Internships and work-based learning

ACDI Internship Programme

ACDI's internship program is designed to expose interns to a wide range of experts, topics and tasks within climate change and development research to help them prepare for the next stages in their careers. Interns are expected to make meaningful contributions to ACDI’s ongoing operations and research, in line with their interests, disciplinary background and experience.

The internships are especially beneficial for graduates who are considering a career in research, including those considering further study, or those interested in areas of work related to research such as project management, fundraising or communications.

International and local students can self-fund (i.e., cover their own accommodation and living expenses) an internship at ACDI as part of a study program or for work experience in the sector.  A limited number of small grants to support travel are available for local graduates, on application.

Watch this space for our next call for internships. Paid positions at the ACDI are advertised on our Opportunities page and via our newsletter. Hear more about what ACDI interns have to say about their experiences.

DST-NRF Internships at UCT

The DST-NRF Internship Programme offers unemployed Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) graduates and postgraduates (including those in Social Sciences and Humanities) an opportunity to acquire practical work experience through mentoring and exposure to a research environment.

Each year UCT hosts DST-NRF interns across several departments. South African undergraduates in their final year, and Honours students and Masters students in their final year who are interested in interning at the ACDI or in other UCT departments are encouraged to apply to the DST-NRF internship program when it opens around November each year.

Resources for career advice

Read through ACDI’s early-career blog series on finding meaningful work in the environment and development sectors:  

1. How to create a vision for your career 
2. How to find a job after graduation 
3. Networking your way to professional opportunities 
4. To intern or not to intern? 
5. A recruiter’s guide to cracking job interviews 
6. Career hacks for the 20-something climate change overachiever  

Also, in these blogs by Andrew Hall, Makeya Karlie and Luleka Dlamini, some of the past ACDI interns reflect on their experiences at the ACDI and give some helpful career advice.