Work Integrated Learning (WIL) in ALPSS Division

WIL in Te Wānanga o Ngā Kete - Arts, Law, Psychology & Social Sciences Division gives our students real-world experience and skills, increasing their employability and readiness for work.

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) is a is a unique feature of Bachelors' degrees at the University of Waikato that is part of our commitment to help every learner reach their career ambitions, and it is a compulsory component of all undergraduate degrees.

WIL provides our students with hands-on experience, applying theory to real-life practice and developing essential personal and professional skills that will prepare them for the future workforce.

Organisations that work with our students benefit from skilled and motivated temporary staff delivering fresh perspectives and ideas, along with an opportunity to recruit and so providing potential for growth.

A Work Integrated Learning (WIL) paper is embedded in each of our undergraduate degrees, in the third year of the:

* BEP students: WIL is woven throughout the degree, but a placement may be done as an elective.

** LLB students: the WIL component is covered under LEGAL306.

In ALPSS Division your WIL paper options are influenced, and sometimes prescribed, by your degree major and could be:

  • a work placement or internship - for students who are looking to benefit from immersion in a workplace environment (volunteer or paid)
  • fulfilment of a work-related project or performance usually for an external organisation
  • a place in the Impact Lab – working as part of a pan-divisional team on a cross-disciplinary project focussing on real sustainability issues faced by our surrounding communities
  • a taught paper – covering ethics at work, geographic information systems or global environmental politics and policy

Our Work-Integrated Learning Co-ordinator works with each ALPSS student to decide on an appropriate WIL paper that aligns with their degree, skills and intended career path.

Each year, around the middle of Trimester B, there is a WIL Information Session that you can attend to learn more about the options for WIL in ALPSS Division and talk to WIL paper convenors.

The MyWIL portal provides you with easy access to information about WIL and your work placement. See wil.waikato.ac.nz/ for more information.

If you'd like to know more about the ALPSS WIL programme, please don't hesitate to get in touch at wil.alpss@waikato.ac.nz.

ALPSS WIL papers

  • ALPSS301
  • ALPSS363
  • ARTSW300
  • ARTSW301
  • ARTSW302
  • GEOGY328
  • MAORI300
  • PHILO318
  • POLCY318
  • WRITE396

To submit a proposal for a work placement (for ALPSS301)

Apply here

Contact Information

ALPSS WIL Advisor

Andrea Mercer
Hamilton Campus: Room J.G.21 (PVC's Office)
07 838 4056