Internships During Your Degree: An Overview

Reviewed by Benjamin Lohrer, editor at corrected.eu · As of 5 September 2026

From the application to the finished internship report

An internship always goes through the same four stages: applying, choosing the right type, clarifying contract and insurance, and finally writing the report. The rules described here are the German ones.

Compulsory and voluntary internships are legally two different things

The most important difference in an internship is not one of content but a legal one. A compulsory internship is written into your degree or examination regulations. Because your university prescribes it, different rules apply to the minimum wage, social insurance and holiday entitlement than for a voluntary internship that you do in addition.

This classification decides money and cover, so it comes before the application and not after it. Ask the examinations office to confirm in writing that your internship counts as a compulsory internship, and show this confirmation to the company.

1. Writing the application

The application is the first of two texts in an internship that are read and assessed. For cover letter and documents see our application tips. The same structure works for a school work experience placement, only the tone and the documents are simpler.

2. Choosing the right type of internship

Compulsory or voluntary, internship or working student position, during the semester or in the lecture-free period, internship abroad or semester abroad: these are the choices to sort out first. Points to check include the requirements of your regulations, the contract, recognition by your university, the expectations on both sides, and special cases such as a laboratory internship during the semester or a pre-study internship that has to be proven.

3. Contract, pay and insurance

Before the first working day, clarify the internship contract, pay and deductions, social insurance for a voluntary internship, accident insurance and, where relevant, a health certificate.

4. Report and reflection

At the end comes a text that is assessed: title page, structure and the reflection on what you learned.

Two texts in an internship are read and assessed

The application comes first and the report last. Both count: the application decides whether you get the place, the report decides the grade or the recognition of the practical phase. In both cases the reader has only the text in front of them.

That is why a second look before you hand in is worthwhile. Proofreading checks spelling, punctuation and grammar (see our grammar check), and editing additionally checks structure, clarity and consistent terms. In an internship report it is above all the reflection that depends on clear language.

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