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

Currently, SCIS offers apprenticeships via our:


The BSc (Software Engineering) is a SkillsFuture Work-Study Degree (WSDeg) programme with significant work component. At least 30% of curriculum time for WSDeg is spent on apprenticeships or structured on-the-job trainings (e.g. BSc (SE) features a rigorous 52-week apprenticeship programme). The curriculum is co-designed and co-delivered by both SMU and industry partners to provide an in-depth and immersive work experience weaved meaningfully into the degree programme. Only degrees specifically approved by SkillsFuture Singapore and MOE can be categorized as WSDeg.


    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):