Internship RMA Comparative Literary Studies

Course goals

Students of Comparative Literary Studies have the option of completing an internship (15 EC) as one of their electives in blocks 1 and/or 2 of the second year. The internship enables students to gain professional experience in the work field of literature and culture or literary and cultural studies in an external institutional or organisational setting.

During the internship, students apply the theoretical knowledge, analytical skills, and critical perspectives acquired in the programme to a professional context beyond the university. They learn to reflect critically and self-reflexively on this experience, with particular attention to the relationship between academic training and professional practice. In doing so, students further develop their academic and professional competences and gain insight into possible career paths related to literary and cultural studies.

Content

The internship consists of a placement at an institution or organisation outside Utrecht University and involves obtaining practical experience in a professional work environment. At the same time, the internship includes a substantial academic or research-oriented component, appropriate to the level of the Research Master’s programme.

Depending on the nature of the placement, students may contribute to research activities, analytical projects, or other academically grounded assignments relevant to the host institution. Where applicable, this may include original research tasks and the academic reporting or writing up of research results.

Internships may take place at academic or trade publishers, museums, archives, and other cultural institutions, as well as in research projects at universities other than Utrecht University. All placements must offer sufficient scope for academically informed analysis and reflection.

Each internship has a dual supervision structure. Students are supervised on a day-to-day basis by a professional supervisor at the host institution or organisation, who oversees the student’s work in the internship setting. In addition, each student is assigned an academic supervisor from the core RMA Comparative Literary Studies team at Utrecht University, who is responsible for monitoring the academic quality of the internship and for the final assessment and grading of the student’s work.

Practical information regarding registration procedures, requirements for receiving EC, and the formal framework of the internship is available on the CLS student site, together with the Internship Guide. Students are expected to consult this guide when preparing their internship, as it provides detailed information on procedures and regulations, as well as practical guidance on identifying an appropriate placement, drafting an internship plan, and writing the internship report.

Additional information

Only open to students enrolled in the RMA Comparative Literary Studies.

Course registration
Registration for the Internship course is handled by the HUM Internship Office. Before registration can take place, students must complete a number of preparatory steps themselves. These steps, as well as relevant deadlines, are outlined on the internship page of the programme. The fixed registration periods for regular courses do not apply to internships.