Industry placements and projects

A single-disciplinary placement subject is designed specifically for students within a particular study area (such as Engineering or Psychology) or course.

A multi-disciplinary placement subject is open to eligible students from a range of courses and disciplines across the University.

Industry placement or project subjects are available to eligible students who have room for elective subjects in their degree and want to gain practical industry experience through Work-Integrated Learning (WIL).

They are designed primarily for students whose course does not already include a compulsory placement, although some courses may list them as core options.

To enrol, you will generally need to:

• Have elective space in your course.
• Meet the minimum credit point requirement for the subject.
• Meet any subject-specific prerequisites or course eligibility requirements listed in the La Trobe Handbook.
• Be able to complete any required placement compliance checks, such as a Working with Children Check or Police Check, if required by your placement host.

Yes. For many industry placement subjects, you can source your own placement organisation, provided it meets the subject requirements and is approved by La Trobe University before your placement begins.

If you arrange your own placement, you'll need to ensure that the organisation:

• Provides meaningful work aligned with your learning outcomes.
• Has appropriate supervision in place for the duration of your placement.
• Meets La Trobe's workplace health, safety and insurance requirements.
• Completes any required documentation so the placement can be assessed and approved by the University.

Before contacting organisations or confirming a placement, check the requirements for your placement subject and speak with your Subject Coordinator or the Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) team to confirm the organisation is suitable.

This helps avoid delays in the approval process and ensures your placement can be recognised for academic credit.

Yes. If you successfully complete an approved industry placement subject, you will receive academic credit towards your La Trobe University degree, just like any other credited subject. Your placement is assessed through the associated placement subject and contributes to your course progression.

To receive academic credit, you must:

• Be enrolled in an approved industry placement subject before your placement begins.
• Complete an approved placement that meets the subject's learning outcomes and required placement hours.
• Submit all required assessments and placement documentation.
• Meet the assessment requirements to successfully pass the subject.

Simply completing work experience or an internship outside of an enrolled placement subject does not automatically earn academic credit. Your placement must be approved by the University and form part of a credit-bearing subject.

If you're unsure which placement subject is right for your course, check the La Trobe Handbook or speak with your Course Coordinator or La Trobe’s Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) team before enrolling. They can help you identify an eligible placement subject and explain how it counts towards your degree.

Yes. At La Trobe, international students have access to the same industry placement and project subjects and opportunities as domestic students. These experiences give you the opportunity to gain valuable industry experience in Australia while earning credit toward your degree.

Your course may have compulsory placement requirements, or you can choose to complete an industry placement or project, provided you meet the eligibility requirements and have space in your degree. As an international student, you’ll need to ensure that any hours you undertake as part of a placement or project comply with the conditions of your student visa.

Learn more about working with your visa.