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Internship Economics

Economics students who have completed their Bachelor’s programme can undertake an internship in (the summer holidays before the start of) the Master's programme.  This internship forms part of a 6-credit elective course unit and has a workload of 20 to 30 working days. 

The Economics programme

This programme is aimed at macroeconomic analysis.  Students in Economics examine the behaviours and interactions between consumers, businesses, financial institutions and the government, obviously within an international framework.  In essence, the programme studies how those actors make economic choices (consuming, producing, working, investing, importing, exporting ...), what the consequences are for society, and how best to solve problems in this context.  

In the Economics Master's programme, the student has the opportunity to undertake an internship as an elective course unit.  This one-year Master’s programme starts with a common part in which microeconomics and macroeconomics are further explored, with emphasis on the application to current issues. Quantitative skills are practiced further in econometrics.  The follow-up process consists of two majors: ‘Financial institutions and markets’ and ‘Economic policy’.  

More general information about the Economics programme

What are the conditions for the internship?

  • The content of the internship assignment must be in line with the programme.  
  • The internship includes clearly defined tasks which the student addresses a specific challenge or problem statement from within the organisation.  
  • The internship is supervised by an expert in the discipline.  
  • If telework is allowed by the company, the student must be present at the office at least 3 days a week.
  • There are no business, friendship or family connections between student and internship provider.  
  • Max 1 student per office.  Exceptions may be possible, depending on tasks and guidance.  
  • An internship is always unpaid.  Compensation for e.g., meals or transport is allowed.  

Duration and period of the internship

  • The internship has a workload of 20 to 30 working days.  
  • The internship can be undertaken full-time or part-time.  The maximum distribution allowed is 3 days a week for 10 weeks, this to guarantee the continuity of the internship.  
  • The internship period is flexible and is chosen according to the abilities of the student and the internship provider.  The most obvious months for this internship are June, July, August and September as these are the lecture-free periods.  Students who deviate from the model learning track may also undertake an internship during other periods.

Coaching and evaluation of the internship

The supervisor of the internship provider is responsible for the general guidance by preparing concrete assignments, within the parameters of the previously approved internship content, and following up on the implementation thereof.  Regular feedback to the student is essential to evaluate and, if necessary, adjust their performance.  If necessary, the supervisor of the internship provider will contact the supervisor of Ghent University.  

During the internship period, the supervisor of Ghent University will schedule an interim contact opportunity with the supervisor of the internship provider and the student to see how the internship is going. 

After completing the internship, the supervisor of the internship provider will give their assessment of the intern according to the categories of the final evaluation.  It is based on both the performance as well as competencies and attitudes.  We encourage you to review the final evaluation with the student and discuss the progress, valued strengths and areas of improvement.  

As a final component of the evaluation, the student will write an internship report. In this the student develops one or more internship assignments, linking them with the programme (based on academic theories, legal texts and/or conceptual frameworks).  If confidential information is included in the internship report, a non-disclosure agreement can be drawn up.  

Examples of internship assignments

A few guiding examples can be found below:

  • Financial analyses (e.g., at the National Bank, private banks, trade union research services or employers' federations)  
  • Assisting with the preparation, implementation and evaluation of socio-economic policies (e.g., at the IMF, the World Bank, the OECD, political cabinets, ...)  
  • Analysis of macroeconomic effects of policies (e.g., at the National Bank, Planning Bureau or research services)  
  • Report on the position of a particular country in the global economy  
  • Report on or literature review of competitiveness indicators  
  • Analysis of the socio-economic impact of stricter energy performance standards for homes  
  • Analysis of the impact of development aid on migration flow 
  • Analysis of the impact of Brexit  
  • Analysis of the determinants of productivity  
  • Literature review of the successes and failures of budgetary remediation in the OECD countries  
  • Analysis of the evolution of added value and employment in the industry  
  • Analysis of the impact of the flow of refugees in the destination country  
  • Analysis of the costs and benefits of Copenhagen as European cycling capital  
  • Analysis of the local or regional impact of a large (foreign) investment project  
  • Building, maintaining or adjusting a socio-economic database 
  • Analysis of the evolution of Belgium's export market shares compared to neighbouring countries  
  • Analysis of the development of the innovation efforts of Belgian companies  
  • Analysis of developments in the Belgian labour market  
  • Analysis of the operation of the Economic and Monetary Union  
  • Analysis of the completion of the European Economic and Monetary Union 
  • Analysis of the European Union's trade policy 

How to offer an internship?

The content of all the available internships is evaluated before we announce the internships to the students via the online learning platform.

Offer an internship through stage.eb@ugent.be

Contract and insurance

The internship agreement of Ghent University is used at all times.  

During the internship, the student is insured through the following policies:  

  • Personal physical accidents: for medical expenses if the student becomes the victim of a personal physical accident on the way to and from the internship activities.  
  • General civil liability: for damage caused by the student while carrying out the internship, insofar as there is an uncommon slight negligence on the part of the intern. This liability of the internship provider, both for damage to third parties and for damage to the internship provider itself, is insured under this policy. The personal liability of the intern, i.e., for fraud, gross negligence and common slight negligence, is not covered by this policy.  
  • Travel assistance: for medical expenses, repatriation, etc., for students who travel abroad as part of an internship activity.  In addition, health insurance and possible additional insurance are needed.  
  • Accidents at work: the student is insured for industrial accidents at the internship provider’s premises.  

Contact

Tine Claeys - Internship Coordinator
Tine.Claeys@ugent.be