Student Internship
During your second year in the BSc Business, you are invited to apply for a place on the Quinn Internship Programme – This year long (9-12 month) placement in an Irish or multinational company is an opportunity to put the theory of what is taught in the classroom into practice and gain valuable experience in a working environment.
Each year top performing students from the BSc Business are accepted onto our Internship Programme - a credited nine to twelve month paid internship in one of a range of Irish and multinational companies.
The Internship Programme provides you with an opportunity to put theory and skills learned in the classroom into practice during your degree. Skills obtained from practical work experience are highly regarded by employers so this programme is of great benefit for future career prospects.
During the Programme students will register for an on-line reflective module designed to enhance the learning opportunities available throughout the year. Assessment will be structured and successful completion of the internship and academic module will be noted on your official transcript.
We have partnered with a range of companies from multinational professional services firms to local enterprises, to offer internships across a range of business disciplines. Our partners have recognised the high calibre of students coming from the School and increasingly consider internship opportunities as a fundamental part of their graduate recruitment strategy.
The internship is an optional programme which is open to penultimate year students on the Bachelor of Commerce, BSc Business and BSc Economics and Finance degree programmes. Successful candidates remain registered to their programme during the internship and by choosing this opportunity, increase the duration of their degree to four years. The internship is credit based and is therefore assessed by UCD.
- Enhances your CV
- Supports career decision-making
- Develops new skills
- Enables you to build your network
- Enhances employment prospects
- Develops an awareness of workplace culture
Recognizing the importance of broadening the range of opportunities available to students and the benefit of engaging with our community, the Quinn School recently launched two internship scholarship opportunities.
The Business and Society Internship Scholarship financially supports a student to complete their internship in the voluntary sector while the Quinn Enterprise Internship Scholarship supports an entrepreneurial student interested in completing their internship in the start-up sector.
Student Testimonials
Omar Hassan, KPMG Intern
From day one, KPMG provided me with a structured and comprehensive training program that equipped me with the necessary technical knowledge and skills required for the role. The firm's commitment to professional development ensured that I had access to a wide range of resources. This ensured I was able to contribute effectively to client engagements.
One aspect that truly stood out during my internship was the emphasis on collaboration and teamwork. KPMG fostered a culture of inclusivity, where all team member’s ideas and perspectives were valued. I had numerous opportunities to work on complex projects, collaborating with colleagues from various departments. This exposure not only enhanced my technical abilities but also honed my interpersonal and communication skills, which are crucial in a client-facing role.
My 9-month transfer pricing internship at KPMG Ireland was an incredible learning journey. It provided me with invaluable professional development, exposure to diverse clients, and a supportive network of colleagues. I am immensely grateful for the opportunities I received and the knowledge I gained during my time at KPMG, which I am confident will shape my future career in transfer pricing and beyond.
Naoise Finnegan, Primark HQ Intern
I completed a 12-month internship in Primark’s HQ as a Trainee Merchandiser. My role as a Trainee Merchandiser was to ensure we get the right product, in the right place, at the right time, in the right quantities. This involved the merchandising and buying teams working closely together to develop ranges to send to over 400 stores globally.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Primark. I was given an immense amount of responsibility which was key to my development throughout the year. I gained a wide breadth of skills, both professionally and personally.
I feel excited heading back to my final year knowing I have found what I love to do! I would highly recommend taking up the opportunity to participate in the internship year offered by the Quinn School, the experience will be invaluable to both your studies and your professional career.
Wen Xin Lee, Deloitte Intern
I completed my internship in the Audit & Assurance department of Deloitte Ireland. I found the experience very beneficial. I learnt how the industry works in real life and how to apply the knowledge that I learned in the classroom to the working world. I feel I developed my personal and professional skills during my internship. My time management skills and communication have also improved as I needed to work with different teams to meet deadlines.
I am delighted that I decided to complete this internship. I feel I have gained experience and exposure which were completely different from university life. I will make use of the experiences that I gained and the skills that I developed in my future career journey and would highly recommend to anyone to complete the internship programme if possible.
Laura Blackwell, LinkedIn Intern
Before entering into my final year of Commerce at UCD I decided to participate in the internship programme and gain hands-on work experience with one of the world’s leading multinational IT companies.
Undertaking the year long internship was by far the most exciting, enjoyable and challenging aspect to my degree that I experienced to date. Working with talented and experienced individuals on a regular basis was a fantastic learning opportunity and enabled me to gain a deeper understanding of the industry and also gave me a real insight into how multinational organisations work.
During my time at LinkedIn as part of the Customer Success team I had the opportunity to bring some of the theory that I learned in college to life. I developed my skill set in many different areas such as event management, process design and implementation, communications, research analysis and presentation skills to name a few.
I was given the responsibility to lead and participate on a number of interesting projects that impacted the company at both a local and international level.
The internship program is a fantastic opportunity for any student to build their confidence and gain some real experience in the workplace. It is a great way to make connections and expand your professional network. Having completed the internship programme and now being back in final year I feel much better equipped for the working world.