DAAD Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst

German Academic Exchange Service

Regional Office
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka

Internship / Practical Training / Praktikum / Summer Project

Internships give students an insight into the working world. Practical training can be
arranged as a requirement of the on-going course of study.

Finding an Internship - step-by-step:

1. Be clear about what you want

o Where would I like to do my internship (place, industry, size and profile of
the university/company/institution)?
o What do I expect of my internship (learning goals, tasks and
responsibilities, what work fields and departments would I like to get to
know)?

2. Searching for internships

o Collect the addresses of university/company/institution (via the Internet,
via job ads, via the local chamber of trade and industry, by asking
university teachers, by visiting exhibitions and fairs, via personal
contacts).
o Get detailed information on university/company/institution (products, core
activity areas, what the internships offered actually involve).
o Check application deadlines: for longer internships, applications often
have to be submitted one year before the start date.

3. Check offers and apply for specific places

Before sending the applications, answer the following questions:
o Do I meet the set requirements?
o Can I fulfill my goals there?

4. Compile your application papers

o A short covering letter (1 page max.) in which you state why you are
applying to the university/company/institution; why you are suitable for
the training post.
o Make sure you give precise contact details (telephone, mobile/cellular or
email) to ensure you can be reached if there are any queries.
o Curriculum vitae with professional passport photo.
o Certificates and possibly any other papers documenting the skills you may
have (work experience, languages).

5. Sending applications
o Before you send it, check once more whether the papers are all there and
are free of errors, whether the address and contact person are correct and
whether the envelope has the proper stamp.
o Check by phone what happened to the application if you haven't heard
anything back from the employer after a while. That shows that you really
are interested.

72 Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110 003, India, Tel. +91-11- 2461 5148 / 5009, Fax: +91-11-2469 0919, http://newdelhi.daad.de

Page 1 of 3
 DAAD Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service

Regional Office
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka

Employer/host institution or a funding organisation is expected to pay a monthly

living allowance. The allowance of minimum Euro 600 - 650 per month, or Euro 360
plus accommodation per month would entitle the student to apply for a ZAV
Certificate (a requirement for application for an Internship Visa). The student must
generally cover his own airfare. The student should get in touch with the institution
where he wishes to go for training, i.e. establish contact with an appropriate
employer and get the necessary letter of acceptance.

ZAV Certificate:

Foreign students are allowed to take up work – and that also includes internships in
Germany if the Federal Employment Services (Bundesagentur für Arbeit –
represented by the ZAV) has given its agreement. This agreement is proven by an
official document with the official stamp of the ZAV. This issued agreement counts as
proof for legal employment and is necessary when applying for a visa/residence
permit. The visa/residence permit is issued by a German mission abroad
(embassy/consulate).

All applicants must be registered students at a university or an institution of higher

education for the whole period of training. An exception can only be made if the
university or the institution of higher education confirms that the student will
continue his or her studies after the training.

During your study period you may undertake an internship in Germany for a
maximum of 12 months. You may divide the 12 months into several internships (e.g.
3 months + 3 months + 6 months = 12 months).

Every student going to Germany for an internship requires a ZAV Certificate.

The DAAD, New Delhi can assist in getting the ZAV certificate.

We need following documents from you at the earliest in order to get a ZAV
certificate from Germany:

o Your resume
o An enrollment certificate signed/stamped from your home university or institute
(please contact us for the format)
o Invitation letter from the German university/company/institution clearly
indicating the internship package (minimum 600 Euros, or 360 Euros +
accommodation).

Should you lose interest in a student internship after submitting your application,
please inform us of this as soon as possible.

72 Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110 003, India, Tel. +91-11- 2461 5148 / 5009, Fax: +91-11-2469 0919, http://newdelhi.daad.de

Page 2 of 3
 DAAD Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
German Academic Exchange Service

Regional Office
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka

Helpful weblinks:

www.aiesec.de
www.elsa-germany.org
www.iaeste.de
www.fs.tum.de/fzs
www.ingenieurkarriere.de

DAAD Scholarship/Funding Programmes for Summer Internships:

1. DAAD-WISE:
The DAAD scholarship Programme “Working Internships in Science and Engineering”
offers funding to undergraduate students for a period of 2-3 months. Applicants
should be registered for their 5th, 6th or 7th Semester at one of the
universities/institutions/colleges mentioned on our website under the WISE
scholarship. Please note that the deadline for applying for this Programme is over for
2009. For summer 2010 students can visit our website or get in touch with us
sometime during July/ August 2009.

2. DAAD-IAESTE:
IAESTE provides practical training placements for students of natural and technical
sciences, agriculture and forestry.
In a few cases, the German institutions contact our organisation with placements for
practical training. These offers are generally for the period of 2-3 months (in some
cases 5-6months) and as a part of ongoing course. Please note that the deadline for
applying for this Programme is over for 2009. For summer 2010 students must get in
touch with us sometime in end of December 2009.

Please feel free to contact us, if you have any doubts/queries.

info@daaddelhi.org,
www.daaddelhi.org

- June 2009

72 Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110 003, India, Tel. +91-11- 2461 5148 / 5009, Fax: +91-11-2469 0919, http://newdelhi.daad.de

Page 3 of 3