Department of Sociology

The Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS), South Asian University, invites applications from MA and PhD students for the Summer Internship Programme during the summer vacation time. The programme offers a unique opportunity for students from across South Asia, including SAU, to engage in academic research, gain practical exposure, and collaborate closely with the willing faculty members. The Summer Internship Programme will be on rolling advertisement on the FSS website, but interns will be accepted only during the summer vacation.

This internship programme does not offer any financial assistance.

Objectives

• • To create a network of interns around the region who would become well-wishers of the Faculty of Social Sciences and South Asian University
  • To enhance research and academic writing skills among postgraduate students in collaboration with the mentors at FSS.
  • To provide hands-on experience in ongoing or proposed research projects and develop research plans for future in collaboration with the mentors at FSS.
  • To facilitate collaborative academic outputs, including publications and conference papers under the mentorship at FSS.
  • To create a pool of interns who shall become informal and indirect public relations link between SAU and the outside under the meaningful mentorship between students and faculty members.

Internship Activities

Selected interns will assist faculty members with:

• • Literature review, fieldwork design, and data analysis.
  • Drafting and editing academic papers, reports, or proposals.
  • Support in organizing academic events, workshops, or seminars.
  • Tasks related to ongoing or proposal building for research plans.

Eligibility

• • Students currently enrolled in MA or PhD programmes in Social Sciences at SAU or in any university across the globe.
  • Applicants from any academic institutions in South Asia and beyond shall have a good academic record in terms of grades in the coursework.
  • A strong interest in academic research and alignment with faculty research areas is essential.

Application Process

1. Identify Faculty Mentor: Students must independently contact faculty members in the Faculty of Social Sciences based on shared research interests.
2. Proposal Discussion: The student and faculty member should mutually agree on tasks and duration concurrent with the duration of vacation.
3. Faculty Confirmation: Once confirmed, the faculty member should submit a formal endorsement to the Dean along with a CV, Cover Letter and a proposal/action plan of the applicants.
4. Committee Vetting: A four-member faculty committee presided by the Dean, FSS, will weigh the merit and eligibility of the applicant, and recommend accordingly.
5. Approval and Confirmation: Upon due verification the Dean will issue an official Internship Confirmation Letter upon approval.

Duration and Work Commitment

• • Internships will typically be conducted between May and August (flexible as per faculty availability).
  • Students are expected to commit a minimum of globally accredited hours (e.g., 80–120 hours) during the internship period.
  • Interns must maintain a weekly log or report of hours and activities, to be reviewed by the faculty mentor.
  • The progress report of the internship duly verified by the mentor faculty shall be submitted to the Dean for a decision on the completion of the internship.

Completion and Certification

• • Upon successful completion, interns will receive a Certificate of Internship from the Faculty of Social Sciences duly signed by the mentor faculty and Dean.
  • The certificate will be issued based on:
    • Satisfactory performance and active participation
    • Submission of a final reflective report & any other outcomes (example literature review, research proposal, or publication drafts)
    • Faculty mentor’s written feedback
  • Interns and mentors are encouraged to pursue collaborative publications based on the research undertaken during the internship.

Important Notes

• Internships are unpaid and voluntary.
• Students are responsible for managing their travel, accommodation, and other logistics.
• Only select number of interns will be provided hostel accommodation based on the availability and strong recommendation of the Dean.
• Intellectual contributions made during the internship must be acknowledged in any resulting publications, in consultation with the mentor.
• FSS & SAU shall be duly credited in any internship outcome.

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