At Alfaisal University, it is our policy to provide students with high-quality real-world experience through enabling them to apply for and take up extended internship work placements with selected external partner companies. These internship placements allow students to benefit from deploying, displaying, and further developing relevant skills and capabilities required for job success and career advancement within their particular areas of interest and expertise. The internship program is designed to provide business students with practical, on-the-job experiences which can contribute to their academic and career development. Internship can be completed in or out of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The internship is mandatory for all undergraduate students. No own family business or self-business experience counts as an internship. Undergraduate students can start their internship after completing 96 credit hours. The internship must be done during the 7th semester (one semester before graduating). COB undergraduate students must complete 4 months (600 hours) of internship work in equivalent of 9 credits.

Internship Process Guidelines and Step-by-Step Procedure

The internship will account for 9 credit hours. The internship is to be completed during the 7th semester (one semester before graduation). In some cases, 8th semester might be allowed. Each case has to be reviewed by the internship office then approved by the chair of the department and the dean. Summer term internships are not accepted due to the four continuous months requirement. Students will undergo the process below from invitation to placement:

1. All students beginning the 6th semester receive an email from the Internship Office Manager IOM inviting them to register for the internship
2. Interested students schedule a meeting with the IOM to discuss internship requirements and pre-requisites.
3. Students submit their CVs and transcripts to the IOM.
4. Students who meet the eligibility criteria are accepted for the Internship.
5. The IOM will meet with students to discuss their CVs, application forms, and advise on preferred target work companies.
6. The students will apply to suitable companies for placement. The IOM will help those who have difficulty in finding placement.
7. Students undergo the interview and hiring process.
8. Internship period is arranged with the company supervisor.
9. Accepted students attend orientation at the end of the 6th semester.
10. The students register for Internship by filling an E-form on the AU website and agree to abide by Alfaisal terms and conditions. Bearing in mind that students will register for internship under different codes depending on their concentration (i.e. FIN 499, MKT 499, HRM499, ACC 499, OPM 499)
11. The IOM provides the lists of registered students to the Department Chairs according to the concentration major of the student.
12. The Chair of each department allocates a faculty as Academic Advisor to each student.
13. The student meets with the site supervisor to complete Statement of Objectives (Form A).
14. The student meets his/her academic advisor to discuss and get approval for the learning objectives.
15. . The advisor performs a survey of the work site, meets the site supervisor and the student intern, and fills Site Visit Form (Form B).
16. A minimum of three interim progress reports are required from students on the tasks performed during the internship. These should also summarize attendance and performance,Form C (progress reports). The reports are to be submitted to the academic advisor.
17. The academic advisor needs to meet with the student intern to discuss progress and learning at least twice during the internship.
18. . Upon completion of the work experience, the site supervisor will evaluate the intern's performance using Form D and sends it directly to the IOM.
19. . Intern prepares a final report, using the template and guidelines provided by the Internship Office Appendix 1. Students present their final reports before an evaluation panel (minimum of 2 faculty members). See Appendix 2 for Presentation Guidelines and Appendix 3 for Presentation Marking Sheet.
20. Academic credit will not be given simply for good performance on the job. Rather, academic credit will be awarded based on evidence that the student has received a valuable educational experience, which complements classroom learning.
21. Students will be requested to record their overall internship experience and give their feedback using Form E.
22. Students will receive a Pass (P) grade for successful completion of the internship or a Fail (F) grade if unsuccessful in the Final Grade Form F.

Alfaisal University has worked with many national and international organizations to hire College of Business student interns. Organizations that have hired our student interns include:

• Saudi Arabia Oil Co. (ARAMCO)
• Saudi Basic Industries Co. (SABIC)
• KPMG
• Ernst & Young
• Saudi American Bank (SAMBA)

Here are some samples of what our students are saying about their internship experience:
"I would describe my experience at KPMG as enlightening, not just in matter of applying what I have learned in class, but even in sense of how to be out there in the real world." Faisal Alshbaily/Student Intern

"Aramco was an appropriate choice for me to complete my internship since I am a project management student. I was assigned to King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and a Research Center Project." Mohaimeed Bagabas/Student Intern

• Internship Handbook document (PDF)