What is an internship
The curricular internship is an educational experience that fosters both personal and professional growth. It offers students the opportunity to take their first steps into the job market, test their skills, explore different areas of interest, and gain a deeper understanding of their own aptitudes.
The Faculty Guide specifies the number of university credits (CFU) assigned to the internship, as well as the year in which it should be included in the study plan. Depending on the degree programme, internships may grant:
- 4 CFU (minimum 100 hours)
- 6 CFU (minimum 150 hours)
- 8 CFU (minimum 200 hours)
The curricular internship must be included in the student’s study plan in order to be officially recorded upon completion, via the dedicated STAGE exam call. The corresponding credits will then be awarded. The internship is graded as “approved” (without a numerical grade).
Each degree programme also offers the opportunity to include an optional internship in the study plan, under the category “Altre Attività Formative”.
Internship Activation Steps:
- Access the portal: https://step.unicatt.it/
- Select the correct type of internship:
- CURRICULAR INTERNSHIP FOR STUDENTS (WITH CFU)
- CURRICULAR INTERNSHIP FOR STUDENTS (WITH CFU, abroad), for internships abroad
- Select your academic tutor, as follows: Tutor di Lingue – Sede di Milano (Faculty of Linguistic Sciences and Foreign Literatures)
- Complete the Internship Learning Agreement (Progetto Formativo)
Next steps:
- The student must confirm the entered data.
- The host organization must also confirm the data.
- Both parties must wait for the final approval (by the internships tutors).
Further instructions will be automatically sent by email by the system.
Important Information:
- The internship is officially activated only when the Stage & Placement Office sends a confirmation email to the host company, the intern, and the Internship Tutors with the official starting date.
- Internship hours completed before or after the time period indicated on the contract, or without a signed contract, will not be recognized.
If the internship is proposed by the student (i.e., it does not appear in the “Proposte della Facoltà” section of the “Community Stage Curriculari” on Blackboard), it must first be approved by the Internship Tutors. To request approval, send an email to: tutorstage.lingue@unicatt.it
Timing
Internships can begin no earlier than 14 days after the submission of the Internship Learning Agreement on https://step.unicatt.it, as long as the hosting company already has an active agreement with the University.
Download the full internship activation procedure
https://studenticattolica.unicatt.it/inizia-uno-stage-info-stage-e-procedure-di-attivazione
Attachments:
Recognition of Work Experience
Students may request approval for a work experience as a substitute for the curricular internship. All relevant information and eligibility requirements are available in the “Community Stage Curriculari” on Blackboard: Blackboard Link – Community Stage Curriculari
Once the eligibility criteria have been verified, students must email the Internship Tutors at: tutorstage.lingue@unicatt.it, and attach the required documentation.
How to submit a Request for Work Experience Recognition:
Subject line: “Work Experience Recognition_FIRST NAME, LAST NAME”.
Attach the following documents:
- Student Data Sheet_Recognition of Work Experience
- A copy of the employment contract, clearly indicating:
- Start and end dates
- Job responsibilities/Tasks
- Weekly working hours
- A company letter, on official letterhead, signed by the employer, confirming:
- Job responsibilities/Tasks
- Employment period
- Weekly working hours
- Consent for the processing of personal data
- A report (2-3 pages) written by the student, providing a detailed description of the work experience.
The submitted documentation will be reviewed by the Internship Committee. Each request is assessed independently, based on the duration of the experience and the tasks performed. The final evaluation will be communicated via email. If approved, the student may then register for the STAGE exam in order to obtain the corresponding credits.
Important: Students must submit the complete documentation as early as possible and well before the last STAGE exam session prior to graduation. If the work activity is not approved, credits cannot be granted. In this case, students must either complete a curricular internship or choose an alternative approved activity
What to do at the end of the internship
At the end of the internship, or once the required number of hours has been completed, the student must ask the company’s contact person to send the final documents directly to: tutorstage.lingue@unicatt.it
1. Subject line: “INTERNSHIP_FIRSTNAME,LASTNAME”.
2. Cc: the student’s institutional email: firstname.lastname00@icatt.it
3. Attach the final documents:
- Internship Evaluation Form
- Signature Sheet (with the original signatures)
Note: The online evaluation form requested by Stage & Placement office is a different document and does not replace the mandatory documents required for the internship certification.
Only documents sent directly by the company’s contact person will be accepted.
Missing Weekly Reports: If the student fails to submit the required weekly report during the internship, the Internship Tutors will request a final report instead
How to register the curricular internship
Students must register for the STAGE exam just like any other course. Exam dates and registration instructions: https://milano.unicatt.it/polo-studenti-e-didattica-programmi-dei-corsi-orari-delle-lezioni
Search: STAGE (CORSO A)
Key information:
- Registration is open from 30 to 4 days before the exam date
- Professor to select: Prof.ssa Chiara FRIGERIO
- Grading is processed online automatically within a few working days.
- Students will receive a confirmation notification, which must be accepted to finalize the credit registration.
Graduation Deadlines:
The internship must be completed and certified before the graduation deadlines. A dedicated STAGE exam session is scheduled for each graduation period.
How early should I start looking for an internship? Is there a preferred period?
For an internship in Italy, we recommend that you start searching at least 2 months in advance, for an internship abroad at least 3 months in advance. It is possible to carry out the curricular internship at any time, subject to verification of eligibility for the recognition of the activity for the purposes of the internship. The curricular internship must be concluded and certified within the deadlines set for graduation.
1. Where can I find curricular internship offers?
Within the Curricular Internships Community (on Blackboard), on the Internship & Placement portal (https://step.unicatt.it/) or on the UCSC International page (for internship offers abroad). It is also possible to propose an internship found independently.
2. Is it possible to carry out an internship in companies that are not included in the Faculty's list of proposals and are not affiliated with the University?
Yes, in this case the student must send an e-mail to tutorstage.lingue@unicatt.it summarizing the internship offer and indicating precisely:
- Company name (sector in which it operates and place of work)
- Recruitment office and detailed list of tasks
- weekly working hours
- duration of the internship.
If the student's proposal is approved, the company can stipulate the agreement and activate the Training Project.
3. Which tutor should I select when filling in the Training Project on the https://step.unicatt.it/ portal?
Under "University Tutor" you need to select Language Tutor – Milan Campus (Faculty of Linguistic Sciences and Foreign Literatures). The selection of another tutor will cause the cancellation of the procedure.
4. Can I carry out the curricular internship in two different companies and divide the number of hours into two parts?
No. The curricular internship must be carried out continuously, at the same company, with a minimum of 20 hours per week.
5. How do I request the interruption of the curricular internship? And the extension?
It is possible to request the early interruption of the curricular internship by connecting to https://step.unicatt.it/. The company must access the portal with its credentials, enter the "Internships and internships" section and click on the name of the intern. At the bottom of the Training Project data there is the "Request interruption" button.
Please note that it is not possible to interrupt the curricular internship (for example, in correspondence with the exam session) and then resume it later.
It is possible to request an extension of the internship only once and for a period not exceeding 30 days. The request must always be made through the portal.
6. What should I do if I am planning a trip?
Travel must be related to the Training Project and the company tutor must be present. For trips to Italy, simply send an e-mail to Internship & Placement (stage-mi@unicatt.it) and to the Internship Tutors (tutorstage.lingue@unicatt.it) to notify them.
For business trips abroad, it is necessary to fill in the Foreign Travel Communication Form and send it at least 10 days before departure by e-mail to Internship & Placement (stage-mi@unicatt.it).
Please note that Università Cattolica is responsible for the insurance of trainees against accidents at work with INAIL, as well as for civil liability towards third parties with a suitable insurance company.
7. I have a problem activating the internship on the portal. The company has questions about the agreement or is unable to confirm the Training Project. Who should I contact?
To the Internship & Placement office that manages the portal: stage-mi@unicatt.it; Tel. 02 72348500.
8. What is the difference between a curricular internship with CFU and a curricular internship with 0 CFU?
The curricular internship with ECTS is an internship carried out by the student after having included him in the study plan and which must therefore be recorded. The curricular internship with 0 credits is an internship that the student activates without including it in the study plan, for example because he has already covered the credits of "Other Training Activities" with other exams or because he has already taken the curricular internship with CFU.
9. I want to carry out a 0 credits curricular or extra-curricular internship. Who should I contact?
At Internship & Placement (Tel. 02 7234 8500 - stage-mi@unicatt.it). Please note that extra-curricular internships can only be activated after graduation.
The Community Stage Curriculari on Blackboard is your main source of information for:
- curricular internship offers with CFU;
- activation procedures;
- work experience recognition.
Students are expected to read all procedures carefully and regularly check the Avvisi and FAQs sections on Blackboard.
For questions or assistance, contact the Internship Tutors: tutorstage.lingue@unicatt.it
Internship Tutor:
- Dr Lucia Carughi tutorstage.lingue@unicatt.it
- Dr Elena Salvaneschi tutorstage.lingue@unicatt.it
Appointments are available by email request only. When requesting an appointment, please explain the topic of your inquiry. Meetings are held via Microsoft Teams only upon request.
Email response time: within 24–48 working hours