Internship report requirements
Requirements differ by university and programme, but most internship or industrial training reports ask you to describe the host organisation, your tasks, what you learned and how the experience relates to your studies.
Check the length, structure, required forms (such as supervisor evaluation or logbook), submission deadline and whether a presentation is also assessed. Confidentiality matters: ask your company supervisor what information you may include before you write about internal data.
Standard structure
A common structure is:
- Cover page and declaration
- Acknowledgements
- Executive summary or abstract
- Table of contents
- Introduction (objectives and scope)
- Company background
- Tasks and activities
- Learning outcomes and reflection
- Conclusion and recommendations
- References
- Appendices (logbook, certificates, samples of work)
Follow your programme's template if there is one, and keep a clear link between your tasks and learning outcomes.
Company background and role
Introduce the organisation with its history, products or services, size, structure and main activities. A simple organisation chart helps. Then describe your department, your supervisor and your role.
Keep this section factual and brief. Use public information or approved company material, and cite your sources. The reader wants to understand the setting for your work, not a full company profile.
Tasks, learning outcomes and reflection
For each main task, describe what you did, the tools or methods you used, who you worked with and what the outcome was. Group tasks into themes instead of listing days one by one.
Then link them to learning outcomes: technical skills, soft skills and knowledge from your course that you applied. Reflection goes beyond describing. Explain what was difficult, what you would do differently and how the experience affected your career plans. Use specific examples.
Appendices and logbook
Use the logbook to record daily or weekly activities and attach it as an appendix if required. Other appendices may include supervisor evaluations, certificates, work samples (with permission), photos, screenshots and templates.
Label each appendix and refer to it in the main text. Remove sensitive information, such as client names or financial data, unless you have written approval to include it.
Formatting and common mistakes
Follow the formatting rules your university provides: font, spacing, margins, headings, page numbers and referencing style.
Common mistakes include copying company brochures, listing tasks without reflection, leaving out evidence of learning, submitting without the supervisor's signature and including confidential information. Proofread for consistent tense, usually past tense for tasks, and make sure every table or figure is numbered and explained.