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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 across STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skills .Your business will connect with STEM PhD research students for targeted, 3 to 5-month internships, working on results-driven projects to accelerate innovation.
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 into a project from both the research student and their academic mentor.
Your business gains the research students’ unique knowledge and technical skillsets and, equipped with the industry’s latest knowledge, will ensure your business is future ready.
You’ll get access to Australian universities’ best and brightest PhD talent to work for the duration of the internship, and in many cases, well into the future. Plus, you’ll help PhD students accelerate their careers with hands-on industry experience. It’s a win for your business and for PhD students.
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
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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 help 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.
COSTS
The total costs of an APR.Intern project are laid out below:
- Students receive $3,000 stipend per month for duration of the internship
- Academic Mentors receive a one-off $5,500 for project participation
- APR.Intern receives a one-off $5,500 for internship administration and case-management
Additional Funding
Organisations may be eligible for the R&D tax rebate and sector specific vouchers, which significantly reduce the total cost of the project.
From 2017-2020, the Australian Government Department of Education is offering a 50% rebate for eligible internships. Read more here.
Available Rebates and Vouchers
FAQ
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 State Government Funding
This model is only for small-to-medium size enterprise through accessing a State Government Rebate. Rebate arrangements and eligibility criteria differ greatly in each state. Please contact one of the APR.Intern team members for a detailed conversation.
Funding Model 2 – Eligible for funding through an APR.Intern Partnership
Some APR.Intern partnership arrangements offer financial support for eligible businesses that wish to participate in the program. Current partnerships are listed on this website under the Partnerships tab, along with eligibility criteria and a direct contact person for further information.
Funding Model 3 – Not Eligible for Government Funding (Fully Funded Model)
This model is suitable for small-to-medium and large enterprises and government agencies where no other funding model is applicable.
Industry partners pay all three components of the internship costs:
• $3,000 per month to the student for the duration of the internship
• $5,500 to the Academic Mentor for their participation in the program
• $5,500 to APR.Intern for administrative costs of project management
* Private companies may be able to claim the total cost against the R&D rebate at a rate of 45 cents in the dollar
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.
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.
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