Student FAQs

No, it isn’t a requirement to take part in all 3 stages of the program, although we recommend getting as much out of it as possible. Some students may miss a stage or only complete the Industry Bootcamp or Leadership Camp due to their availability.

The number of internships is also limited because it is based on the organisations that choose to partner with the program that year, and the success of students in their interview. Participants who begin the program when they are in their first year are less likely to be accepted for an internship immediately given how early they are in their studies, however they will benefit greatly from the other parts of the program and will be considered for internships the following year.

During the week the cohort visit a number of companies across different industries with offices in the CBD, who deliver professional development workshops, networking sessions and panel events with employees. Some workshops will also be run on campus by different areas of UNSW, and there will be a closing event to celebrate. 

The goal is to provide insight into the workplace and help participants build confidence in navigating the business world, whilst practicing networking and learning how to develop their career. It's also one of the first opportunities to start to really connect with peers in the program.

The Leadership & Teamwork Camp is based out on the Southern Highlands and involves 3 days of intensive experiential team work and leadership activities. We don't want to give too much away, but it is really fun and challenges participants to get out of their comfort zone and explore their strengths and areas for development under the guidance of expert facilitators. Plus there's lots of yummy food and evening activities to let off steam with new friends in the program.

No, the program is free for any current undergraduate student of UNSW who fits the Co-NNECTIONS eligibility criteria.

Yes, each stage of the program is recognised separately on participant’s AHEGS (Australian Higher Education Graduate Statement). 

To apply, eligible students complete an online application form and provide us with their up-to-date resume and transcript. Shortlisted students are then requested to submit a short introductory video to assist us in selecting the right candidates. https://www.connections.unsw.edu.au/how-apply 

Applications for the 2023 Co-NNECTIONS Program will open on 2 February 2023.

The program is only open to current undergraduate students (in any stage or discipline except Medicine, Social Work, Exercise Physiology, Education or Optometry) who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Hold a current Equity Scholarship
• Identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
• Attended a Gateway High School 
• Come from a low SES, or Rural / Remote background

Yes, students in all stages of their degree can take part in Co-NNECTIONS. Those with less than 50 UOC may be considered too early in their degree for the internship experience, but it is still worth applying and undertaking the early stages of the program.

Yes, the program is actually designed for those who don’t have any prior experience of the professional world and are ready to now challenge themselves and start working more concertedly towards their career goals. 

There are many factors considered in determining who is right for the program. These include an applicant’s background and circumstances, how far along they are in their degree and their career planning, their capacity and maturity to manage the demands of the program, and what they may be able to contribute to the program and the cohort more broadly.

Once an industry partner has confirmed they have an opportunity for a student to undertake an internship with them, the Co-NNECTIONS team create a shortlist of suitable students within that year's cohort, and present these details to the organisation. The industry partner will then decide who they wish to interview and conduct interviews on site (or virtually) with each of those candidates before making a selection.

Industry partners usually take into consideration each student's background and discipline, their fit for the role and the team, interpersonal skills, general motivation, and preparedness for the interview/interview performance.

Only some of the students within the cohort will end up securing a CoNX internship, therefore we encourage all students accepted into the program to still be proactive and seek out opportunities at the same time. 

Who ends up securing an internship is largely dependent on the industry partner that choose to engage with the program that year, and the match between their industry or role and the students in the cohort.

To do an internship as part of Co-NNECTIONS, students must enrol in the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) subject CDEV3200 (or an equivalent WIL subject within their degree). Depending on an individual student's degree progression, they may be able to apply the 6 units of credit for completing this subject to their degree, regardless they must pay HECS. Any student considering the program should request a progression check when they apply. 

We advise that students undertaking an internship only enrol in one extra subject in addition to CDEV3200 to ensure they have enough time and capacity to complete and make the most of the placement. 

Internships typically take place over one term and are completed part-time (3-4 days per week depending on a student's study load).

Interns work on a wide range of projects and activities depending on the industry, role and the skills they possess. These could range from broader business skills, HR, marketing and event support, to data analysis, coding, research & report writing, or technical projects. 

There is no guarantee of employment after the internship, although some students may be offered continuing casual work by their sponsor. In previous years approximately half of the cohort who interned secured further work with the industry partner.

Students undertaking an internship receive an Equity Award of $187.50 per day of the internship. Most internships are a min. 40 working days in total, meaning the student receives $7,500 for the entire placement. This is funded by the sponsor company, but the student receives it in fortnightly payments directly from UNSW.

In most cases the internship will be relevant to the student's area of study. The internship is intended to be relatively introductory, so a large part of what the student takes away is experience of the workplace and soft skills such as professionalism, teamwork, working with a supervisor, communicating with stakeholders etc.  

No students don’t get to choose the company ie. there isn't a menu that we will serve up an internship from. Co-NNECTIONS will send each company a shortlist of candidates from the group who they deem suitable for the role, and then the company conduct interviews and make a selection. Of course students can elect whether to apply for/be put forward for specific organisations or roles.

Co-NNECTIONS is very happy to provide coaching and support to help a student in securing an internship or other opportunities. This could include resume feedback, interview practice, help in making decisions about other opportunities, or providing a reference.  

Co-NNECTIONS run a compulsory induction for each student prior to commencing the internship to help them prepare, and provide the student and supervisor with tools and guidelines to help them clarify the roles and expectations of the placement, and provide 360 feedback.

Every student doing an internship has a supervisor in the workplace who they meet with regularly to get support and feedback. The Co-NNECTIONS team is also available throughout the internship for any support and guidance, and will check in with intern and supervisor periodically during the placement, as well as organising opportunities to connect with the rest of the group for social support.

All students doing an internship must complete a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) subject during that term, which will typically count 6 Units of Credit towards their degree. eg. general education subject CDEV3200, or a WIL course offered by their faculty. Sometimes when a student doesn't have space for the course, they still complete the course to be able to do the internship, but don't count the UOC towards their degree.