funding costs
For more information, please refer to our FAQ.
R&D TAX INCENTIVE
Regardless of whether a PhD student is placed within or outside of the Australian Government’s NRIP Program, businesses may still receive a residual benefit from their contribution from the Government’s 43.5 per cent Refundable Research and Development (R&D) Tax Incentive. This is after the application of grant clawback and dependent on the company’s financial position. The involvement of a PhD intern in your R&D project may also strengthen the perceived R&D eligibility of your broader project claim in the event of an audit by the regulator.
Sector-specific internship vouchers are also available to eligible Defence, Manufacturing and Food businesses, significantly reducing the cost of a research project. View all subsidies here.
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FAQ
What is the program’s policy regarding confidentiality and disclosure?
We support the creation of confidentiality and non‑disclosure agreements between participating parties providing the reasonable rights of interns and their mentors are maintained. It is important that these agreements don’t impair the ability of academic mentors or interns to publish their results or for a student to complete his/her thesis. In some instances, these agreements can call for delays in the period before which publications should take place.
What is APR.Intern’s policy regarding Intellectual Property (IP)?
APR.Intern makes no claim whatsoever to IP. Ownership of Project Intellectual Property created during the project will vest upon its creation in the Industry Partner.
Can our industry contribution be “in-kind”?
There are no in-kind options with this program.
Can the industry partner be outside of Australia?
The eligibility of a foreign company to participate in the scheme will be considered on a case‑by‑case basis.
Do I get to choose the APR.Intern Student?
Yes, all industry partners ultimately have the final say in which student and academic mentor they wished to work with.
How are projects developed?
The industry partner identifies a challenge requiring the expertise of an APR.Intern, this challenge is then developed into a project by the intern, mentor and industry partner.
How long are projects?
Project duration is 3–5 months depending on the nature of the project.
How are the projects funded?
Funding Model 1 – Eligible for funding through the Australian Government Department of Education’s National Research Internships Program (NRIP)
An Australian Government 50% rebate is available to all Australian businesses that place a domestic PhD student, bringing down the cost of a 3-month research project to $10,000. These internships are supported by the Australian GovernmentDepartment of Education, through the ‘Supporting more women in STEM careers: Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) – National Research Internships Program (NRIP).
Funding Model 2 – Not Eligible for Government Funding
The total cost of a 3-5 month internship with an international student, placed outside of the Australian Government’s NRIP program, starts from $25,000 for a 3-month research project.
Industry partners pay all four components of the internship costs:
- $3,000 per month to the student for the duration of the internship
- $5,500 one-off payment to the Academic Mentor for their participation in the program
- $5,500 one-off payment to APR.Intern for administration and case management
- One-off payment of $5,000 to Government as a co-contribution for operational funding costs
What is the working arrangement between the student and the industry partner?
The primary aim of the program is for the student to gain relevant professional training and skills within a workplace setting, relating to their area of study. Students do not undertake day-to-day commercial activities, but focus on a short term, self-contained research project related to their field of study. There is no employment contract between the student and the industry partner and as such the student is not held to obligations whilst undertaking the internship. Students remain enrolled at the university whilst completing the internship and receive a scholarship, not a hourly rate. The project contract outlines that the industry partner is under no obligation to create an employment relationship with the student and that the primary purpose of the internship is for the intern’s educational purposes.
Why are businesses required to refund the Department of Education $5,000 for international PhD student internship placements?
Placements available under the Australian Government’s National Research Industry Program (NRIP) are limited with a 20% cap on international student internships over the life of the program. High demand and industry interest in these skills mean there can be no more NRIP international placements for the foreseeable future. However, opportunities for international PhD students are still available with APR.Intern, outside of NRIP, and we encourage applications.
As well as the 50% industry rebate, the NRIP grant also covers a range of program operational costs to support national expansion of APR.Intern. Industry who wish to place an international student will be required to make a one-off $5,000 payment to the Government as a refund for the operational funding costs. This brings the overall net cost of a 3-month APR.Intern placement to $25,000 – still an exceptional deal for industry. The net cost is paid to AMSI, who is responsible for its distribution.
