Introduction || Policy || Guidelines|| FAQ || Contact || Internship Placement Status and Confirmation Procedures

1. Do I need to pay my tuition fee for the semester while I am doing my internship?
2. How should I start searching for my internship?
3. If I fail certain subjects, can I still undertake my internship?
4. What will happen if I failed to inform the internship provider(s) about having to retake some subjects during my internship?
5. Who can apply for international internship?  
6. What do I need to consider if I want to go overseas for my internship?
7. What happens if I don't like the internship which I have found and commenced?
8. Will the IC help me in searching for my internship?
9. What kind of documents do I need to have before the commencement of the internship?
10. Can I change my internship placement after I have accepted one?
11. What are the documents that I need to submit after the completion of the internship?
12. Can I be absent during the course of my internship?
13. Will I get any allowances for my internship?
14. If I join the international exchange program, do all these policies apply?
15. I have been assigned to do my internship in the first semester of Year 3, but I have failed one subject in the first semester of Year 2, and this subject is offered only in the first semester. Can I apply to do my internship in the second semester instead? What if I decide to go an overseas placement? Will that allow me to move my internship to the second semester?
16. I am a Year 2 student and have been assigned to perform my internship during the first semester of the academic year. If I have already started my internship  in the summer before I know that I have not obtained enough credits in the past two years for me to be promoted to Year 3, can I still continue to perform my internship?
17. After the completion of my internship, when shall I know my internship results?
18. Can I have my Internship Logbook back after the IC’s final review?
19. I am now performing my internship internationally and since I will not be back to Macao before the deadline for the submission of the Internship Logbook, can I submit it later when I am back?
20. I had already finished my internship in Macao and completed all the sections of the Internship Logbook that are responsible to be filled in by the interns. However, I cannot submit the Internship Logbook by the deadline since it is with my internship provider who has still not completed certain sections of the Logbook as required, can I submit it later when it is ready?
21. On what criteria do the IC based on in justifying that I have completed a 6 calendar months' internship as required?
22. When should students of Tourism Event Management specialization and Heritage Management specialization have their internship?

1. Do I need to pay my tuition fee for the semester while I am doing my internship?
   
   Yes, students are required to pay their tuition fee in the semester while they are doing their internship as the internship program is considered as part of the degree program. In addition, during the period of internship, students are provided with administrative support such as preparation of relevant documents, site-visit and all facilities on the campus e.g. library, computer lab, multi-media lab are still available for use by the students.
   
   
2. How should I start searching for my internship?
   
   Before you begin a formal search, you should consider what types of skills you would like to acquire or what areas you would like to gain further knowledge in (F&B, food service, customer service etc). Try to establish contacts with industry partners during the practicum programs (e.g. WA, TIES, HELP) or on-campus job fairs. You may also seek advice from your lecturers/professors.
   
   
3. If I fail certain subjects, can I still undertake my internship?
   
   Undergraduates who are of year 3 standing (have earned 64 credits or more) are eligible to do their internship. Those who have failed subjects are allowed to take up to three failed or missed subjects during their internship.
   Students who will be performing internship and re-taking certain subjects at the same time MUST
   
   • realize, similar to any students retaking a subject, the attendance rules must be adhered to;
   • communicate clearly to their supervisors their need to attend regular classes,
   • gain permission from the supervisors to attend classes, and
   • have their work schedule adjusted so as not to affect the length of the students’ internship program as well as the operation of the organization.                                                                                                 

   However, it is highly recommended that a student should perform either one of them in a semester. According to the experience of former students, it is almost impossible to have both internship and studies at the same time.
   
   

4. What will happen if I failed to inform the internship provider(s) about having to retake some subjects during my internship?
   
   In the placement searching stage, students are obligated to inform the internship provider(s) about the possibility of having to retake any subjects during the internship. Once the academic results are released, students are required to seek the approval from the internship provider(s) immediately if they need to retake any subjects during the internship. The internship provider(s) has the right to refuse such requests if they have not been informed by the student in advance.
   Students who failed to inform the internship provider(s) or misled them may face one or more of the following disciplinary actions as deemed appropriate by the Internship Committee (IC):
   - Mandatory withdrawal of all retaking subjects;
   - Mandatory withdrawal of the internship program;
   - Undertake two extra months of internship or other penalties deemed appropriate by the IC.
   
   
5. Who can apply for international internship?  
   
   Students who pass all the required subjects are eligible to apply for international internship.
   　
6. What do I need to consider if I want to go overseas for my internship? 
   
   
   • You should have your financial means to support yourselves in terms of the expenses incurred in travel, accommodation and meals during your internship abroad.
   • You should get approval from your parents and will submit a Letter of Declaration (provided by the Registry) which is to be signed by your parents/guardians regarding your overseas internship to the Registry before your expected departure.
   • You have the necessary travel documents and have no problem in obtaining visas (The Institute will support you by providing the necessary documents for visa application).
   • You should be prepared that you will have to come back to IFT to have your Re-sit Examination (if any) if your overseas internship commences right after your Final Examination.
   • You should purchase a comprehensive accident and medical insurance policy for the period you perform internship overseas. For those who will be performing your internship in your home abroad, it is optional for you to purchase accident and medical insurance though you are highly recommended to do so.
   • You are healthy enough to take care of yourself while staying abroad alone.
   • You are knowledgeable about the culture of your destination and have acquired adequate language skills.
   • You should thoroughly consider the nature of the job and organization, which is offering the placement. Ensure that your internship placement complies with conditions stated in Internship Policy No. 6.1 and 6.2.
      
     　
7. What happens if I don't like the internship which I have found and commenced?
   
   This is certainly unfortunate but changing one's internship placement is possible only under certain conditions. Please refer to Internship Policy No. 5. Students must get the approval from the IC before any changes are made to their internship placements.
   
   
8. Will the IC help me in searching for my internship?
   
   Under normal circumstances, the IC will NOT assist students in finding placements. However, in certain rare cases and provided that students can give exhaustive proof that they have been searching on their own for placements such as letters of refusal by potential internship providers, then the IC may extend assistance but does not guarantee placements.
   
   
9. What kind of documents do I need to have before the commencement of the internship?
   

   a.    Letter of Confirmation prepared by the internship provider(s) to be submitted to the IC before 23 May 2008 (deadline for those who will be performing their internship in the 1st semester) or before 19 December 2008 (deadline for those who will be performing their internship in the 2nd semester), for international internship – documents describing the company are also needed.
   b.    Internship Document Package including the Cover Letter, Acknowledgement Letter, Internship Logbook (enclosed with Final Internship Provider Evaluation Forms and postage-paid envelopes) and Internship Agreement.
   b.    Internship Document Package including the Cover Letter, Acknowledgement Letter, Internship Logbook (enclosed with Final Internship Provider Evaluation Forms and postage-paid envelopes) and Internship Agreement.

   Document B above is obtained from the Registry.
   

10. Can I change my internship placement after I have accepted one?  
    
    No. Once you have notified the Registry or the IC of the internship placement that you accept or intend to accept, no change can be made even though a better offer comes up. And if you really want to change your internship provider after having confirmed with the IC with no solid and convincing reason but your personal preference, you will work for 2 extra months before you officially commence your internship to make up for an 8-month internship or other penalties deemed appropriate by the IC while your internship performance on the extra 2 months will as well be evaluated. Any students who will be given penalty by the IC will be automatically excluded from the consideration for “The Student with the Best Internship Record”.
    
    
11. What are the documents that I need to submit after the completion of the internship?
    
    

    Internship Logbook
    Important note: Make sure to follow up on your internship provider’s submission of the Final Internship Provider Evaluation Form.
    
    

12. Can I be absent during the course of my internship?
    
    You can enjoy public holidays according to the Macao Labor Law or as specified by the internship provider. You can take medical leave only with your internship provider’s approval while a doctor’s certificate may be required for submission upon your internship provider’s request for verification. As for personal leave, only when advance arrangements or explanation for the absence and approval have been obtained from the internship provider can you be allowed to take your leave during your course of internship. Also, since you are required to make up the missed working days and your leave period will probably cause a postponement to the last date of the internship period, such change must be informed to the IC, as the deadline for the Logbook submission is determined by the date stated in the Internship Agreement as agreed by the student, the internship provider and the IFT.
    
    
13. Will I get any allowances for my internship?
    
    The provision of allowances, food, accommodation, transportation and uniform totally depends on the negotiation between student and the internship provider.
    
    
14. If I join the international exchange program, do all these policies apply?
    
    Because the Institute encourages students to go on international exchange programs, the IC will review the applications on a case-by-case basis.
    
    
15. I have been assigned to do my internship in the first semester of Year 3, but I have failed one subject in the first semester of Year 2, and this subject is offered only in the first semester. Can I apply to do my internship in the second semester instead? What if I decide to go an overseas placement? Will that allow me to move my internship to the second semester?
    
    No. This does not contribute sufficient justification to move your internship enrolment to the second semester. These are your options.
    • Do your internship as scheduled in the first semester and try to take the course on a part-time basis if your internship provider allows.
    • Defer your internship to next year. This means that your internship will be delayed by 1 year.
      
      
16. I am a Year 2 student and have been assigned to perform my internship during the first semester of the academic year. If I have already started my internship in the summer before I know that I have not obtained enough credits in the past two years for me to be promoted to Year 3, can I still continue to perform my internship?
    
    No. You should hence withdraw from your internship and  resume classes in September. Therefore, we suggest that you should pay full attention to your class standing before securing your own internship placement. As according to the Regulations, students should have earned at least 64 credits so as to be eligible for them to be promoted to Year 3. 
    　
17. After the completion of my internship, when shall I know my internship results?
    
    The Registry will inform you to check your own internship grades online and allow you to have a look on the evaluations and comments given by your respective internship supervisors by the end of March (for those who will be performing your internship during the first semester) or by mid-October of the following academic year (for those who will be performing your internship during the second semester).
    　
18. Can I have my Internship Logbook back after the IC’s final review?
    
    Yes. Only when your final internship grade has been approved by the IC and you have no dissent on the final grade can you have it back from the IC.
    
    
19. I am now performing my internship internationally and since I will not be back to Macao before the deadline for the submission of the Internship Logbook, can I submit it later when I am back? 
                                                                               
     No. You are still required to submit your Internship Logbook by the deadline as scheduled. Regarding the method of submission, these are your options:                                                                                                                                   
    o      You may submit your Internship Logbook to the Registry by registered post or express          mail.                                                                                                                    
    o       You may submit a soft copy of your Internship Logbook to the Registry by e-mail before the deadline and the hard copy           upon your return.
    　
20. I had already finished my internship in Macao and completed all the sections of the Internship Logbook that are responsible to be filled in by the interns. However, I cannot submit the Internship Logbook by the deadline since it is with my internship provider who has still not completed certain sections of the Logbook as required, can I submit it later when it is ready?
    
    No. You are hence required to submit a photocopy of the "Weekly Journal" and an original copy of the "Intern's Evaluation of Placement" to the Registry before the deadline and the hard copy of the completed Internship Logbook when ready.
    　
21. On what criteria do the IC based on in justifying that I have completed a 6 calendar months' internship as required?
    
    Students should state clearly their internship duration, ie. a total of 6 months including all the holidays that they are entitled to have during the internship, in their Internship Logbooks. Should there be any circumstances that students might risk in not meeting the 6-month requirement due to the accumulation of holidays during the internship, sufficient evidence ie. document issued by the internship providers concerned should be submitted to the IC specifying the exact duration of your holidays for final review.
    　
22. When should students of Tourism Event Management specialization and Heritage Management specialization have their internship? 
    
    You will all have your internship in the second semester.