My internship at UiB Brussels

The internship has been extremely educational and valuable in many ways. I truly had the chance to step into the “Brussels bubble” and gain an understanding of European cooperation and Norway’s participation in a way that would not have been possible without being physically present in the city.

What did you do during the internship?

The tasks at the office vary a lot, which is part of what makes it so exciting. Some days were mainly spent in meetings, writing briefings, and following up on events or projects, while on other days I worked more independently on updates or communication tasks. I also had the opportunity to attend a number of seminars and conferences in Brussels, which meant learning a great deal about both the EU and research policy “in the field.” There are usually several events each week, some days include lunch meetings, conferences, or seminars during the day, while other days involve evening events. These are often attended together with other interns, both international and Norwegian.

Most days started at the office, where we would go through the plan for the day, read emails, and catch up on EU news. Every Monday, we reviewed everyone’s calendar and updated the rest of the office on the week’s plans and goals.

What was the most valuable aspect of the internship?

The most valuable part of my internship, apart from the practical work experience, was the opportunity to combine living abroad with professional experience. Being physically present in Brussels allowed me to attend many events and gain insights I would never have had as a regular student, either in Norway or on exchange.

What advice would you give to future students?

If you see an internship that seems interesting, apply. It might not seem as exciting as going on exchange, but it is highly valuable experience to have on your CV. It also allows you to test whether these types of tasks are something you are genuinely interested in pursuing in your future career.

If you are considering Brussels but are worried about being alone in an unfamiliar country, there is no need to be. There is a large network of Norwegian interns (especially many from UiB through the Bachelor’s programme in Comparative Politics) in Brussels each semester. People are good at organising social activities together, so it is easy to quickly get to know others in the same situation.

What do you take away from completing the internship?

The internship has been extremely educational and valuable in many ways. I truly had the chance to step into the “Brussels bubble” and gain an understanding of European cooperation and Norway’s participation in a way that would not have been possible without being physically present in the city. The internship also gave me valuable insight into both the Norwegian university sector and broader research and innovation policy. These are experiences I bring with me as I write my master’s thesis and as I begin looking for jobs.

All in all, I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to spend an autumn in the European capital, and I encourage anyone considering it to apply.