Work Integrated Learning at ALPSS

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) gives Waikato students real-world experience and skills. It's a key part of every bachelor's degree at the ALPSS Division.

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 placements are by invitation only.

** LLB students: WIL component is covered by internships from year 2.

At the 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
  • fulfilling a brief, project or performance for an external client
  • a research apprenticeship or project - for students who are considering enrolling in a postgraduate research qualification
  • 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 work-related individual or group project based in the classroom
  • 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.

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
  • LEGAL306
  • LINGS301
  • MAORI300
  • PHILO318
  • POLCY318
  • POPST300
  • PSYCH 300
  • PSYCH301
  • SOCSC301
  • WRITE396