The challenge of finding a job is something that all students face following graduation. Employers value students with pre-existing workplace experience, and those who can readily translate what they learnt at university to the professional world are far more attractive to employers.
We strongly recommend students consider undertaking a placement subject during their course to gain career-ready experience, make valuable industry connections, and gain insight into the types of opportunities available after they graduate. Eligibility criteria apply for enrolment into all WBL subjects.
WBL placements for academic credit
Practical work placements in a real industry setting are offered right across the University. In addition to discipline-specific subjects, we offer a multi-discipline subject, with preference being given to students who do not have a compulsory WBL subject as part of their course.
Core Placement Subjects
Some courses (e.g. Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science) may have core placement subjects. These subjects are compulsory, and students are required to complete an in-industry placement in order to gain professional accreditation.
Elective Placement Subjects
Many WBL subjects are elective, and therefore not compulsory. However, we strongly recommend that students consider undertaking a WBL subject during their course to gain real-life experience, make valuable industry connections, and gain some insight into the types of work available in their field after they graduate.
Work Based Learning subjects by discipline
For detailed information regarding Health and Education placements, please visit the respective pages.
Agricultural Science, Animal and Veterinary Biosciences
Agricultural Sciences, and Animal and Veterinary Bioscience students undertake placements in a wide variety of settings. La Trobe University students have been offered placements in settings such as:
To get information about an individual subject's objectives, requirements and study options, please click on the link below to access the subject specifics in the relevant handbook entry.
Computer Science and IT students at La Trobe are offered a variety of work placement experiences across a number of year levels. Placements are undertaken across a wide variety of industries from government to non-government organisations, small and large companies, and local and international companies.
In the past, La Trobe University students have undertaken work placements with companies such as:
The Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution
To get information about an individual subject's objectives, requirements and study options, please click on the link below to access the subject specifics in the relevant handbook entry.
This subject has been developed to allow students undertaking the Master of Data Science degrees to enhance their formal learning in a practical setting and to develop their understanding of the Australian workplace culture.
It also provides employers with the opportunity to access talented and motivated students to work on meaningful projects of organisational value. Students will undertake 2 days of placement per week over a 12-week period where they will plan, execute and evaluate an appropriate workplace project.
Students will need to have completed their first year of Master of Data Science
Students must submit an Expression of Interest and Resume
Pre-placement preparation workshop
Assessment: resume/cover letter, 2 x Project Reports, Reflective Report and Employer Evaluation
Placement Details
2 days of placement per week over 12 weeks
Streams: Big data and cloud computing, Bioinformatics and Analytical Science
Project based (primarily)
Timing – as per semester dates for Semester 1, Semester 2 and Summer
Mix of self-sourced and university sourced placements
Placements are generally unpaid
Master of Data Science students are skilled in:
Working with Big Data tools like Hadoop, Apache Spark, Hive and cloud computing
The use of Amazon Web Services
Java and Scala programming
Cleaning and transforming data at a large scale
Data visualisation
Using statistical software packages to model data arising from complex study designs
Applying advanced statistical techniques to modern problems
Additionally, students in specialised streams have acquired the following skills:
Data and Cloud Computing
Web development
Predictive analytics
Data mining
Analytical Science
Reproduce, critique and validate complicated statistical analyses in a variety of contexts
Combine evidence from several studies to increase power and make new discoveries
Model longitudinal and other forms of repeated measures data prevalent in modern applications
Bioinformatics
Differential expression analysis using either next-gen sequencing based or microarray data
Cluster analysis and dimensional reduction of large omics data
Pathway analysis of omics data
Statistical analysis of omics data from public repository
Basic analysis of single-cell omics data
Sample size and study power calculations
Placement projects could include:
Analysis and cleaning of Big Data
Predictive analytics: to train a model and make various predictions on test data
Produce reports from aggregated quantities of interest from large data sets
Dimension reduction and visualisation of high-dimension data
The effect of model violations on the analysis of repeated measures
Projects that use omics data to identify transcripts, genes or pathways involved in onset and progression of diseases
Identification of novel biomarkers for better-targeted early intervention or better drug-response
Single-cell omics data analysis
Student Information Session
Information sessions for this subject cover key steps on how to source internship opportunities within your industry. We encourage all students who are interested in the subject STM5IPL to attend an information session as it will equip you with valuable insider information which can also be applied to your job search strategies.
Engineering students at La Trobe University are given the opportunity to complete a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placement in their 4th year of study for the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), a professional qualification accredited by Engineers Australia.
Students are expected to carry out engineering work as if employed by the company for six months. The student’s work is expected to be a contribution to productivity or the company’s strategic goals.
La Trobe University students have worked with a number of high-profile organisations including:
The German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Fraunhofer Society
BMW
Thales Group
Melbourne Water
To get information about an individual subject's objectives, requirements and study options, please click on the link below to access the subject specifics in the relevant handbook entry.
Exercise Science is available to students in the Melbourne campus through the School of Allied Health, and in Bendigo as part of La Trobe Rural Health School.
Students in this discipline aim to become experts in sport and exercise science, with an emphasis on community wellness. La Trobe University students undertake placements in a variety of different settings including:
Community Health settings
Corporate health and wellness
Developing and monitoring exercise programs
Sport injury prevention
La Trobe University has had a partnership with the ERA (Exercise Research Australia) since 2016.
To find out more about an individual subject's objectives, requirements and study options, please click on the link below to access the subject specifics in the relevant handbook entry.
Double degree law students may be eligible to apply for WBL subjects available for Criminology, Biomedicine, Business, Arts, Psychological Science, Commerce, Science, Global Studies, Media & Communication, Politics, Philosophy & Economics. Double degree law students may be eligible to apply for WIL subjects available for Arts and Business students. Check the handbook for more details.
Students undertaking this subject complete their work placement with the Department of Health and Human Services. In order to enrol in this subject, students must have been offered a placement by the Department of Health and Human Services.
To get information about an individual subject's objectives, requirements and study options, please click on the link below to access the subject specifics in the relevant handbook entry.
Alternative Option: Entry into this subject is limited to a set number of students, however students who are not offered a placement for this subject are encouraged to consider cross-discipline Industry Placement Subjects as a possible alternative.
Work placement opportunities are offered to Public Health students as a 3rd year undergraduate elective. Placements take place in a variety of public health settings such as:
To get information about an individual subject's objectives, requirements and study options, please click on the link below to access the subject specifics in the relevant handbook entry.
La Trobe University has a centralised and dedicated team of Industry Engagement experts, working closely with exciting and innovative businesses, across a number of disciplines, to create meaningful industry placement opportunities. These opportunities are available exclusively to students who wish to enrol into the Industry Placement Elective subjects (LTU3IND, LTU5IND and the Industry Placement Minor).
When searching for your own industry placement, it is important that you spend some time creating a targeted approach though identifying industries, companies, projects, and contacts of interest. This will assist you in being clear about what it is that you are looking for and additionally, will help you to build knowledge of possible careers in your discipline area.