FAQ about the internship of the DSSC master.

• Which possibilities do I have to do the internship?
  You can do an internship in a research lab, in a company or in another academic or industrial institution.
  For affiliated research labs (in University of Trieste, ICTP, or SISSA), you just need to find a tutor (usually the head of the lab or a DSSC faculty).
  If you choose a company or other institution (that is, not University of Trieste, ICTP, SISSA), there has to be an agreement between the company/institution and the University of Trieste. Don't worry, making an agreement if there is none is easy. Follow the instructions that you can find in the Internship page on the DSSC website (at this link).

• Can I choose on my own the company/the research lab?
  YES, you only have to make the company and the University of Trieste sign a new agreement, the instruction are at this page, at STEP 1 (basically the company has to fill three forms and send them to the University). You have to handle the signed agreement at least one month before the start of the internship.

• How long will it last?
  The internship lasts a minimum of 150 hours (6 CFU) to a maximum of 300 hours (12 CFU), depending on what you and the company/institution decide. Internships provide Type F CFUs which can also be obtained through other extracurricular activities like seminars and conferences, or also taking another course. 12 Type F CFUs are required to complete the DSSC degree at the University of Trieste.

• When can I start?
  Whenever you want during the second year, possibly even in July/August between first and second year.

• Can I follow the lessons while I do my internship?
  It depends on the company and on the contract they make you sign: if you're not doing the internship in Trieste probably this isn't feasible (unless lessons are held online), but if you are in Trieste many companies agrees to make the internship last a bit longer in order to let the student follow lessons in parallel. Other companies instead require to full-time work (8 h/day), so it is better to ask before starting.

• The topic of the thesis can be the same of the internship?
  NO, they have to be two different projects, the thesis cannot be the same project as the internship, but it can be an extension of it (the internship project can be included as a preliminary analysis for thesis work).

• Are there internship scholarships?
  YES, there are multiple "Training the specialists of the future" scholarships organized by the DSSC program. They are founded by the companies and their number varies from year to year. The selection is made looking at the Curriculum Vitae and by doing an interview with the companies. Please consult the dedicated page on the DSSC website for additional details.

• Can I do two internships?
  YES, you can do an internship of 6 CFUs in a company or research lab and another internship of 6 CFUs in another different company or research lab. They don't need to be both industry- or research-oriented.

• The internship has a mark?
  NO, they are CFUs without mark, like the thesis (which anyway can give up to 10 points on the final graduation mark).

• Can I follow a course to cover 6 Type F CFUs?
  YES, and you need to take at least 18 as a mark at the exam of the course to have it registered as Type F CFUs (since type F credits are without mark, this will not affect your marks average). To register it you don't have to put this exam in your career in Esse3, just write to the professor which takes the course and to the professor responsible for internships (professor Medvet for now) to explain your intentions. After you completed the exam, ask the professor to write to the responsible that you have done the exam and you have passed it. Then in the summary form (found at the bottom of the DSSC web-page on internships, at this link), which you have to provide to have Type F credits registered, write the name of the course you have taken. Note that the fact that you followed this course will not be written in your exam booklet in Esse3. Also remember that at least 6 Type F CFUs are mandatory to be done as an actual internship.