MSM MBA/MM Extracurricular Internship (12-30 ECTS)

Guidelines for students

This document outlines everything you need to know about extracurricular internships. These internships allow you to gain professional experience and earn additional ECTS credits after completing your Master’s programme.

Important

  • Extracurricular credits cannot replace any curricular component of your programme.
  • You may only start the internship after completing all academic requirements, including your Master’s thesis.
  • Participation requires postponement of graduation.

1. Requirements

Duration   Minimum 336 hours – maximum 840 hours
Content Must be relevant to your study programme 
Eligibility All courses and Master’s thesis must be completed before you start the internship.

Request postponement of graduation at least 2 weeks before fulfilling the last exam requirement (defense date).
Location The Netherlands
Approval An internship needs approval of the Academic Coordinator
Deadline You must submit your request for approval before 31st July
Contract A signed internship agreement (organisation, student, and MSM Director) is required before the start of the internship.

Use of the standard UNL contract is mandatory, please see here
Report You must submit an academically sound internship report (according to the Report Guidelines) describing your work and assignments and the Extracurricular Master Internship Score Form (provided by your Education Office). 

2. Assessment & ECTS

  • Credits awarded: 1 ECTS per 28 hours worked
  • Minimum: 12 ECTS (336 hours)
  • Maximum: 30 ECTS (840 hours; the internship may exceed 840 hours, however, no more than 30 ECTS can be awarded)
  • Grades are recorded as pass/fail /and do not affect GPA

3. Limitations

  • Only one extracurricular internship is allowed per Master’s programme
  • Must be approved in advance (no retroactive approval)
  • Internship must follow completion of all academic requirements. In the event of an unsuccessful thesis defense, the internship must be cancelled or postponed until the thesis has been successfully defended.
  • The internship cannot exceed one academic year
  • End date has to be in the same AY

Company restrictions:
- Not allowed at your own company
- Supervisor at the company cannot be a first-degree family member

4. Postponement of Graduation

If you are completing an internship, you must request an official postponement of your graduation from the Board of Examiners. This is required to ensure that your graduation date is adjusted until after you have completed your internship. In practice this means that you have completed all degree requirements, apart from the internship, and that the Board of Examiners will not issue your graduation documents yet, until you have completed your internship. Please use the motivation form and send it to MSM-examinationboard@maastrichtuniversity.nl, with a CC to your Education Officer.

You may still attend the graduation ceremony of your cohort (receiving an empty diploma folder) or choose to participate in the following ceremony to receive your diploma on stage.

Procedure:

  1. Obtain internship approval from the Academic Coordinator
  2. Email the MSM Board of Examiners at least 2 weeks before fulfilling the last exam requirement of the MSM-MBA respectively MSM-MM study programme (Master’s Thesis defense date) (copy the Education Officer). The request must include:
    - Approval internship from Academic Director
    - Internship start and end date
    - Motivation form

Important conditions:
Maximum postponement: 6 months after completing your final academic requirement

5. Student Visa (Non-EU Students)

If you hold a valid Dutch student residence permit:

No separate work permit is required, but you must

  • Sign a three-party agreement (student, company, Maastricht University)
  • Ensure the agreement is fully signed before starting

Visa responsibility

  • You must hold a valid student permit
  • If your internship exceeds your visa duration, you will automatically receive an email from the University's Visa Office with instructions on how to apply for an extension of your visa.
  •  Please note that there are costs associated with extending your visa, and these costs are the responsibility of the student.
  • This internship or extended student visa does not have any implications towards your orientation year permit; you can apply for the orientation year after your internship has been finalized.

6. Completing Your Internship

To receive credits, submit your Internship Report in Canvas before the deadline communicated by the Education Office (not earlier than 14 days before the end date of the internship). The Score form MSM MBA-MM Extracurricular Internship needs to be completed by the company and the student and sent to the supervisor. Supervisor will upload the completed Score Form in Canvas.

Results

  • You will be informed by the Education Officer
  • Internship appears on transcript as pass/fail/NG with ECTS

7. Additional Important Information

  • Approval from Academic Coordinator may take up to 10 working days
  • Missing internship report or score form → “No Grade” (NG) on transcript
  • NG may impact cum laude eligibility (check the MSM-MBA/MM EER)

8. Changes or cancellation of internship

Requests must be sent to the Education Office (with a copy to MSM Board of Examiners) and include valid justification (and possibly proof), such as:

  • Internship cancellation by host organisation
  • Visa or immigration delays
  • Serious medical circumstances
  • Significant family matters
  • Acceptance of a full-time job offer
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