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Great opportunity for Master’s students

The interdisciplinary and international programme in environment and natural resources offers internship opportunities for Master’s students at various organisations (NGOs, companies, institutions). The internship is a hands-on elective course that allows students to gain practical experience in areas related to the subjects covered in the study programme. 

The internship is equivalent to 6 ECTS and corresponds to a full-time course load of three weeks (120 hours in total), which can be spread over a longer period, up to a maximum of one semester (13 weeks).

There are two ways to find an internship:

  • Organisations advertise for students for specific internship projects (limited number of positions).

  • Students propose internship projects or enquire about potential projects (in consultation with ENR staff) at specific organisations and develop the project collaboratively.

When positions are advertised, students should submit their applications to umhverfi@hi.is, specifying the internship they are applying for in the subject line. Applicants should indicate the period during which they intend to undertake the internship.

Students are encouraged to enquire about internships and suggest potential projects by contacting umhverfi@hi.is.

The following organisations are official collaborators with the ENR programme and offer internship positions on a regular basis:

 Testimonials from interns and organisations
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As a policy intern with PennFuture during the spring 2023 semester, I focused on researching and analysing solar energy policy in Pennsylvania. Throughout my internship, I primarily worked on two solar projects: editing PennFuture’s Solar Municipal Guide and writing a solar white paper. The solar white paper is a 16-page published document that includes background on solar energy benefits, addresses common myths about solar energy, explains the largest obstacles to solar development, and provides policy recommendations for PA lawmakers. In addition, I wrote three blog pieces on solar energy, conducted legal file reviews, and participated in various meetings and webinars. Overall, my work with PennFuture helped me further develop beneficial skills such as communications, policy analysis, public speaking, and research. This internship was an especially valuable way for me to gain hands-on experience and mentorship in the environmental field as well as strengthen my knowledge of renewable energy policy, a field in which I hope to work after graduation.
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I had the opportunity to do an internship with Samtök iðnaðarins during my Master’s programme. This internship gave me a chance to apply what I had been learning in my classes to a project which was used by the organisation to work towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The work that I did on this project also helped guide me to a topic for my Master’s thesis. This internship allowed me to learn about the organisation and make connections with people in this field. Being new to Iceland, this internship also gave me the experience of working in an Icelandic office and helped me to get a better understanding of the business sector here. Overall, my internship was a great experience, and I was able to successfully complete the project, which helped complete my Master's degree and helped me focus my future job search.
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We at Advania are highly pleased with our collaboration with the ENR programme at the University of Iceland. We were seeking students who could bring a fresh perspective to our sustainability initiatives. The students who have participated in internships with us have gained insights into sustainability reporting, data collection, emission reduction goal-setting, and projects aimed at promoting circular thinking. The internship programme added substantial value to Advania, and it was truly enjoyable to witness the students embrace the challenges we presented to them. We look forward to welcoming more students in the future.
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At Landsvirkjun, we're dedicated to giving students the opportunity to familiarise themselves with our operations and work methods while gaining valuable professional experience in their field, both through summer jobs and internships. We are truly pleased with the collaboration with the Environmental and Natural Resource Science programme at the University of Iceland. Our experience with student internships has truly been positive. Our intern had the chance to engage in various projects and performed excellently. It has been a pleasure to observe their progress in their professional career following the completion of their studies. We look forward to welcoming more interns from the programme.
Why do an internship?

Internships can have positive outcomes for both organizations and students. Organizations gain access to the latest knowledge in various fields and disciplines through students, while simultaneously enhancing their access to the future workforce and strengthening their ties to the university community. Students gain practical knowledge directly aligned with their studies, under the expert guidance of professionals. By the end of the internship, students have cultivated expertise in a specific field, expanded their professional network, and strengthened their prospects for future career opportunities. 

The objectives of the internship are twofold.

  • Firstly, students work on a specific internship project that should comprise at least half of the total internship working hours.
  • Secondly, they participate in general activities at the organization to gain insights into daily activities. Students can enroll in the course at any time outside the traditional registration periods. Grading for the course is pass/fail.
 Is your organisation interested in hosting ENR interns?

The ENR programme has collaborated with over 25 NGOs, companies, and institutions to provide internship opportunities. Organisations are responsible for ensuring that students are provided with dedicated mentors, suitable workspaces, and comprehensive training.

We invite organisations to collaborate by proposing projects to the ENR programme. If your organisation is interested in hosting ENR students, please contact the programme coordinator at umhverfi@hi.is.
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