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Internship Business Economics

Business Economics students who have completed their Bachelor’s programme can undertake an internship in (the summer holidays before the start of) the Master's programme.  This internship forms part of a 6-credit elective course unit and has a workload of 20 to 30 working days. 

The Business Economics programme

Within the Business Economics programme, students are trained to approach business problems in an integrated manner.  The focus is on 3 areas, each with the focus on decision-making within the company:

In the last year, the student chooses one of the above domains to examine further.  In this Master year, the selected specialisation is fully taught in English. Here the student has the opportunity to undertake an internship as an elective course unit.  

More general information about the Business Economics programme

What are the conditions for the internship?

  • The content of the internship assignment must be in line with the programme.  
  • The internship includes clearly defined tasks which the student addresses a specific challenge or problem statement from within the organisation.  
  • The internship is supervised by an expert in the discipline. 
  • If telework is allowed by the company, the student must be present at the office at least 3 days a week.
  • There are no business, friendship or family connections between student and internship provider.  
  • Max 1 student per office.  Exceptions may be possible, depending on tasks and guidance.  
  • An internship is always unpaid.  Compensation for e.g., meals or transport is allowed.  

Duration and period of the internship

  • The internship has a workload of 20 to 30 working days.  
  • The internship can be undertaken full-time or part-time.  The maximum distribution allowed is 3 days a week for 10 weeks, this to guarantee the continuity of the internship.  
  • The internship period is flexible and is chosen according to the abilities of the student and the internship provider.  The most obvious months for this internship are January, June, July, August and September as these are the lecture-free periods.  Students who deviate from the model learning track may also undertake an internship during other periods.

Coaching and evaluation of the internship

The supervisor of the internship provider is responsible for the general guidance by preparing concrete assignments, within the parameters of the previously approved internship content, and following up on the implementation thereof.  Regular feedback to the student is essential to evaluate and, if necessary, adjust their performance.  If necessary, the supervisor of the internship provider will contact the supervisor of Ghent University.  

During the internship period, the supervisor of Ghent University will schedule an interim contact opportunity with the supervisor of the internship provider and the student to see how the internship is going. 

After completing the internship, the supervisor of the internship provider will give their assessment of the intern according to the categories of the final evaluation.  It is based on both the performance as well as competencies and attitudes.  We encourage you to review the final evaluation with the student and discuss the progress, valued strengths and areas of improvement.  

As a final component of the evaluation, the student will write an internship report. In this the student develops one or more internship assignments, linking them with the programme (based on academic theories, legal texts and/or conceptual frameworks).  If confidential information is included in the internship report, a non-disclosure agreement can be drawn up.  

Examples of internship assignments

A few guiding examples per specialisation can be found below.

Marketing

  • Follow-up of an advertising campaign from analysis, briefing, competition between the various external advertising agencies to the end result 
  • Creating a marketing plan (e.g., competition analysis, portfolio planning, distribution landscape analysis)  
  • Analysis of the sales figures  
  • Research into new marketing techniques  
  • Market research: drawing up of questionnaires, data analysis, reporting results.  
  • Summarising, synthesising market information (for example, for press release reports and press articles) and drawing up plans and actions from there  
  • ROI analysis for a specific action  
  • Creating sales analytics based on the internal database 

 Accountancy

  • Participating in the development of new reporting models, a business plan or strategic planning  
  • Drawing up details of e.g., disallowable expenses, (quasi-) contribution report, dissolution  
  • Preparing/attending tax audits 
  • Assisting with the audit of annual financial statements and writing related reports  
  • Calculation and preparation of VAT, PIT, CIT declarations 
  • Assisting with the closing of the financial year/preparing the annual financial statements  
  • Thorough (financial) analysis of a file (e.g., through costing)  
  • Attending meetings with customers or suppliers to assist with consultancy  
  • Optimisation of accounting processes 
  • Drawing up VAT listings  
  • Entering purchase and sales invoices/financial journal  
  • Describing procedures (e.g., internal audit)  

Corporate Finance

  • Conducting a thorough analysis of financial information to support e.g., credit decisions, and implementing investment decisions  
  • Participating in the development of a new (internal) financial reporting model  
  • Developing a valuation model  
  • Valuing companies  
  • Preparing an annual risk analysis of option positions  
  • Analysing and improving risk management techniques that companies use to hedge their financial risks  
  • Participating in the development of a business plan  
  • Analysing a concrete investment project   
  • Searching for takeover targets and analysing them  
  • Determining the weighted average capital cost
  • Optimising existing investment processes  
  • Developing a financial plan or financial planning model

How to offer an internship?

The content of all the available internships is evaluated before we announce the internships to the students via the online learning platform.

Offer an internship through stage.eb@ugent.be

Contract and insurance

The internship agreement of Ghent University is used at all times.  

During the internship, the student is insured through the following policies:  

  • Personal physical accidents: for medical expenses if the student becomes the victim of a personal physical accident on the way to and from the internship activities.  
  • General civil liability: for damage caused by the student while carrying out the internship, insofar as there is an uncommon slight negligence on the part of the intern. This liability of the internship provider, both for damage to third parties and for damage to the internship provider itself, is insured under this policy. The personal liability of the intern, i.e., for fraud, gross negligence and common slight negligence, is not covered by this policy.  
  • Travel assistance: for medical expenses, repatriation, etc., for students who travel abroad as part of an internship activity.  In addition, health insurance and possible additional insurance are needed.  
  • Accidents at work: the student is insured for industrial accidents at the internship provider’s premises.  

Contact

Tine Claeys - Internship Coordinator
Tine.Claeys@ugent.be