SUMMER INTERNSHIP GUIDE
The purpose of this Guide is to inform students who will undergo different types of internships on various topics they may wish to learn about.
Written by Gökhan TAKAN Ph.D.
PHILOSOPHY:
The philosophy of the internship is a pre-test of your professional life after graduation. For this reason, when selecting an internship placement, it is recommended to choose a sector or role that aligns with your post-graduation career plans or interests.
Mandatory internship work is carried out in three different formats:
- Within the public or private sector in the Republic of Türkiye,
- Abroad,
- Abroad within the scope of the Erasmus framework.
We begin with the first category, which is the most common and requires the most administrative procedures.
1. Internship to be Completed in the Republic of Türkiye and Its Conditions
The internship program, which must be completed during the summer period of the 3rd year of your undergraduate education, is a mandatory academic requirement for your graduation. Planned to last for at least 30 uninterrupted business days, the core steps and procedures of this process are structured below:
The selection and determination of the public institution or private sector organization where the internship will be conducted is entirely the student's responsibility. Our department will not directly intervene in finding an internship placement. The primary goal of this approach is to enable students to gain professional competence by experiencing post-graduation career planning and independent job-seeking dynamics (interview processes, professional communication, etc.) in advance.
Once you have determined your internship placement, you will visit the organization with the “Department Internship Application Form” provided in Supplement 1. If your interview is positive and you receive informal approval, fill out the relevant section of the form by obtaining the necessary organization details from the authorized person. Then, complete the remaining sections concerning yourself. Ensuring that the information provided is complete is of utmost importance in certain cases. You must send this document with insurance documents via email to the specified address (gokhant@metu.edu.tr).
Social Security (SGK) and Insurance Requirements
Pursuant to legal regulations, it is mandatory for you to be insured by the state during the internship period. The primary parameters to consider in this context are:
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The Social Security Institution (SGK) system allows data entry only 15 days prior to the start date of the internship. Once the Supplement 2 form is submitted and processed into the system, no date changes can be made under any circumstances. Regardless of whether you are a Turkish citizen or an international student, this form must be completed and emailed to gokhant@metu.edu.tr at the earliest 1 month prior to the internship start date. These collected documents will be consolidated and forwarded to the METU Department of Personnel. Therefore, calculate the start and end dates you write on this document carefully.
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The internship process cannot be split or conducted intermittently due to summer school or other reasons. Continuous and insured work is essential.
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Your SGK employment statement will be reflected under the 4A section of the e-Devlet portal a few days before the start of your internship. This document must be downloaded and printed prior to the internship and kept physically with you when going to the institution or company.
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An additional document regarding SGK must be filled out, signed, and sent to me. These documents are titled “Declaration and Commitment” named Supplement 3 and Supplement 4. You will only fill out one of them:
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Supplement 3: To be filled out if you are covered by health insurance through your family.
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Supplement 4: To be filled out if you are not covered by any insurance system.
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Regardless of your status, you will still be insured during the internship period.
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Before heading to your internship placement, download your SGK document via e-Devlet.
Document Supplement 5 “TR-Internship Certificate” is the most critical document in this file. Write your name and surname on this document, staple a passport-sized photograph to the upper right corner, place it in an envelope, and hand it over to your supervisor at the institution. At the end of the internship, they will evaluate your performance, place the document in the envelope, seal/sign the back, and hand it back to you. This will be the primary and most important document you must bring back to me.
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In accordance with the new practice enacted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, international students undergoing mandatory internships are required to apply for a work permit exemption. Within this scope, applications must be made through the E-exemption (E-Muafiyet) system by selecting the clause "Student Subject to Mandatory Internship" (Zorunlu Staja Tabi Öğrenci).
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IMPORTANT!!!: Following up on and fulfilling these procedures is your responsibility. You must obtain the E-exemption approval before your social security insurance applications can be made.
Guidelines for Work Permit Exemption Application for Mandatory Internship
1. Required Documents for Application
During the application on the E-exemption system, the foreign national must submit the following documents:
- Passport Copy: A current passport copy.
- Biometric Photo: A color, full-face biometric photo taken within the last 6 months against a white background, clearly showing the face and making the person easily identifiable.
- Student Certificate: A student certificate issued within the last 2 months with a current date, approved by the relevant university, and issued in a verifiable format. The certificate must be issued within the current academic term.
- Mandatory Internship Document (Official Letter): An approved official document with an electronic signature and verification code, issued in a verifiable format by the relevant university or public institution. It must contain the foreign student's identity details and detailed information about the workplace and vocational training program under which the mandatory internship will take place. The start and end dates of the internship activity must be explicitly stated in day/month/year format. This document is to be prepared by the student, and subsequently signed by me. Document named Supplement 7 “7INTERNSHIP_e-exemption_Suppl-7” in the attachments.
- Internship Agreement: An internship agreement containing information regarding the internship activity to be carried out, signed by all three parties—by me, the employer accepting the student within the scope of the internship activity, and the foreign student—must be uploaded.
Note on Preparation: This document is to be prepared by the student and the internship provider (employer), and subsequently signed by me.
2. Important Rules & File Formatting Standards
File Formatting Requirements
- All documents uploaded to the system during the application must be in color and strictly in PDF format.
- Photos taken with mobile phone cameras are strictly prohibited. Original PDF files must be obtained directly from the university/issuing body and uploaded.
Date Alignment Rules
- The exemption start and end dates entered in the e-Exemption system must strictly match the dates specified in the official mandatory internship document.
- If a discrepancy is detected between the requested exemption end date and the internship end date in the official letter, you must either:
- Update the requested exemption end date in the system to match the date on the official letter, or
- Obtain and upload a new official letter whose dates match the exemption end date requested in the system.
3. Legal Status & Location-Based Application Rules
Applications Made Within Türkiye
- Domestic applications must be submitted while foreign nationals are legally present in the country.
- The application must be completed before the validity period of the foreign national's ongoing residence permit, work permit, or work permit exemption expires.
Applications for Persons Without an Active Permit / Applying from Abroad
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Foreign nationals who do not hold a valid permit must apply:
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Within Türkiye: Prior to the expiration of their visa or visa exemption period.
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From Abroad: By contacting the Turkish foreign mission (Embassy/Consulate) in their country of residence to obtain a reference number, and applying online from abroad before entering Türkiye.
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If the foreign national possesses a Foreigner Identification Number (YKN) starting with 98 or 99, this number must be entered into the system during application to verify legal presence in Türkiye on the application date.
PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED DURING THE INTERNSHIP
Throughout the internship, it is essential that you act with the awareness of representing Middle East Technical University (METU) and maintain professional boundaries. The organizational culture and specific dress code regulations of the host institution (e.g., clinical or military health units) must be harfiyen followed. In general, a rational, professional, and composed appearance and communication style suitable for institutional seriousness must be adopted.
To ensure that the internship operation is recorded in accordance with academic standards, the following procedures must be followed:
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On the first day of your internship, physically deliver your photo-attached internship certificate to your authorized supervisor at the institution.
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A standard logbook (without any specific page or binding standard requirement) must be maintained to create a systematic record of daily operations and executed techniques. Each page must have the date written in the upper right corner, and the applied procedures must be documented step-by-step. For routine procedures, concise notes avoiding repetition, such as "Previous day's routine analysis repeated," may be entered. Upon completion of the internship, the final page of the logbook must be stamped and signed by the responsible supervisor.
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At the conclusion of the internship, the evaluation certificate you submitted to your supervisor must be received back in a sealed, stamped, and signed envelope.
In addition to the documents received from the institution, a 1-page (A4) evaluation report must be prepared, which will be reviewed under strict confidentiality ("for my eyes only"). This document, which must feature your full name and wet signature at the bottom, should include:
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A bulleted summary of the institution, date ranges, and technical skills/methodologies acquired.
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An analytical and candid evaluation paragraph detailing the institution's general attitude toward interns, working environment dynamics, treatment experienced, and recommendations/warnings for future students.
These three core materials (Laboratory Logbook, Sealed Envelope Certificate, and Feedback Report) must be retained by you until the end of the semester in which you register for the BIO360 course during your graduation period. Documents must not be delivered until an official call email is sent by me prior to final exams. To maintain record integrity, it is critical not to bring the documents to the department before receiving this call email.
2. Internships Conducted Abroad
Internships conducted abroad outside of the Erasmus program show parallels with those conducted in Türkiye. You should fill Supplement 1, 2, and 6.
You are still required to keep a logbook, write a report, and have the English photo-attached certificate completed and sealed. However, some laboratories or organizations may not allow you to keep a logbook or export data due to confidentiality of research results. In such cases, obtaining a short official letter from your host institution stating these terms will exempt you from the logbook requirement.
Before leaving for your internship, complete the "ENG-Internship Certificate" provided in Supplement 6, staple your photo, place it in an envelope, and hand it over to your supervisor at the beginning of the internship. Upon completion, receive your evaluated certificate in a sealed and signed envelope from the institution.
These two documents (Logbook and Certificate) must be brought to me after receiving an email prior to final exams in the semester you register for the BIO360 course. Do not bring any of these documents before receiving this email.
3. Internships Conducted Within the Scope of Erasmus
The Erasmus internship program is an activity managed entirely by the University's Erasmus Office; our role is limited to signing forms once or twice. You should fill Supplement 1, 2, and 6.
The internship work under Erasmus also runs parallel to the procedures for domestic internships. You are required to maintain a logbook and obtain the photo-attached English certificate. If confidentiality restrictions prevent logbook keeping, a brief official statement from the institution will exempt you from this requirement. Ensure that Supplement 6 "ENG-Internship Certificate" is completed with your photo attached in a sealed envelope and delivered to your supervisor at the start of the internship. Retrieve the completed certificate in a sealed, signed envelope upon conclusion.
These two documents (Logbook and Certificate) must be submitted to me following an official email call before final exams during the final semester when you register for the BIO361 course. Do not submit these documents until you receive this email.
For both Sections 2 and 3 (Internships Abroad), you will be required to obtain private health insurance. You must contact insurance providers, obtain quotes, decide on a suitable option, and arrange your own insurance coverage.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Once all these procedures are completed and you have registered for the BIO360 or BIO361 course, you cannot participate in any other activity containing the word "internship".