Information for Students
We offer two types of internship programmes:
- 6 months (24 weeks) programme which runs from Jan – Jun or Jul – Dec each year
- 3 months (12 weeks) programme from May – Jul (during vacation) each year.
Internships help you develop job-specific skills, apply theory to practice and increase your chances of securing a job offer before graduating. We partner several organisations across the communication, new media, public relations, advertising, interactive media and related industries to create meaningful work experiences, that CNM students can benefit from.
The 6 months internship programme is compulsory for cohorts 2016 and onwards.
INTERNSHIP APPLICATION
Pre-requisites For 3-Month Programme
The 3-month programme that runs from May – Jul each year, does not have specific pre-requisites, as students do not receive modular credits for this. However, this short-term programme gives students a valuable peek into the industry that they are interested in, and gain some exposure.
If you are keen to participate in the 3-month programme, look out for an email announcement, which will usually be sent out sometime in Mar/Apr. Students can then email the internship co-ordinator and ask to have a look at the folder containing details of all internship openings. If suitable positions are found, students can email the employer directly with their resume and cover letter, expressing their interest for the position(s). Short-listed students will be contacted directly by the employer(s) for interviews and other selection activities.
Pre-requisites For 6-Month Programme
The 6-month programme can fall on either semester:
- Semester 1: Jul – Dec
- Semester 2: Jan – Jun
Students receive 8 modular credits for modules NM3550 and INM3550 upon completion. Additionally, students must satisfy the following pre-requisites:
- Full-time student taking on NM Major
- Read and pass a minimum of 80 MCs (minimum of 24 MCs from CNM)
- NM3550 and INM3550 to be read concurrently
- Must have read NM2220 and NM2219 and preferably NM3219 for communications related internships
- Must have read NM2220 and NM2216 for Games or Interactive media related internships
- Read CFG1000 StepUp Module or CFG1001 HeadStart Module or attended CFG Career Catalyst programme
- Must not have been granted a Leave of Absence to participate in the internship
- Additional prerequisites may apply for certain employers
The listed pre-requisites are only applicable to students who belong to cohorts before 2015. As a student, you are strongly encouraged to attend internship briefing sessions which we conduct in Semesters 1 and 2, to learn more about how you can maximise your internship opportunities.
Next Internship Briefing: The next briefing session will be held at the start of Sem 1 (AY2017/18), please check at a later date for more details.
Application Procedure
To apply for the 6-month programme, send the following documents to cnmbox10@nus.edu.sg:
- Completed CNM Internship Application Form
- Completed and signed Letter of Consent and Undertaking
- Resume [View the suggested resume format here. Refer to Page 24 for a sample cover letter and Page 29 for a sample resume]
- List of NM modules read and grades obtained
- Recommendation from a CNM lecturer or tutor to be sent directly to cnmbox10@nus.edu.sg
We reserve the right to reject applicants, and will only invite short-listed students for an interview. During the interview, students may express their preferences. Thereafter, we will match students to potential employers and internship positions. Employers will then be sent details of qualifying students, who will short-list students for their own interviews and selection process.
Supervision and Assessment
Students participaitng in the 6-month internship programme are assigned a worksite supervisor as well as an academic supervisor. The worksite supervisor will guide and mentor the student at the workplace, and is responsible for the final feedback on the student's performance during the 6 months. The worksite supervisor will also vet weekly journals that are submitted on a monthly basis to the academic supervisor.
The academic supervisor, on the other hand, will be in touch with the student throughout the internship and provide the student with guidance, especially in the context of applying theory to practice. The academic supervisor will also assess and grade the submissions, including the final report.
Assessment Criteria
| Criteria Item | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Initial Report (500 words) | 10% |
| Monthly Journals | 40% |
| Final Report (3,000 words) and Presentation Slides | 40% |
| Feedback from Workplace Supervisor | 10% |
Allowance
The department recommends a minimum monthly allowance of $1000. No CPF contributions are required.
Tuition Fees
During the course of internship, regular semester fees remain applicable, as students receive module credits for their participation in the internship programme. Consequently, students are not allowed to earn module credits if they have been granted a Leave of Absence to perform their internships.
Other Important Resources
Compulsory Internship Programme (CIP)
For cohorts 2016 and onwards, students pursuing NM major will have to complete the Compulsory Internship Programme (CIP). The objective of the CIP is to ensure that all students gain industrial experience through a well-structured internship programme and will be able to apply academic theories to practice.
INTERNSHIP APPLICATION
Pre-requisites for Compulsory Internship Programme
The duration for CIP is about 20 weeks, and can fall on either semester:
- Semester 1: Jul – Nov
- Semester 2: Dec – Apr
Students receive 12 modular credits for module NM3550Y upon completion of the CIP. Additionally, students must satisfy the following pre-requisites:
- Must be an NM Major student who has completed 4 semesters of study or beem promoted to ARS3
- Must have read and passed a minimum of 80 MCs (of which 24 MCs of NM modules)
- Students pursuing Communications Management placements are strongly advised to have read NM2219, NM2220 and NM3219
- Students pursuing interactive media placements are strongly advised to have read NM2216
- Students pursuing game design placements are strongly advised to have read NM3216
- Must not have been granted a Leave of Absence to pariticipate in the internship
- Additional pre-requisites might apply for certain employers
The listed pre-requisites are only applicable to students who belong to cohorts after 2016. As a student, you are strongly encouraged to attend internship briefing sessions which we conduct in Semesters 1 and 2, to learn more about how you can maximise your internship opportunities.
Next Internship Briefing: The next briefing session will be held at the start of Sem 1 (AY2017/18), please check at a later date for more details.
MOOC Modules
Students are also required to read two MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) modules while carrying out the internship. MOOCs must be registered for at the point when students apply to participate in the Compulsory Internship Programme. Exemptions are not encouraged, but will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Application Procedure and Timeline
| Instructional Period of preceding Semester | Action |
|---|---|
| Recess Week | Department sends out available openings to students |
| Week 7 – 8 | Last day for students to send in their applications to employers through the department |
| Week 9 – 11 | Employers shortlist candidates and conduct interviews |
| Week 12 | Employers send offer letters to successful candidates |
| Week 13 | Students accept/reject offer letters |
| Reading week | Students complete administrative procedures of the internship such as submitting offer letter to the department, register for MOOC modules and other admin procedures |
| Internship | Students undergo internship with respective employer |
| Instructional Period of preceding Semester | Action |
|---|---|
| Recess Week | Department sends out available openings to students |
| Week 7 – 8 | Last day for students to send in their applications to employers through the department |
| Week 9 – 11 | Employers shortlist candidates and conduct interviews |
| Week 12 | Employers send offer letters to successful candidates |
| Week 13 | Students accept/reject offer letters |
| Reading week | Students complete administrative procedures of the internship such as submitting offer letter to the department, register for MOOC modules and other admin procedures |
| Internship | Students undergo internship with respective employer |
Supervision and Assessment
Students participatnig in the CIP programme are assigned a worksite supervisor as well as an academic supervisor. The worksite supervisor will guide and mentor the student at the workplace, and is responsible for the final feedback on the student's performance during the 20 weeks. The worksite supervisor will also vet weekly journals that are then submitted to the academic supervisor.
The academic supervisor, on the other hand, will be in touch with the student throughout the internship and provide the student with guidance, especially in the context of applying theory to practice. The academic supervisor will also assess and grade the submissions, including the final report.
Grades Availability
| Internship Period | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Grades made available in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1: Jul - Nov | NM3550 (IP) | NM3550Y (Final) | Early Dec |
| Semester 2: Dec - Apr | NM3550Y (Final) | Early May |
Allowance
The department recommends a minimum monthly allowance of $1000. No CPF contributions are required.
Tuition Fees
During the course of internship, regular semester fees remain applicable, as students receive module credits for their participation in the internship programme. Consequently, students are not allowed to earn module credits if they have been granted a Leave of Absence to perform their internships.