Science Practicum

What are the benefits?

• Apply the skills and knowledge gained in your academic studies to a relevant professional environment
• Network with people working in your field and identify career opportunities in your discipline
• Master new skills and reflect on your professional development
• Develop an awareness of work-place culture and expectations
• Add the experience and referees to your CV

Unit Information

• 6 points - Option Unit
• 80 - 100 hours of work placement paired with learning content and assessment
• Work placement paired with learning content and assessment
• Ungraded Pass/Fail
• More information from UWA Handbook

Eligibility criteria

• Must have space in course for 6 point option unit
• Masters student
• Approval from Course Coordinator
• Good Academic Standing
• Good interpersonal skills
• Good written and spoken communication skills

Info sessions

Updates about information sessions events will be via WIL Facebook page, follow us to be alerted once there are information sessions. Information session slides are available upon request via email to wil-sci@uwa.edu.au. 

How to apply

The Science WIL Placement program uses a placement management portal called SoniaOnline to assist students on their placement journey.

To apply, submit your Expression of Interest (EOI) via SoniaOnline. If you are a current UWA student, you will be able to log into SoniaOnline via this link using your UWA Pheme username and password. Once you have logged in, click on the 'Placements' tab at the top and you will see the "Expression of Interest for WIL Science Placement' group, click the green button "+Join" and you will be able to join the Placement Group. There will be detailed instructions on how to navigate SoniaOnline after you have logged in.

As part of the Expression of Interest stage, you will be required to submit the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Unit Eligibility Confirmation Form
• Expression of Interest/Application form

If you have any difficulty logging in or navigating SoniaOnline, please email the Science WIL Placement Team - wil-sci@uwa.edu.au 

FAQs

What is involved in the Science Placement and Practicum units?

The placement and practicum units involve 80 to 100 hours of time spent completing your work placement, plus academic content. Most students complete their placement hours over the course of semester, by attending their workplace one day a week or two half days a week. These arrangements can be discussed in more detail with your placement supervisor. Each unit also includes some contact hours (workshops, lectures, seminars) and several assessment items that are designed for you to reflect on your placement experience. More information about the assignment requirements can be found UWA Handbook.

What do I include in my cover letter?

Your cover letter should be addressed to the Science Placement Coordinator and should explain your reasons for applying to the unit, rather than any specific placement. It is important to include your intentions, key skills and why you believe you are a good candidate. If you wish to include information about your placement preferences or a specific placement you have in mind, please do so.

Do I need to find my own placement?

The WIL Team will help to source placements for students via our network. It is highly recommended that students are also actively sourcing for placements through their own networks so it will help increase chances of securing an opportunity. If you have managed to self-source your own placement, through your own network, you will still need to apply for the Science Work Placement unit and submit your EOI.

How does the placement matching process work?

Upon successful completion of Expression of Interest and Pre-Placement Preparation in the SONIAonline system, students will be invited to join the Placement Board where there will be a list of all opportunities which the WIL Team has sourced for students taking the Science WIL units. When the Placement Board is open, students have about a week to rank their placement preferences, and submit a tailored resume and cover letter for the opportunities. After the Placement Board closes, shortlisted students will be invited for an interview with the host organisations.”  

What happens if a placement cannot be found for me?

The thing to remember is that there is an element of uncertainty with applying to the placement and practicum units. This reflects the uncertainty there is when applying for a job. Your application may be unsuccessful or it may be successful but a suitable placement is not available for you. We work to the deadline of the last day to add a unit and encourage our students to have an alternative unit selective in case a placement cannot be found. This way, should you not be placed or should you decide against the placement you are offered, you are not put at a disadvantage.

I will be travelling when applications close. Will this affect my chances of being accepted?

If you are travelling during the semester break, kindly indicate in your EOI form and we will get in touch if there are any issues regarding key application milestones.

How will an Ungraded Pass affect my GPA?

If you successfully pass the unit, an ungraded pass will have no effect on your GPA and the grades for the remaining 23 units in your degree will be weighted more heavily.