Learning outcomes

At the end of this course unit, students will be able to integrate into a professional or research environment and carry out work as a biologist in a real-world setting. They will be able to perform the activities assigned to them with autonomy and responsibility, apply and further develop the skills acquired during their studies, and collaborate with members of the host organisation.

Students will also be able to present and critically analyse the work carried out, explain its objectives and methodological or practical choices, assess their own contribution, and communicate the outcomes of their internship in written and oral form.

Goals

The internship aims to provide students with experience in a professional environment outside their usual university setting. It allows them to apply skills acquired during the Master BOE programme, develop new scientific or professional skills, and gain experience working in a real-world setting.

Particular emphasis is placed on autonomy, responsibility, integration into the host organisation and critical thinking. Students should be able not only to carry out the tasks assigned to them, but also to understand and discuss their objectives, justification and relevance.

Content

The internship is a research or professional internship carried out during Q2 of the second Master’s year. It is worth 28 credits and consists of a minimum of four months of full-time work.

The topic must be related to the Master BOE programme. Internships may be carried out in a variety of organisations, including research laboratories, companies, public organisations, consultancy firms, NGOs or associations. The internship must allow students to work as biologists in a real-world setting and take responsibility within the host organisation.

The work carried out depends on the nature of the internship. It may include research, data collection and analysis, biodiversity management or conservation, environmental monitoring, or other professional activities relevant to the BOE programme.

Table of contents

  1. Searching for and selecting an internship

  2. Application to the host organisation

  3. Approval of the internship location and topic

  4. Administrative procedures and internship agreement

  5. Completion of the internship

  6. Follow-up by the internship and academic supervisors

  7. Intermediate report

  8. Final report

  9. Critical analysis of the internship experience

  10. Presentation and oral defence

Exercices

N/A

Teaching methods

The internship is primarily based on experiential learning within the host organisation. Students work full-time under the supervision of an internship supervisor and participate in the professional activities of the host organisation.

An academic supervisor provides external academic follow-up. In particular, they read the intermediate report and can be contacted in the event of scientific difficulties that cannot easily be discussed with the internship supervisor.

Students are responsible for carrying out the planned work and must report any situation that could compromise the successful completion of the internship. Particular emphasis is placed on autonomy, professionalism, responsibility and critical thinking.

Assessment method

Assessment is based on three elements: the work carried out during the internship, the final written report and the oral defence.

The work carried out during the internship is assessed by the internship supervisor using an evaluation form. The final report presents, among other elements, the host organisation, the objectives and work carried out, and a personal and critical assessment of the experience. It must also include a statement concerning any use of generative artificial intelligence tools.

During the defence, students briefly present the host organisation and the results of their work using a presentation. The presentation lasts a maximum of 10 minutes and is followed by 10 minutes of discussion.

Assessment is distributed among the members of the jury as follows:

  • internship supervisor: 30%

  • academic supervisor: 30%

  • report reader: 20%

  • academic internship coordinator: 20%

The defence can only take place after the internship has been fully completed, corresponding to a minimum of four months of full-time activity.

Students are also responsible for ensuring that all required administrative procedures are completed within the specified deadlines. If these procedures are not completed on time, the internship cannot be validated: the student is considered to have failed the course unit and must complete the internship during the following academic year.

Sources, references and any support material

BOE internship guide

Language of instruction

French
Training Study programme Block Credits Mandatory
Master in Biology of Organisms and Ecology Finalité approfondie 2 28 Yes