Externship 2026
An externship is a job shadowing exercise where early stage researchers learn about how the industry works. Following last year’s trial program, we are excited to offer another formal round of externships.
Main content
A UiB Ferd Externship consists of:
½ day pre-externship training seminar
- Focus on writing a non-academic CV and cover letter
- Interview preparation and practical tips
2–3 days of job shadowing
- Experience a real work environment in a company within either the private or public sector
½ day post-externship reflection session
- Reflect on key learning experiences
- Define next steps for your career development
- Discuss insights into the Norwegian labour market
Take an externship
Advantages of participating in an externship
- Build networks.
- Gain new career perspectives.
- Improve prospects with potential employers.
- Personal growth.
- Reflect on skills, values and core competencies that are valuable to the industry.
- Get to know non-academic workplaces.
- Enhancing non-academic career decision-making strategies.
- Navigate the non-academic job application process.
After completing the externship, you will also receive a reference letter from the host company you were with.
Do you want to sign up?
Visit the application page to sign up
We match applicants with companies continuously, based on the company's wishes and your motivation letters.
Be the host company for an externship
The UiB Ferd Externship is a career development program that consists of three stages. As a company, you will contribute in the second part, which is about exploration (hospitalization in a company).
Advantages
The externship is carried out not only for the benefit of the junior researcher, but also for the host company. Both parties get a chance to observe each other. Successful external positions can, among other things, lead to recruitment opportunities that will be based on a thoroughly informed decision.
- Branding your company.
- Develop your "talent pipeline".
- Get to know the next generation of highly skilled workers.
- Building connections with academia.
- Network building.
Your role is
- to Appoint a person (or a team) to host the junior researcher.
- Plan activities, meetings and tasks.
- Create an external job advertisement. *
- Contact the candidate(s) and agree a period for the externship.
- After the externship, write a reference letter. *
* We will provide you with templates.
What do externs say about the experience?
- Now I do understand how the corporate works
- The people was so relaxed, they new eachother so things happened rapidly
- The culture was laidback, but it was a much faster pace
- There is a huge trust in skills and very little supervision
- Language play a major role
Who is it for?
PhD candidates and postdocs employed at the University of Bergen.
Why is it important?
Not everyone who has started a career in academia will stay in academia.
