Bachelor of International Studies course requirements

Course rules

Domestic international experience options

You can achieve your international experience course requirements without heading overseas by completing one or more of the following domestic options:

Undertake language units within your Deakin course

Completing 2 credit points of consecutive language units will gain you one credit point of your international experience requirement.

Domestic internships (with an international focus)

Completing one or more domestic internships within the field of international studies presents a unique opportunity to connect directly with seasoned professionals in your chosen industry while also equipping yourself for your future career by expanding your networks.

So, what sets a domestic internship apart as 'international' in nature?

These internships are characterised by their international orientation and their involvement within intercultural contexts. Internships will need to be international in orientation and/or work within intercultural contexts. Some examples of organisations that fit these criteria are: Australian based organisations that work with culturally diverse populations that include people from (but are not limited to) First Nations, migrants and refugees; Australian based organisations that currently have or are seeking export capacity; and any organisation based internationally or domestically that is able to accommodate English speaking interns and enables you to experience the cultures, ideas, values and beliefs of nations other than Australia.

There is some flexibility within these guidelines, and we want you to tell us how your internship will utilise and develop the skills that you have learned in your International Studies degree. We encourage you to speak with your course director who can help guide you on your domestic internship ideas and ensure you’re on the right track.

In these internships you could be engaged in:

• research projects
• policy review, writing, interpreting
• social media campaigns
• field work
• marketing and communication projects
• event management
• fundraising campaigns (frontline fundraising is not suitable e.g. telephone fundraising, however working on strategy, event management etc. can be suitable)
• client liaison (where appropriate and not taking the place of a regular employee).

To secure and have a domestic internship count towards your international experience course requirements follows the same application and credit approval process as our Internship step-by-step guide.