UCD Internship Programme Brochure

UCD Quinn Internship Programme

The UCD Quinn Internship Programme provides students with an opportunity to put theory and skills learned in the classroom into practice during their degree. The Quinn Internship Programme is an optional programme which students in Commerce, Economics & Finance and BSc Business can apply to participate in. The duration of internships varies with each programme. We have partnered with a range of companies from multinational professional services firms to local enterprises, to offer paid internships across a range of business disciplines. Our partners have recognised the high calibre of students coming from the Quinn School and increasingly consider these internship opportunities as a fundamental part of their graduate recruitment strategy.

Internship Information for Students

The Year Long Internship Programme is an optional programme open to penultimate-year Bachelor of CommerceBSc Economics and Finance and BSc Business students. During the programme students will register for a year-long online reflective module designed to enhance the learning opportunities available throughout the year. Assessment will be structured on the work-based learning experience during the 9-12 months paid work placement. By choosing this option, successful candidates increase the duration of their degree to four years.

The UCD Quinn School of Business Summer Internship Programme engages with Dublin based organisations to host unpaid business interns for a 6 week placement during the summer months.

Summer internships may be subject to either hybrid or in-person working arrangements, depending on individual company arrangements. Commencing from 24th June through to 1st August 2024 (Mondays to Thursdays), the programme attracts applications from students in top tier undergraduate business schools primarily but not limited to the United States across disciplines such as finance, accounting, marketing, business development, business analytics and HR. 

Follow the Summer Internship - Employer Information link for further information on what this programme can offer and how to get involved as a Partner Employer. You can also contact the Quinn Internship Office on quinnsummerinternships@ucd.ie or 01 716 4716.  

Internship Information for Employers

As an employer, you will have the opportunity to partner with UCD Quinn School on both the

 

View our UCD Internship Programme Brochure for further information or email: quinninternships@ucd.ie

 

Internship Information for Employers

As an employer, you will have the opportunity to partner with UCD Quinn School on both the

  1. Summer Programmes and
  2. Year-Long Internship Programme

View our UCD Internship Programme Brochure for further information.

Student Testimonials

Omar Hassan, KPMG Intern

From day one, KPMG provided me with a structured and comprehensive training program that equipped me with the necessary technical knowledge and skills required for the role. The firm's commitment to professional development ensured that I had access to a wide range of resources. This ensured I was able to contribute effectively to client engagements.

One aspect that truly stood out during my internship was the emphasis on collaboration and teamwork. KPMG fostered a culture of inclusivity, where all team member’s ideas and perspectives were valued. I had numerous opportunities to work on complex projects, collaborating with colleagues from various departments. This exposure not only enhanced my technical abilities but also honed my interpersonal and communication skills, which are crucial in a client-facing role.

My 9-month transfer pricing internship at KPMG Ireland was an incredible learning journey. It provided me with invaluable professional development, exposure to diverse clients, and a supportive network of colleagues. I am immensely grateful for the opportunities I received and the knowledge I gained during my time at KPMG, which I am confident will shape my future career in transfer pricing and beyond. 

Naoise Finnegan, Primark HQ Intern

I completed a 12-month internship in Primark’s HQ as a Trainee Merchandiser. My role as a Trainee Merchandiser was to ensure we get the right product, in the right place, at the right time, in the right quantities. This involved the merchandising and buying teams working closely together to develop ranges to send to over 400 stores globally. 

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Primark. I was given an immense amount of responsibility which was key to my development throughout the year. I gained a wide breadth of skills, both professionally and personally. 

I feel excited heading back to my final year knowing I have found what I love to do! I would highly recommend taking up the opportunity to participate in the internship year offered by the Quinn School, the experience will be invaluable to both your studies and your professional career. 

Wen Xin Lee, Deloitte Intern

I completed my internship in the Audit & Assurance department of Deloitte Ireland. I found the experience very beneficial. I learnt how the industry works in real life and how to apply the knowledge that I learned in the classroom to the working world. I feel I developed my personal and professional skills during my internship. My time management skills and communication have also improved as I needed to work with different teams to meet deadlines.

I am delighted that I decided to complete this internship. I feel I have gained experience and exposure which were completely different from university life. I will make use of the experiences that I gained and the skills that I developed in my future career journey and would highly recommend to anyone to complete the internship programme if possible.

Ellen Jordan, Northwell Health Intern

I chose to take part in the internship year to experience ‘real time’ learning in an active workplace. I interned in Northwell Health where I was able to apply the theories I studied during my course to a vibrant company setting. Northwell Health offered a unique experience by structuring my internship into three stages.  I spent time in government relations, hospital finance and business development. 

This year long internship afforded me to the opportunity to complete my work placement abroad in the USA. I benefitted enormously from a move to a large city like New York. I had to embrace a new job, a new city, a new culture and arduous journey into the world of property. The year also offered me the chance to improve my interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written. I was given responsibility for a variety of tasks. I was required to understand and navigate financial statements and their link to the operational side of the business. The experience was extremely rewarding and affirming, as were the projects for which I had complete responsibility eliciting change.

I would highly recommend the internship year to any student. It was a superb opportunity to improve my skills including networking, communication, organisation and most importantly, the language of professionalism. The internship year allows a student time and space to grow and development their strengths and to work on their weaknesses through positive feedback.

David Spillane, Applegreen Intern

Thanks to UCD I was given the opportunity to gain exposure to the corporate world as an intern. I was a finance intern at Applegreen for ten-months on a rotation-based system to maximise my learning. This rotation system meant I was on a different team within the finance department every two months, which gave me great insight to how everything works. Applegreen is a fantastic example of a rapidly growing business, meaning interns get a lot of responsibility working on smaller teams. 

Personally, I didn’t know which route in the business world I wanted to take, so this was one of my main reasons for doing an internship. Everything about the work was new to me, I had never worked in an office or had a 9-5 job, so it was all a big learning curve. One of the main personal goals through my internship was to talk to people about their experience in different departments. The exposure to all these great people is something I wouldn’t have gotten without this internship opportunity. 

You can take what you want from your internship but deciding on personal goals before beginning really stood to me. Professionalism, leadership, and presenting are some key skills that I developed during my internship. I have used these skills before, but using them nearly every day, all day is when you start to see the benefits.

As a student that also went to New Zealand on exchange, I can only see benefits of this for finding internships. Companies were very happy to see students like myself apply for their internships as it shows adaptability, independence, and flexibility. 

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