If you are planning to commence your internship after the first practical module is completed, you are advised to start searching for the internship right after you have completed all theoretical courses. If not, you may start searching for your internship anytime during the school year. However, please be reminded that your total study time (courses conducted at IFTM plus internship) should not exceed three years.
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.
Students who meet the requirements given by the internship providers and pass the interview arranged with Internship Committee will be eligible to take the international internship. Depending on the location of the internship placement, some internship providers require adequate language skills.
Yes, the Institute will provide tutoring to the students if language is a problem. However, this will be considered on an individual basis.
- Depending on the requirement of the internship providers, you may need to consider extending your internship period to 12 or 18 months.
- A basic salary will normally be offered by the international internship providers. However, you should have your financial means to support your expenses incurred in travel, accommodation and meals during internship.
- You must have the necessary travel documents to obtain a visa (the Institute will support you by providing the necessary documents for visa application).
- You should purchase travel insurance for the period you perform internship overseas.
- You are in good health so you can take care of yourself during your stay abroad.
- You understand the culture of the destination that you would like to apply and have acquired adequate language skills. You should consider the nature of the job and organization thoroughly, which is offering the placement.
All the considerations in Q. 5 apply to any international internship that is not arranged by the Institute. However, 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. 5.1 and 5.2.
This is certainly unfortunate but changing one's internship placement is possible only under certain conditions. Please refer to Internship Policy No. 5.3. Students must get the approval from the Internship Committee before any changes are made to their internship placements.
Under normal circumstances, the Internship Committee will NOT assign internship placements for the students. 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. However, you may seek advice from IC for information about the local or foreign internship providers who have contacted the Institute for the position(s) offered to our students.
An internship briefing will normally be arranged for students during the last theoretical course. Detailed information about the Internship Policy and Guidelines will be given to the students. Likewise, a list of recommended internship providers will be provided during the Internship Briefing. You may also contact the Internship Committee for further information about these Internship Providers.
- Letter of Confirmation to be submitted to the Internship Committee before the commencement of the internship. For international internship, documents describing the company are also needed
- Internship Logbook (enclosed with Final Internship Provider Evaluation Form and postage-paid envelope)
- Letter of Agreement
- Documents B to C above can be obtained from the Technical and Academic Support Division.
Only when advance arrangements or explanation for the absence and approval have been obtained from the internship provider can students be allowed to take their leave during their course of internship.
The provision of allowances, food, accommodation, transportation and uniform totally depends on the negotiation between student and the internship provider.
After submission of all documents such as Internship Logbook, the student will be notified of the internship result in the October of each year. You are advised to contact the Internship Committee members in case of any doubt. However, in cases of failure, you will be notified within two weeks after submission of logbook so that you have time to retake the internship within the mandated total study time of three years.
If you have completed all courses conducted at IFTM, passed all examinations, completed the internship and have all documents such as Internship Agreement and Internship Logbook submitted before 30 September of each year, you will be awarded the certificate at the graduation ceremony of that year, which is normally held in November. For those who do not fulfill the above requirement, you will be offered to attend the graduation ceremony in the following year.
Yes, you may apply for a testimonial at the Technical and Academic Support Division. However, the certificate will only be issued on the graduation ceremony or thereafter.
No. You are still required to submit your Internship Logbook two weeks after completion of the internship. Regarding the method of submission, there are your options: a) You may submit your Internship Logbook to the Technical and Academic Support Division by registered post or express mail. b) You may submit a soft copy of your Internship Logbook to the Technical and Academic Support Division by e-mail before the deadline and the hard copy upon your return.
Yes, students should state clearly their placement period and the internship shifts that have taken, and countersigned by their immediate supervisor, in the Internship Logbook. Should there be any circumstances that students might risk in not meeting the required number of internship hours, the student will obtain a “Fail” in his/her internship evaluation and will be required to retake his/her internship in order to be granted for the Diploma degree.