RIIERP Frequently Asked Questions

About RIIERP

The application process

Successful applicants

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1. How many companies are involved in the program?

Currently, about 165 companies are involved in the program

2. What sort of projects do you do?

Students complete projects matched to their skill sets and requirements of the company they are placed in.

Examples of previous projects include:

• Rolls-Royce, Indianapolis, USA - working on the F136 jet engine program for the Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft;
• EADS Space Transportation, Friedrichshafen, Germany – helping with laboratory experiments on a prototype of a life support system for the international space station;
• Airbus, Hamburg, Germany – working in the Future Projects office to develop computer based tools to estimate the weight of landing gears and engine pylons for the early stage of aircraft design.

3. Can RIIERP assist with placements at companies that are not on the list?

Yes, by way of recommendation.

4. Do I have to be enrolled at RMIT to participate in the RIIERP program?

Yes, you are NOT eligible to participate unless you are enrolled at RMIT. You need to be enrolled at the time of your departure and complete the course work for the relevant subjects.

All successful applicants must seek advice from the RIIERP office.

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5. My course requires me to do a work placement as part of the assessment. Can RIIERP help with this?

Completion of the RIIERP Program may be used to fulfil other work integrated leaning requirements in other programs as long as the respective program coordinators deem it acceptable.

It is the student’s responsibility to discuss this with their program administrator to determine if participation in the program will cover the requirement for your individual course.

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6. How many people are successful each year? (How many places are available?)

The number of available placements changes each year. On average the program has been able to place over 100 students per year.

7. What if I want to work at a company not on the list?

RIIERP sends your documents to that company with recommendations. Student will need to meet the standard considered by RIIERP necessary for placement.

8. When am I eligible to apply?

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate Students undertaking four or five year programs must be in at least the 3rd year of their programs before they are eligible to apply for placement.

Undergraduate students undertaking three year programs must be in at least the 2nd of their programs before they are eligible to apply for placement.

Undergraduate students undertaking two year programs must have completed at least one year of their programs before they are eligible to apply for a placement.

Graduate students

Graduate students may participate in RIIERP only if they have completed 50% of their Graduate programs.

9. When are applications called for?

Undergraduate and Postgraduate students are notified of the call for applications once per year (usually in March/April). 4 weeks notice is given before the submission deadline.

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10. How is the application administration fee charged?

The $75 (+GST) application administration fee is an approved fee and will appear on your regular RMIT billing information.

11. Is the application administration fee charged if I am not successful?

Yes, the $75 (+GST) application administration fee is non-refundable. This is an approved fee and will appear on your regular RMIT billing information.

12. What is the selection criteria for RIIERP? How are successful applicants determined?

All applicants are interviewed. Student academic results contribute 60% and the interview is worth 40% of the overall evaluation.

Students are matched to companies based on project descriptions received from the companies and the student skill sets.

Students are notified by email about the status of their applications.

Project descriptions from the companies are either emailed to the RIIERP office or provided to the RIIERP Director. They are normally received after the interviews.

13. Do I need to provide written references in support of my application?

No, you are only required to provide names and contact details of references on your CV.

14. Are their placements for students studying other programs apart from Engineering? i.e. business, fashion etc.

Yes, the program caters for all disciplines of study at RMIT University.

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15. What if I am an international student applying for RIIERP?

International students may participate in the program with the understanding that their Australian visas may be cancelled, requiring them to apply for the issue of a new Australian visa from off-shore before returning to Australia to resume their studies.

Discuss with your program administrator, to establish how RIIERP participation may impact on the duration of your program.

We also strongly recommend you contact the International Student Services Centre on isservices@rmit.edu.au to discuss your options.

16. When I submit my application, what if there are more than three companies on the list I am interested in? Am I only able to apply for 3 companies?

By choosing 3 companies you are not limiting your chances of being placed at others. Should your application be successful and your first choice not available you will be considered for positions at other similar companies.

17. What impact does a low GPA have on my application?

Academic performance and your interview are both considered in the assessment of the applications. A good interview can mitigate, to some extent, a low GPA.

18. What if I have completed a work placement or student exchange already?

You can apply for RIIERP provided you meet the conditions of participation listed on the web site. Your application will be based on your academic performance and your interview.

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19. Is my previous work experience taken into account when selecting successful applicants?

RIIERP tries to provide students the opportunity to undertake international work experience. Your previous work experience does not give you any special advantage.

20. Are all applicants interviewed?

Yes, all applicants receive an interview. Applicants are interviewed individually. The interviews are approximately 15 minutes in duration. Students are asked a similar set of questions. (To promote fairness and equitability, the questions are undisclosed and questions can also be varied.)

Prior to being interviewed, all students will be asked to sign the Conditions of Participation form to ensure students understand, and accept the conditions of participation.

21. Once I have applied what is the time line until I am successful / unsuccessful?

Each year call for application will be advertised on the RIIERP web site between March and April for a period of 30 days. Interviews will generally be scheduled between May and June. The results will be communicated to students by the beginning of October.

22. Who determines the successful applicants?

Successful applicants are determined based on the following criteria:

• Student academic results contribute 60%
• The interview is worth 40% of the overall evaluation.

The Director of RIIERP participates in all interviews and makes recommendations to companies those students who are appropriate to be placed in the program.

Note: An application deemed by RMIT as successful still needs to be confirmed by the company before an offer of internship can be made.

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23. What impact does RIIERP have on enrolment?

All participants in the RIIERP Program must be enrolled at RMIT.

Successful undergraduate applicants

All undergraduate applicants accepted for at least 6 months overseas industry placement will be required to enrol in International Industry Experience 2 MIET 2066 (24 credit points) or MIET 2065 (12 credit points).

Successful graduate applicants

Graduates who are no longer enrolled in RMIT programs will be required to enrol in the Graduate Certificate in Engineering Management (GC034) or any graduate program at RMIT. An International Industry Experience Course (MIET 2084) will be a compulsory elective in any of the graduate programs into which the student is enrolled.

All successful applicants are asked to seek advice from the RIIERP office regarding enrolment.

24. Do I need to speak the native language of the country in which the company offering internship resides?

Although it is desirable, you are not required to know the native language of the country you visit. Most students participating in the program do not have language skills of the country they are visiting. Your supervisor will communicate with you in English.

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25. What is the assessment for the RIIERP program?

Students are required to complete the following course work:

• Discipline based report assessed by RMIT: 30%
• Written report 20%
• Oral presentation 10%
• Cultural report assessed by RMIT: 30%
• Written report 20%
• Oral presentation 10%
• Reflective journal assessed by RMIT: 10%

26. When do I start my placement?

Your placement will begin the year following your application i.e. if you apply in 2010 you will depart in 2011.

The timing of your placement (both start and end date) will be determined by the company and will be negotiated following your successful application. Your preferred dates can be discussed but may not be possible.

27. How often do students depart?

Students depart throughout the year for their placements.

Pre-departure sessions are arranged to ensure you have sufficient background and briefing on the destination and company you will visit. Although departure sessions are not compulsory, successful candidates are advised to seek advice from the program director in terms of:

• Project at company
• Company work/corporate culture
• Country specific cultural issues, etc.

28. How long will my placement last?

Placements generally last for six to twelve months. Placements can be longer depending on the focus of your work.

Confirmation on the length of your placement is agreed once your application is successful and a company has offered a contract.

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29. Do I get paid during my placement?

Yes, students are paid living allowances, the amount of which varies from company to company.

30. Do I need to pay for my airline ticket to get to my placement? What other associated costs are involved?

Yes, you will need to be able to cover the cost of your transport, as well as costs of your placement including visa, work permit and travel insurance.

31. Do I need to organise accommodation in country?

Yes, however in most cases companies will help participants find appropriate accommodation.

32. Am I able to travel pre/post my placement?

Yes. However you would need to consider the implications of this travel on your study program.

The submission of all reports for RIIERP is due no later than two weeks following your return to Australia.

33. Can the RIIERP office provide information on insurance?

Yes, the RIIERP office can assist with information on some types of insurance.

34. What is the process to obtain a working visa for the country I am visiting?

The RIIERP Office will provide information to students to assist them to obtain the relevant working permit and visa for the country they are visiting. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure he/she has all the relevant documentation required prior to your departure.

All costs for the visa and work permits are covered by the students.

In some cases, the company will organise the work permit for you. In this circumstance the student will work with the company to complete the relevant documentation.

35. What support do I receive when on my placement?

RIIERP continues to provide support to help to ensure smooth running of the internship.

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