Bachelor of Business work integrated learning

In AUT’s Bachelor of Business, you complete work integrated learning as part of the final semester. It’s a great opportunity to experience real-life learning and gain valuable workplace experience before you graduate.

Work integrated learning options for business students

There are five options for work integrated learning in your Bachelor of Business:

Co-operative Education (Capstone Experience) is a one-semester, 60-point course you complete as a 9-week full-time (37.5 hours per week) placement. It’s an opportunity to apply what you’ve learnt in your business major(s) by spending time in an organisation related to your studies.

When you can do your Co-operative Education (Capstone Experience)

You can complete your Co-operative Education once you’ve completed your level 5 core courses and at least two level 7 courses in your business major.

There are five intakes each year.

  • Semester 1 – intakes 1 and 2
  • Semester 2 – intakes 3 and 4
  • Summer School – intake 5

Dates are available on Canvas

Planning to do postgraduate study? The Capstone Project is an alternative option to Co-operative Education for students who want to do postgraduate study. Like Co-operative Education, this pathway is also worth 60 points and takes place over 9 weeks.

You’ll undertake a role as an applied researcher in your specified discipline and complete a relevant piece of research equivalent in duration to full-time work over a 9-week period.

Canvas information for the Capstone Project

Let us know if you want to do this option

You need pre-approval from the co-op team to complete this option. To arrange an appointment to request this email coophelpdesk@aut.ac.nz

Want to experience placements in different organisations? The gig option allows for placements in two organisations for 15 to 20 hours each during the 9 weeks of the placement period.

If you want to complete your placement in your own business or in a business that your family owns, you need pre-approval from our team.

During your placement, you must have an independent mentor who is not a member of your family, extended family or a close friend.

Let us know if you want to do this option

You need pre-approval from the co-op team to complete this option. To arrange an appointment to request this email coophelpdesk@aut.ac.nz

Application forms will be sent to you once you have approval.

For a virtual internship you work for a company overseas – you’ll be placed with an international company to work on specific tasks or projects in the same way that you would be if you completed your placement in New Zealand.

Benefits of a virtual internship

  • Experience working for an overseas company with their local staff
  • Develop professional networks overseas

Virtual internships are run through an outside provider and there are additional costs – you can find more information on Canvas.

Let us know if you want to do this option

You need pre-approval from the co-op team to complete this option. To arrange an appointment to request this email coophelpdesk@aut.ac.nz

What to do before starting work integrated learning

The process for the workplace experience as part of your degree is similar to how you would secure a job in a real-life workplace. The steps in this process are a great way to showcase your attention to detail, communication skills and professionalism.

You need to complete the steps below before you can start your work integrated learning placement.

How to find a placement

You’ll need to find your own placement/co-operative education opportunity. You can find some placement opportunities on Elab Online or you can contact organisations directly and arrange your own placement.

VISIT ELAB ONLINE

When to complete this process

You typically need to start working on this and complete the steps below at least three months before you’re planning to start your workplace experience. For example, if you plan to do work integrated learning in the second semester of your third year, you need to complete these steps in the first semester of that year.

If you meet the minimum requirements, you can enrol in the course BUSS701 Co-operative Education - Capstone Experience.

You can enrol via My AUT.

Drop-in sessions are currently available

During the semester, weekly and monthly drop-in sessions are held:

  • At the City Campus; or
  • Online

Dates and times will be posted on Canvas.

You can also attend the following employability workshops to build your interviewing and networking skills:

  1. Building Networks and Introduce Yourself Professionally
  2. Goal Setting Success
  3. Job Interview Tips
  4. Job Search Strategies
  5. LinkedIn Part 1 - Create an engaging LinkedIn profile

Search events (Elab Online)

Prepare to build your CV by:

  1. Attending employability workshops: tips for writing a winning CV and cover letter
  2. Getting your CV checked – submit it to the CV dropbox on Elab Online
  3. Making necessary changes until the CV specialists approve your CV

Build your CV and cover letter (Elab Online)

Not sure how to find a placement that's right for you? Don't worry; we can help.

To help you find a placement, you can:

Having trouble finding a placement?

You can:

Once you have identified an appropriate placement, complete the following application form:

Co-operative Education Capstone Experience and Capstone

Let us know if you want to do these options

  • Family/own business option
  • Capstone Project
  • Virtual internship option

You need pre-approval from the co-op team to complete these options. Email coophelpdesk@aut.ac.nz so we can assess your eligibility and provide you with the appropriate application form.

Once you’ve completed your application, upload it to Canvas.

You’ll be able to do this approximately one week before your application is due, and you’ll get a reminder email if you’re enrolled

Once you have completed the steps above, the co-op team will review your application (this make take up to 14 days).

Once approved, you will see your course appear in Canvas and you will get an alert.

Now is a really good time to start getting prepared for your placement:

  • Select the preparatory workshop of your choice in Arion
  • Attend preparatory workshops
  • Do your research – find out more about the company or organisation you’ll be working for
  • Download the co-op guidelines on Canvas.
  • Contact coophelpdesk@aut.ac.nz for other questions or to book an appointment with one of the team

You’re now ready to complete your placement.

Contact details

Get in touch if you're currently studying at AUT and have questions about work integrated learning as part of your Bachelor of Business degree:

Email: coophelpdesk@aut.ac.nz

India Rose Gallagher
Tessa Williams
Jason Baxendine
Patricia Ysabel Flores Dela Cruz
Natasha
India Rose Gallagher
Hear from our studentsIndia Rose GallagherBachelor of Business in Marketing, Advertising, Retailing, Sales“In my final year, I very much enjoyed my workplace experience where I could apply what I’d learnt in class in the real world. Being able to get a taste of a real marketing role was such an awesome opportunity and really helped me develop my skills.”“In my final year, I very much enjoyed my workplace experience where I could apply what I’d learnt in class in the real world. Being able to get a taste of a real marketing role was such an awesome opportunity and really helped me develop my skills.”
Tessa Williams
Hear from our studentsTessa WilliamsBachelor of Business & Bachelor of Communication Studies conjoint programmes“I completed a three-month placement at The Warehouse Group for the workplace experience part of my business degree. Through this placement I gained invaluable experience that no classroom environment can teach you, including skills like participating in meetings and managing stakeholder expectations.”“I completed a three-month placement at The Warehouse Group for the workplace experience part of my business degree. Through this placement I gained invaluable experience that no classroom environment can teach you, including skills like participating in meetings and managing stakeholder expectations.”
Jason Baxendine
Hear from our studentsJason BaxendineBachelor of Business in Advertising and Marketing“Being able to gain workplace experience as part of my degree was one of the highlights. I loved working on real-life projects with a local company, MediaWorks TV, as part of my coursework. This gave me a taste of what it was like to work in the industry, and enabled me to network and build my portfolio.”“Being able to gain workplace experience as part of his degree was one of the highlights. I loved working on real-life projects with a local company, MediaWorks TV, as part of my coursework. This gave me a taste of what it was like to work in the industry, and enabled me to network and build my portfolio.”
Patricia
Hear from our studentsPatricia Ysabel Flores Dela CruzBachelor of Business in Economics, with minors in Spanish and Data Analytics for Business “During my last semester, I did a research project on female offenders and victims in New Zealand using Statistics New Zealand’s Integrated Data Infrastructure. I enjoyed working with data, and was interested in furthering my research and learning more about New Zealand’s criminal justice system.” “During my last semester, I did a research project on female offenders and victims in New Zealand using Statistics New Zealand’s Integrated Data Infrastructure. I enjoyed working with data, and was interested in furthering my research and learning more about New Zealand’s criminal justice system.”
Natasha
Hear from our studentsNatasha WadiaBachelor of Business in Marketing with minors in Data Analytics for Business & Information Systems“A highlight was the workplace experience. I was able to gain invaluable first-hand experience working in a corporate marketing role, which significantly contributed to my ability to secure a graduate role straight after I graduated. I gained deeper insights into corporate culture and processes and was lucky to gain invaluable mentorship and guidance.”“A highlight was the workplace experience. I was able to gain invaluable first-hand experience working in a corporate marketing role, which significantly contributed to my ability to secure a graduate role straight after I graduated. I gained deeper insights into corporate culture and processes and was lucky to gain invaluable mentorship and guidance.”
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