LKY School Internship Programme (LIP)

  1. What is the purpose of the LIP?

    2. The LKY School Internship Programme (LIP) seeks to motivate and support our students to explore meaningful internships in Asia or impacting Asia, that will equip them with invaluable work experience prior to graduation. The LIP encourages students to take on internships in public service: in government, public agencies and ministries, or non-profit, non-governmental or multilateral organizations. As these internships are often unpaid, the funding support is meant to help defray some of the costs that students may incur during their internships.

    Read about the students’ internship experience under the LKY School Internship Programme here.

    With the support of the LIP, LKY School students have done internships at the following organisations:

  2. Who can apply for funding support?

    3. All MIA, MPP (including incoming Double Degree and MPP-MEA) and MPA students in good standing are eligible to apply. Students should have a strong academic record (i.e. Minimum CAP of 4.0 out of 5) and be able to articulate a compelling case that illustrates why they should be selected for the LIP.

    Please note that this is a highly competitive programme. Only a small number of students will be selected each year.

  3. What type of internships will qualify for funding?

    4. In 2021, students may apply for internships with LKY School LIP Employer Partners, or for funding support for self-sourced internships. The eligibility criteria for self-sourced internships include:

    • Any unpaid full-time position done during the official NUS ‘summer’ vacation from 10 May to 31 July 2021 (at least 40 hours a week) OR
    • Any unpaid part-time position done during the semester (no more than 16 hours a week) or during the official NUS ‘summer’ vacation from 10 May to 31 July 2021 AND
    • Total internship duration of at least 160 working hours (equivalent to one month of full-time work: 1 day x 8 hours x 5 days x 4 weeks = 160 hours).
    • Internships in an organization that is a public, government, non-profit, non-governmental or multilateral organization,
    • Internships done in Asia or impacting Asia (internships in 2021 must be done in Singapore or remotely from Singapore),
    • Internships that begin only after the student has enrolled in their first LKYSPP module (i.e. Week 1 or later of their first semester at LKYSPP)

  4. What type of internships will not qualify for funding?

    5. These internships will not qualify for funding:

    • Internships in the private sector or for-profit organizations
    • Internships that are paid or compensated in any way (e.g. meal/transport allowance)
    • Internships that take place after completion of studies at LKYSPP
    • Language study or teaching (TESL) opportunities
    • Independent research projects
    • Internships in an organisation that you have founded, owned or worked in previously
    • Internships that fulfil the graduation requirements at another School/Faculty/University

  5. What type of funding support will be provided?

    6. There are 2 types of internships under the LIP and the funding support for each differs.

    1. Internships with LKYSPP Employer Partners

      2. The LIP provides internship opportunities with a few select LKYSPP Employer Partners, which are mostly international organisations. For the summer and winter of 2021, these partners are:

      1. Asian Development Bank (ADB) – The opportunity was listed on NUS Talent Connect, Job ID 75014.
      2. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) (https://www.icrc.org/en) - The opportunity was listed on NUS Talent Connect, Job ID 105843.
      3. Save the Children International (https://www.savethechildren.net/) Asia Regional Office, Singapore. - The opportunity was listed on NUS Talent Connect, Job ID 105602.
      4. Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) (https://gggi.org) - The opportunity was listed on NUS Talent Connect, Job ID 107249.
      5. UN ESCAP Bangkok – ICT and Development Section of ICT and DRR Division (https://www.unescap.org/) the opportunity was listed on the School’s website. Click here.
      6. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) (http://msf-seasia.org/) – This is for winter internship starting in Dec 2021.

      For positions 2 to 6, one eligible LKYSPP student will be selected for each of the above internships, and will receive funding support of S$500 per month, for a two-month internship that must take place between 10 May and 31 July 2021. Students must be based in Singapore throughout the duration of the internship. Funds awarded will only be paid upon satisfactory completion of the internship and when all deliverables have been submitted.

      Please also check the Terms and Condition (ToR document) indicated in each job posting.

      Please note that the students who secured an internship with the 6 LKYSPP Employer Partners (ADB, ICRC, Save the Children, GGGI, UNESCAP Bangkok and MSF) are required to submit the deliverables indicated in Point 6 (See below) to be entitled to LIP Funding.

    2. Self-Sourced Internships in Singapore

      3. If you have secured an unpaid internship in a public sector, government, non-profit, non-governmental or multilateral organization, you may apply for funding support from the LKY School Internship Programme. The internship must either take place in Singapore, or be done remotely from Singapore. This funding support is limited and awarded on a highly competitive, non-guaranteed basis, and meant to help defray some of the costs of doing an unpaid internship.

      The internship can be full-time or part-time, as long as the total duration is at least 160 hours (equivalent to a one-month full-time internship). You may apply for support for summer internships taking place between May and August 2021, or for part-time internships done during the semester (e.g. August to November 2021).

      If selected, you will receive funding support of S$500 per month, for up to two months (for full-time internships), depending on the actual duration of your internship. The funding for part-time internships will be pro-rated, meaning the per hourly rate will be $3.13 per hour. (Calculation: Based on a 40-hour workweek, 4 weeks would be 160 hours. $500 per 4 weeks would work out to be $500/160 hours = $3.13 per hour)

      Funds awarded will only be paid upon satisfactory completion of the internship and when all deliverables have been submitted.

  6. What deliverables must I produce upon being awarded the funding?

    7. This funding amount will be transferred to the registered LKYSPP student account only after successful completion of the internship and after Career Services has received the following:

    1. A write-up on your internship experience (minimum 250 words). This will be used to determine whether the School would like to feature your story in our publicity materials. The School may also choose to publish this write-up.
    2. A minimum of 3 high-resolution photos featuring highlights of your internship, including at least one showing you ‘in action’ or you with the logo of the internship organisation.
      Due to the current COVID-19 situation, we understand that you may have done your internship remotely. And in such cases, you may not be able to obtain photos showing you “in action” at your workplace.
      You may record yourself in a video, offering 3 tips to future students who want to do the internship you did. This video can be the deliverable, in replacement of the 3 high-resolution photos.
    3. A confirmation letter from your internship employer stating that the internship is an unpaid internship.
    4. Completed feedback form with signature of your internship supervisor. Please request for your supervisor to submit the completed feedback form to AA on the last day of your internship.
    5. Organization logo of your internship employer and their written consent for the School to feature their logo on the School's marketing/publicity materials (e.g. website). (Special consideration may be given on a case-by-case basis if the internship employer does not consent to this request).

  7. How do I start the application process?

    8. To be eligible for consideration, students must:

    • Have a strong academic record (4.0 GPA minimum)
      Note: The minimum GPA requirement is not applicable to students who currently are in their Year 1, Semester 1.
    • Submit a completed “LKY School Internship Programme - September 2021” application form (Click here to access the online application form.)
    • Submit a scanned copy of the completed and signed Declaration and Consent Form and upload it on NUS TalentConnect (JOB ID: 113176) by 13 September 2021.
    • Provide a confirmation letter with the details of the internship, issued by the organization on their official letterhead, which explicitly states:

      a. the name of the intern
      b. the duration of the internship
      c. a declaration that the internship is unpaid
      d. that it is a full-time position done during the winter or summer vacation (at least 30 hours a week) or
      e. that it is a part-time position done during the semester (No more than 16 hours a week)*
      f. that the organization is a public, government, non-profit, non-governmental or multilateral organization

    • Provide a personal statement which clearly articulates how the internship will fit into your academic or career goals as well as how it will advance the LKY School mission
    • Provide an updated resume / CV  

  8. What is the selection criteria?

    9. Preference will be given to applicants who are able to:

    • Articulate a perspective on how methods and theories learnt in the classroom may be applied to their internship.
    • Make a compelling case for how the internship will advance their professional goals.
    • Attest how they will further the LKYSPP mission during and after the internship.
    • Acquire self-sourced internships for longer durations (e.g. 2 months rather than 6 weeks).
    • Show evidence of active student leadership and/or service to the LKY School

  9. When should I start applying for LIP funding?

    10. Students who would like to apply for funding from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy to help support unpaid internships that they have undertaken or will be doing can do so at different time periods in a year, depending on when their internship was/will be completed and when they will be ready to submit their deliverables:

    No

    Complete applications to be submitted by 23:59 on these dates

    All internships to be completed and all deliverables to be submitted by

    A

    For internships with LKY School Employer Partners: Please refer to the respective Job Postings for the application deadlines

    31 August 2021

    B

    For self-sourced internships (based in Singapore, or done entirely remotely from Singapore)

    3 May 2021

    31 August 2021

    13 September 2021 (Formerly indicated as 30 August 2021)
    Note: Previously we have shared that this deadline will apply only if there are remaining unallocated funds still available after the summer of 2021.
    We would like to update that there is funding available to support one more LIP cycle in 2021.

    20 December 2021
    The application deadline of 13 September 2021 applies to:

    • Students who did an unpaid internship during the summer vacation from May to August 2021 but missed the previous application deadline of 3 May 2021.
    • Students who already secured an unpaid part-time internship during the semester from August to Nov 2021.

      •  

    Upon receiving the complete set of deliverables and supporting documents, Career Services will submit the documents to the NUS Finance Department, who will need at least 30 calendar days to process the fund transfer. Please contact decb64_bGt5c3BwY2FyZWVyc2VydmljZXNAbnVzLmVkdS5zZw==_decb64 if you have not received the funds after 30 days.

  10. What Terms and Conditions should I be aware of?

    11. Please note that the following terms and conditions would apply to all students who receive funding support via the LIP:

    1. The funding is a one-time transfer to the student’s registered bank account in Singapore.
    2. If the internship is prematurely terminated, students must report this immediately to the school. The school will then advise on any necessary actions. Please note that if a student’s internship is prematurely terminated, the school reserves the right to withdraw the previously-allocated funding.
    3. Unless otherwise specified, the funding support is offered based on the assumption that the internships will be conducted full-time (and in Singapore, or remotely),from Singapore, and for the full duration as advertised. If there are any changes to the internship arrangement, for instance, if a student leaves Singapore during part or all of the internship duration, LKYSPP reserves the right to withdraw the funding.
    4. All deliverables must be completed and submitted by the deadline. If a student fails to submit a deliverable on time or submits a deliverable that is of an unsatisfactory standard, the student will not receive the LIP funding.
    5. At the end of the internship period, the host organisation is required to provide feedback on the student’s performance. If the supervisor indicated that the student’s performance was not satisfactory, the school reserves the right to withdraw or adjust the previously-allocated funding. The school will review this on a case-by-case basis.

    For enquiries, please email LKY School Career Services at decb64_bGt5c3BwY2FyZWVyc2VydmljZXNAbnVzLmVkdS5zZw==_decb64