School of Computing and Information Systems

 

Internships, Apprenticeships, Work-Study Electives and Programmes

Internships

SMU was the first local University to introduce mandatory internships of 10 weeks as part of its degree requirement for all undergraduate students. The average SMU student completes between 2 to 6 internships during their degree programme, which attests to the value such experiences offer. Through the SMU Internship Programme, more than 1 in 2 SMU students secure employment before graduation and 1 in 4 students has received job offers before graduation. Moreover, 1 in 3 graduates has reported that they are employed with the company they last interned at.

From AY2019/2020, via the SMU Core Curriculum, internships are integrated with the Capabilities pillar. Students will obtain academic credit for internships of 10 weeks or longer. To ensure rigour in the conferring of this 1 CU, students must take the revamped Finishing Touch career-preparatory programme, submit guided reflection journals, and an internship report.

The Dato’ Kho Hui Meng Career Centre (DKHMCC) leads the SMU Internship Programme and will facilitate the process, which includes 5 Internship Readiness Modules (IRMs) to be delivered online to prepare students for their internships and to help them optimize their internship experiences. Included in the training is a Reflective Practice Unit that guides students on techniques to reflect on their cognitive learning experiences and document their learning outcomes throughout their internship.

For more detailed information about internships, matriculated students may refer to:

Apprenticeships

SCIS offers apprenticeships via our SkillsFuture Work-Study Degree (WSDeg) programmes. All WSDeg incorporates a significant work component (at least 30% of the curriculum time) for students to acquire industry-relevant skills. 

As an apprentice, students will be mentored by industry experts, and delve into real-world problem-solving scenarios. This journey not only bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application but also fosters a deep understanding of industry best practices.

Currently, SCIS provides apprenticeships through our: 

In partnership with GovTech, NCS and UBS, the Software Engineering Apprenticeship is designed to equip aspiring engineers with the essential skills and practical experience needed to thrive in the dynamic field of software development.

Work-Study Programmes

A work-study programme (WSP) is a programme that provides opportunities for students to undergo longer internship durations to better interlace classroom-learning with structured on-the-job training. It consists of WSE and a maximum of 2 pre-determined courses, which can be taken before, during or after the required minimum 20-week internship. Neither the WSE nor the WSP are SkillsFuture programmes.

Currently, SCIS offers 1 WSP(s):


Work-Study Electives

A Work-Study Elective (WSE) is a pass/fail course that is worth 2 Credit Units (CUs). It involves a minimum 20-week internship attachment during regular term time whereby students work for at least four days each week at the host company and are allowed to take a maximum of 2 CUs at SMU up to one day each week. The CUs earned from the WSE may be used to fulfil degree requirements as part of a major elective(s).

Currently, SCIS offers 3 WSE(s):