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Semester in the Philippines Internships in Philippines

What is the internship program?

Students who participate in the MSU-sponsored study abroad program at the University of the Philippines Los Baños during UPLB's first semester (June-October) are eligible to participate in a six week full-time internship following their semester of study. Los Baños, the research and development center of the Philippines, is the headquarters of many national and international research agencies. Additionally, many U.S. firms have offices in Manila. Internship opportunities are available for students in the fields of agriculture, economics and management, forestry, and journalism. Three (3) credits may be earned by participating in an internship during the six-week period from November 1 to December 15 following the regular semester program.

What are the eligibility requirements?

Students must participate in the UPLB program prior to the internship, be of junior or higher status, and be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least a 2.50 at the time of application. All applicants must complete a study abroad application and participate in a selection interview.

Where is the location?

The Philippines is a chain of 7,000 islands and inlets located in the heart of southeast Asia. The university is located in Los Baños, which lies at the foothills of Mt. Makiling and on the shore of Laguna de Bay - the largest freshwater lake in Asia. UPLB's 56-square mile campus has 71 academic buildings, a student union, dorms, experimental fields, a botanical garden, and a forest reserve.

Since UPLB is situated only 40 miles south of Manila, students have easy access to the cultural and social amenities of the capital city. On weekends, students can travel by bus to spend an evening at a disco, attend a concert, visit historical sites or go shopping at one of the city's modern malls - one even has an ice skating arena! Students interested in the outdoors can go snorkeling at Hundred Islands, hike the Sierra Madre range, picnic at the world's smallest active volcano, Taal, travel to Bagio, a mountain resort just north of Manila, or swim at one of Los Baños' famous hot springs.

How do students identify an internship opportunity?

Internships are arranged individually, based on each student's background and interests. Six-week internships (early November-mid December) are available with agribusiness firms, with agricultural research agencies such as the International Rice Research Institute, with Philippine government agencies and with "Poor No More", a non-governmental agency in Palawan that teaches livelihood skills to poor women. Campus-based internships are available at the UPLB's Natural History Museum and the Botanical Garden. Journalism internships are available at the Philippines' leading daily newspaper. Students interested in an internship should contact Rick Bernsten (bernsten@msu.edu, 517-648-4378), Agricultural Economics, who will help you identify an internship opportunity and complete a Philippine Exchange Program Internship Request Form.

How do I register to receive credit for an internship?

While Rick Bernsten can help you identify an internship opportunity, you must see your internship coordinator for guidelines regarding earning credit for an internship. Most departments will require you to identify a faculty member in your department (or another department) who agrees to serve as your internship supervisor. Typically, internship supervisors require student to complete written assignments to receive academic credit.

For further information, contact Sandy Tupper, Office of Study Abroad, 432-4341, tuppers@msu.edu

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