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.
• Professional commitment: Before accepting an internship, you must carefully consider your availability and career plans. Once the internship agreement has been signed, you are expected to complete the internship for the agreed period. An extracurricular internship should not be treated as a temporary arrangement while continuing to look for employment.
• Contact details Internship Coordinator:
  Ms. Karen Tromp
  Email: karen.tromp@maastrichtuniversity.nl
  Phone number: +31 43 38 84992

1. Requirements

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. The internship agreement may be signed before all academic requirements have been completed; however, participation remains conditional upon successful completion of these requirements. See also article 18 of the Conditions of the internship agreement  for academic education. 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 the Internship Coordinator. 

• Maximum postponement: 6 months after completing your final academic requirement.
• ​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.

5. Approval procedure

1. Once you have found an internship opportunity, email the Internship Coordinator with:

   - Company name, contact details
   - Description of role/tasks
   - Start/end date & hours per week
   The Internship Coordinator will request approval to the Academic Coordinator on your behalf.

2. Once you have received internship approval, 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 Internship Coordinator). The request must include:
   - Approval internship from Academic Coordinator
   - Internship start and end date
   - Motivation form

3. You will receive a payment link for the administrative and supervision support fee of €800. Payment must be completed before the internship starts.

6. 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.
• If your health insurance expires at the end of your current study period, please ensure that you have valid health insurance coverage for the entire additional period of your stay in the Netherlands.

7. Completing Your Internship

To receive credits, submit your Internship Report in Canvas before the deadline communicated by the Internship Coordinator (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 Internship Coordinator. 

Results

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

8. 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)

9. Changes, Withdrawal or Early Termination

By signing the internship agreement, you commit to completing the internship for the agreed period.
Early termination is permitted only in exceptional circumstances, including:

• Cancellation or termination by the company;
• Serious medical or personal circumstances;
• Visa or immigration issues that prevent continuation;
• Serious concerns regarding safety, supervision or working conditions that cannot reasonably be resolved.

See also article 17 of the Conditions of the internship agreement  for academic education.

Acceptance of a job offer is not automatically considered a valid reason for early termination. Requests will be assessed individually, taking account of the student’s circumstances, the commitments made to the company and whether an alternative is possible, such as completing the internship or agreeing on a revised end date.

Procedure

Before ending the internship, you must:

• Discuss the situation with the company supervisor and academic supervisor;
• Submit a written request to the Internship Coordinator, with a copy to the MSM Board of Examiners;
• Explain the reason and proposed final working date;
• Include written confirmation from the company supervisor;
• Await written approval before terminating the internship.

Consequences

• ECTS will only be awarded if the internship was terminated by the company and the minimum of 336 approved internship hours has been completed.
• Completed hours cannot automatically be transferred to another internship.
• A replacement internship requires new approval and a new signed internship agreement.
• The postponement of graduation may be reconsidered or withdrawn.
• Ending the internship without following this procedure may result in the internship being recorded as “No Grade” on the transcript.