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Internship

The internship is a compulsory component of many degree programmes. In order for it to be recognised for your degree programme, some requirements must be met. You can find out what these are on this page. In addition, you will find further important information on the topic of internships. If you still have some questions, the Internship Office of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology will be happy to help you.

Important information

Internship reports for the preliminary internship and for the specialised internship must be submitted in typewritten form as of 01.12.2022. Handwritten versions will no longer be accepted. See also:


FAQ "What should be considered when preparing the report?"


The documents must be scanned and sent by e-mail as a PDF attachment (no larger than 5 MB!). Submission in paper form is no longer possible.


Please be sure to use your student e-mail address when submitting the documents: name@stud.uni-hannover.de.

Which degree programmes are we talking about?

Biomedical EngineeringElectrical Engineering and Information Technology
Energy technologyMechanical Engineering
MechatronicsNanotechnology
Mechatronics and RoboticsProduction & Logistics
Optical Technologies Engineering and Business Administration
Sustainable Engineering

Organisation of the internship

  1. Finding a suitable company
  2. Completing the internship
  3. Register online with the Internship Office
  4. Submit documents

FAQ

  • How many weeks of internship do I have to complete in my degree programme and by when must it be recognised?

    In the following table you will find an overview of the number of internships, length and deadlines required in your degree programme. Please also refer to the examination regulations that apply to you. These are binding.

     

    A1: Pflichtpraktikumszeiten und Fristen

     

    Studiengang PO

     

    Abschluss

     

    Maschinenbau PO 2017

     

    Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik PO 2017

     

    Mechatronik PO 2017

     

    Mechatronik und Robotik PO 2018

    Umfang des Vorpraktikums

    Bachelor

    8 Wochen

    1.) 2.) 5.)

    8 Wochen1.)3.)

    8 Wochen1.) 2.) 3.)

     

    Master

     

     

    8 Wochen2.) 11.)

    Umfang des Fachpraktikums

    Bachelor

    12 Wochen

    8.) 9.) 10.) 11.)

     

     

     

    Master

    16 Wochen11.) 12.)

    12 Wochen10.) 11.)

    12 Wochen10.) 11.)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Studiengang PO

     

    Abschluss

     

    Nanotechnologie PO 2016

     

    Optische Technologien PO 2017

     

    Wirtschaftsingenieur PO 2017

     

    Produktion und Logistik PO 2017

    Umfang des Vorpraktikums

    Bachelor

     

    8 Wochen

    1.) 2.) 5.)

    8 Wochen6.)

    8 Wochen

    1.) 2.) 5.)

    Master

     

     

    Umfang des Fachpraktikums

    Bachelor

    12 Wochen7.)

    12 Wochen

    8.) 9.) 10.) 11.)

     

    12 Wochen

    8.) 9.) 10.) 11.)

    Master

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Studiengang PO

     

    Abschluss

     

    Energietechnik PO 2017

     

    Energietechnik PO 2020

     

    NachhaltigeIngenieurwissenschaftPO 2021

     

    Biomedizintechnik PO 2017

    Umfang des Vorpraktikums

    Bachelor

    8 Wochen1.)3.)

    8 Wochen1.)3.)

    8 Wochen1.) 2.) 5.)

     

    Master

     

     

     

    8 Wochen2.) 11.)

    Umfang des Fachpraktikums

    Bachelor

     

     

    12 Wochen8.) 9.) 10.) 11.)

     

    Master

    16 Wochen11.) 12.)

    16 Wochen11.) 12.)

     

    12 Wochen10.) 11.)

    Legende A1

    1. The pre-study internship must be proven in the Bachelor's degree.
    2. The pre-study internship recognised by LUH must be presented again when registering for the Master's thesis.
    3. The pre-study internship must be proven by the time of admission to the Bachelor's thesis.
    4. Modules after the 3rd semester can only be taken after a successfully completed pre-study internship.
    5. The compulsory elective area of the Bachelor's degree programme can only be taken after a successfully completed pre-study internship.
    6. The internship must be recognised by the end of the 4th semester.
    7. Internship required, but not a prerequisite for admission to the Bachelor's thesis.
    8. Internship can, but does not have to be completed in the Bachelor's degree.
    9. If the internship has not been completed in the Bachelor's degree, elective modules totalling 15 credit points must be completed instead.
    10. If the internship has already been completed and proven in a previous Bachelor's degree programme, it must be replaced in the Master's degree programme by compulsory elective modules or elective modules to the extent of 15 credit points.
    11. The internship must be proven by the time of admission to the Master's thesis.
    12. The specialised internship can only be proven or recognised in the Master's programme.
  • How do I find a suitable internship?
    • The search for a suitable internship is the responsibility of the student.
    • For the pre-study internship, it is recommended that the apprenticeship atlas (Ausbildungsatlas) for the desired region be displayed on the website of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and that suitable companies be located in the industry directory.
    • For the specialised internship, we recommend searching on the relevant internet portals and on the "noticeboard" of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. If you are unsuccessful despite intensive efforts and cannot find an internship, please feel free to contact us.
  • Which companies are suitable for a preliminary internship?
    • The pre-study internship is intended to impart elementary knowledge of industrial production.
    • In principle, the companies should be manufacturing craft enterprises and industrial companies. Internships at craft enterprises in the maintenance and service sector without their own production cannot be recognised, e.g. car workshops.
    • Please check whether the agreed internship contents correspond to the required areas of activity of the internship regulations: Experience and activity areas in the preliminary internship. Not all, but at least two of the above-mentioned areas must have been completed for the pre-study internship.
    • Institutes of colleges and universities are not suitable and therefore not admitted.
  • Which companies are suitable for a specialised internship?
    • The knowledge and experience to be gained in the specialised internship should be acquired in medium-sized or large industrial companies in the mechanical engineering, automotive engineering and electrical engineering sectors, but also in other companies that operate extensive technical facilities.
    • Engineering offices and research institutions independent of universities may also be suitable for partial sections of the specialised internship.
    • The internship regulations do not prescribe any specific areas of activity for the specialised internship. It serves to acquire experience in a typical working environment of engineers or persons with a relevant university degree who predominantly carry out developing, planning or directing activities.
    • In case of doubt about the acceptability of an intended, possibly more specialised or rather untypical internship activity, prior consultation with the Internship Office is recommended.
    • However, craft enterprises in the maintenance and service sector as well as institutes of colleges and universities are not suitable and therefore not permitted.
  • Do I have to register my internship with the Internship Office before I start?

    You do not have to register your internship with us before signing the contract/starting the internship. However, if you have any questions regarding the suitability of the company or the areas of activity, you are welcome to contact us.

  • What should be considered when preparing the report?

    Pre-internship:

    • To prepare the report for the pre-study internship, please use the following template.
    • Please use the example for the weekly report as a guide for the content and structure of the report.
    • For each week, describe a selected activity on at least one page of continuous text in font size 12. Illustrations or drawings may be included for better presentation.
    • Please submit typed documents only. Handwritten documents cannot be processed.
    • The weekly report must be stamped and signed on each sheet by the supervisor(s) in the company.

     

    Specialised internship:

    • Formulate an internship report in continuous text of one and a half to two pages per week of internship to be recognised, stamped and signed by the supervisor(s) in the company on the first or last page. No weekly reports.
    • The report should present a description of the tasks, procedures, approaches to solutions, personal experiences in the company environment.
    • The report should also include an introductory description of the company and the activities as well as a concluding summary. Furthermore, a table of contents should be included.
    • There are no exact guidelines for the layout of the reports. However, the font size should not be larger than 12, the line spacing should not exceed 1.5 lines and the page margin should not exceed 2.5 cm. You may of course include pictures and drawings.
    • Please submit typewritten documents only.
  • What information must the certificate contain?
    • The certificate must be enclosed in German or English. If the certificate is available in another language, you must have it translated, officially certified.
    • The internship certificate or the certificate of successfully completed internship must be on company paper, show the duration of the student's training and areas of activity, as well as the date of issue, stamp and signature of the company.
    • The wording of the certificate must clearly indicate that it refers to a traineeship, e.g. by the heading "Internship certificate" and/or the statement that the student worked as a "trainee".
    • You are also welcome to use our certificate template:
  • Do days of absence have to be made up?

    You must provide proof of each day that you would like to have recognised as an internship. Holidays, sick days, bridge days and days that you miss due to participation in examinations must be made up. Public holidays are an exception; they do not have to be made up. It is best to extend your contract in advance, for example, if you have to take leave or if you have exams coming up.

  • Do I have to do the internship in one piece or can I divide it into partial internships?

    You can complete the internship in different companies and thus integrate it as optimally as possible into your individual course of study. However, the duration of the internship in a company should not be less than 4 weeks.

  • What weekly working hours do I have to complete?

    The usual weekly working hours in the company apply according to the agreement in the internship contract. However, you should not work less than 35 hours per week in order to avoid problems with recognition.

  • Can I take leave of absence during the internship?

    To apply for a semester of leave, please contact the Enrolment Office. You can take a leave of absence under certain conditions.

  • Can I also do the internship abroad?

    Yes, this is possible. You are welcome to contact the International Office at the university. There you will receive more detailed information and can find out about various exchange programmes.

    However, the placement does not automatically ensure that the respective place meets the requirements of the internship regulations. The interested party must clarify this with the Internship Office in each individual case. Basically, the same rules apply as for domestic internships.

  • Which documents must be submitted for the recognition of the internship?

    You must submit the following documents to the Internship Office for recognition after completing your internship:

    • Report card with a statement on absences (holidays, sickness, bridge days and days off for examinations), even if none have occurred. Public holidays are not absences.
    • Internship report
  • When and how will the recognition take place?
    • After completion of the internship and submission of all required proof, the internship office will check whether the internship has been recognised.
    • The examination of your submitted documents usually takes 2-3 weeks.
    • After recognition, you will be notified by email. If documents are missing or consultations are necessary, we will contact you.
  • Can periods of training be recognised as a substitute for internships?
  • Can I have my internship that was recognised at another German university recognised again?

    Yes, this is possible. Internships in technical degree programmes that have already been recognised at German universities will be credited if they meet the requirements of the internship regulations. Please submit the relevant proof of recognition from the university and, if applicable, internship reports and company references together with the completed and signed internship recognition form.

  • Which replacement periods can still be recognised?
    • Professional activity in employment as an engineer
    • Working student activities or comparable employment
    • Training periods in a school setting
      • at vocational grammar schools specialising in technology
      • at technical schools
      • at a technical secondary school
    • Voluntary scientific year
    • Technical training and service in the German Armed Forces
    • Technical education and further training in qualified technical courses

    Further information on the recognition of the individual substitute periods can be found in the internship regulations.

  • In what form must the documents be submitted?

    Please submit your documents digitally, scanned as a PDF attachment, by e-mail to: praktikum@maschinenbau.uni-hannover.de. Unfortunately, we cannot accept other formats. Please briefly describe your request.

  • What about insurance cover during my internship?

    If necessary, the insurance cover must be adjusted. LUH does not provide any insurance cover. Please discuss this in detail with the internship company or the relevant insurance provider. Unfortunately, we cannot advise you in this case.

  • Your company wants a confidentiality agreement | a blocking notice?

    We do not issue separate certificates or sign blocking notes. Your documents will not be copied and/or archived. Activities that you are not allowed to explain in your report due to the fact of confidentiality, you should try to paraphrase so that no conflict arises between the confidential treatment of internal company information and the documentation of your activities. You can thus omit real results. Nevertheless, the starting points, procedures and objectives should be recognisable and comprehensible and the report should not be less extensive.

  • Do I need an internship contract?

    Yes, you should definitely conclude an internship contract in your own interest so that you are protected and all agreements are recorded in writing. The contract does not have to be submitted to the Internship Office.

  • How do I get a compulsory internship certificate?
    • Internships that are completed during studies according to the study or examination regulations are exempt from social insurance for the period of the internship that is still outstanding. Some companies therefore require a corresponding confirmation. You can currently obtain the certificate from the examination office.
    • Internships that are completed on the recommendation of the study and examination regulations before commencing studies are subject to social insurance. Accordingly, companies do not usually require a confirmation. If a company nevertheless requires such a confirmation, please submit the relevant study or examination regulations of your intended degree programme, which state that a compulsory internship must be completed for the degree programme.
  • Can internships that were carried out as part of school education be recognised?

    In principle, company internships during attendance at general education schools are not recognised.

  • What is meant by an "interdisciplinary" specialised internship?
    • Interfaces across disciplinary boundaries are essential for interdisciplinary cooperation.
    • Exchange with other departments regarding data, action measures, coordination, results, etc.
    • Working on interdepartmental projects.
  • Can I get help with the preparation of my application documents?

    The Career Service of the ZQS/Key Competences is your point of contact in this case. You can find information under the following link:

    https://www.uni-hannover.de/en/studium/im-studium/career-guidance-internships-transition-into-employment/

Teaching profession at vocational schools

Here you will find the internship regulations for the SprintING and Technical Education degree programmes, as well as the internship recognition form and a certificate template.

Contact

Dipl.-Ing. Kristine Brunotte
Internship coordinator
Address
An der Universität 1
30823 Garbsen
Dipl.-Ing. Kristine Brunotte
Internship coordinator
Address
An der Universität 1
30823 Garbsen