Objectives of the practical phase
The practical phase reflects the aim of the Bachelor's degree program: This study program is designed to enable students to support management functions in a practical and professionally competent manner within a relatively short time, and, after appropriate training and gaining experience, to also perform management functions independently.
To establish this sustainable and deep practical connection and thus contribute to graduates being able to be employed productively without lengthy orientation phases, the study program includes a practical phase located between the 6th and 7th semesters. The main objective is to provide current orientation in practical professional life and to acquire action-oriented and social skills. Furthermore, the program aims to sustainably focus on the independent analysis and resolution of more or less complex problem situations. Therefore, the work during this practical phase should be as project-oriented as possible.
In a simplified, almost scissor-like way, project work differs from traditional administrative work in that projects
- problem-oriented (should solve problems)
- professional (require a high level of expertise)
- prospective (must be planned in a goal-oriented manner)
- proactive (are interdisciplinary and communicative)
- productive (are to be judged in terms of results)
- Prototypes (are unique or rarely identical)
- prohuman (team-oriented)
are.
You should ensure that you are assigned tasks where you have some opportunity to participate in the execution and can work independently; be it in the desired project work or in qualified process-oriented administrative work.
Structure of the practical phase
The basis is the relevant examination regulations as well as the associated regulations for the practical phase.
2.1 Entrance Examination
To ensure you are familiar with all the requirements and procedures for the practical phase, all necessary information is available in the Moodle course "Practical Semester". The entrance exam will cover important details. Passing the entrance exam is a prerequisite for registering for the mandatory internship. The entrance exam will be available several times throughout the semester. Please refer to the course instructions and current information service announcements for details.
2.2 Duration and structure of the internship
The practical phase comprises a minimum of 20 weeks of net internship time. Including vacation, sick leave, and other absences, this equates to a minimum of 22 weeks gross. It is a full-time internship. The internship duration is the same for both domestic and international internships.
2.3 Reports
Two interim reports must be submitted during the internship, followed by a final report of approximately 15 pages upon completion. The final report, in particular, must be written in accordance with the guidelines for academic writing departement's . Our report writing guide provides further assistance. Details should be discussed with your supervisor.
2.4 Company Testimonial
Upon completion of the internship, an internship certificate must be submitted, which should include details of the activities performed, in addition to the name and duration.
2.5 Performance Records
The practical phase comprises 30 ECTS credits. It is considered "passed" when the reports are graded as "passed" and the internship certificate has been submitted to the internship office.
Admission and registration procedure
3.1 Basic requirements for the practical phase
According to § 5 (2) of the examination regulations, admission to the practical phase requires either the of all modules of the 1st to 3rd semester or at least 126 credit points from the modules of the first to 5th semester from the modules specified in the curriculum.
3.2 Registration for the PS
If you have passed the entrance exam and earned sufficient credit points (CrP), you can register for your mandatory internship. The following documents must be submitted to the internship office:
- completed registration form,
- current performance record,
- signed internship contract,
- Completed mandatory internship certificate.
If your mandatory internship is approved, you will receive an email from the internship office with further information and will be assigned a supervisor.
Internship positions
It is generally the students' responsibility to find a suitable internship themselves. Due to the sometimes lengthy lead time, especially with larger companies (6 to 9 months) and for planned internships abroad, it is advisable to start the application process well in advance.
An information sheet is available for the company for the practical phase.
4.1. Applications
As a rule, companies expect application documents similar to those for a job application, i.e., they expect
- a cover letter that addresses the "why and wherefore", i.e., the motivation for your application,
- a resume
- Certificates and evidence of previously completed work or existing qualifications.
The PS officer will be happy to review your prepared documents, offer assistance, and provide feedback. Please contact us!
4.2 Current job openings
in the Moodle course Career Services Current internship opportunities are published
Furthermore, current job offers can be found in the THM job portal (see
https://www.thm.de/site/studium/sie-beenden-ihr-studium/career-service/thm-jobportal.html).
4.3 Internship positions on the internet
Almost all online job boards also have internship sections, offering internships both nationally and internationally. Important job boards include:
- monster.de
- jobpilot.de
- stepstone.de
- jobware.de
It's also worth noting the companies' websites; all large companies, and almost all medium-sized and small companies, advertise their internship positions online. You can find some very interesting opportunities there!
4.4 International internships
Researching and organizing internships abroad (residence permit, visa, work permit, etc.) is sometimes arduous and involves a lot of work and effort, but it's worth it, and anyone who gets the chance to complete an internship abroad should definitely take it!
Our international coordinator will provide you with more detailed information and important tips.
Contact details: Heike Siebert (C50 Room 1.22)
Tel: 0641 309 2719
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spam bots! To display JavaScript must be turned on!
Information on internships abroad and organizations that can provide assistance can also be found in the brochure "Auslandskompass" (International Compass), produced by the International Office (see https://www.thm.de/site/international.html).
Other interesting information
5.1 Practical phase and examination performance
Examination services can be provided during the PS period.
5.2 Recognition as a practical phase
Other internships or professional activities are generally not recognized as a practical phase. Internships completed at other universities and in the same or comparable degree programs may be recognized if they represent comparable achievements. For recognition, please contact the practical phase coordinator directly.
5.3 Mobility Window
Instead of the practical training phase, you can study abroad for a semester (§ 6 of the examination regulations). To have this semester abroad recognized as equivalent to the practical training phase, you must provide proof of at least 30 ECTS credits successfully completed modules abroad in a business-related field (excluding one language module). For recognition, please contact the international coordinator of the departement .
Registration
Do you want to register for your mandatory internship?
You can find all the necessary documents in our Moodle course "Practical Phase (605)".
