Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program (UPOP)

The Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program (UPOP) is a structured internship program that provides you valuable real-world work experience. This opportunity is designed to prepare you for your future career, expand your job options, boost your confidence, and enhance your competitiveness in the workplace.

You have the flexibility to choose internships that align with your major or explore opportunities in other fields. You can either find internships on your own or have them arranged by your course instructors or offering units. This program is a great way for you to gain practical experience and make meaningful connections in your chosen profession!

Fulfillment of Requirements

To meet the 3-credit requirement for UPOP, you need to complete a preparatory training course and a 2-credit UPOP course.
Expand / Collapse All

The Preparatory Training Course is a credit-bearing non-common-core course on pre-internship training. It covers essential topics to prepare you for your internship experience, including:

  • Workplace Ethics: Learn the principles of professionalism and ethical behavior in the workplace.
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV) Writing: Discover how to create an effective CV that highlights your skills and experiences.
  • Communication Skills: Develop the ability to communicate clearly and effectively in various professional settings.
  • Interview Techniques: Gain tips and strategies for acing job interviews.
  • Networking: Understand how to build professional relationships that can support your career.
  • Job Offer Management: Learn how to evaluate and negotiate job offers.
  • Time Management: Master techniques for managing your time effectively in a work environment.
  • Problem-Solving Skills: Enhance your ability to identify and address challenges in the workplace.

The Prerequisites (Preparatory Training Course) includes:

  • GNED 2510 Career Building
  • SCIE 1100 Career Building for Science Students (Exclusion(s): GNED 2510, GNED 2520)
  • SHSS 1030 Career Building for GCS and QSA Students (Exclusion(s): GNED 2510)
  • UPOP 1920 Career Readiness Training Program

You can also take credit-bearing pre-internship training courses offered by your school/department if these courses are approved. 

You will participate in actual internship practices, where you are required to work for at least six consecutive weeks or a total of 240 hours in full-time internships (or an equivalent amount for part-time internships) within the academic year, from September 1 to August 31 of the following year. This experience will be under the supervision of your course instructor(s) and work supervisor(s).

You are allowed to receive a salary from their employers upon approval from the Dean of the respective course offering school for UPOP courses. 

At the end of the course, you will conduct presentations about your internship experiences. It allows you to showcase your achievements and the contributions you made in your internship role, which can be beneficial for your resume and professional portfolio.

Course Description or Syllabus

Expand / Collapse All

The course is open to all undergraduate students, with priority given to Year 2 students or above. It aims at empowering students in making rewarding career choices by 1) introducing the career planning process, 2) enhancing their understanding of the current job market and employers' expectation, and 3) equipping them with essential and practical job search skills like CV writing, interview, aptitude test, group discussion, etc. so as to increase their competitiveness. Experiential learning opportunities and personalized feedback will be provided to prepare students for the recruitment process. Seasoned practitioners from different sectors will be invited to shed light on recruitment criteria and industry updates. Graded DI/PA/F. Detailed course contents are available at the Career Center website.

This is a prerequisite for UPOP 2920.

For Science students only. Co-offered by the School of Science and the Career Center (Dean of Students' Office), this course helps students in exploring careers within the arena of Science and beyond. To achieve this, it guides students to have basic understanding of the career planning process, the current job market and employers' expectation in different fields. This course also equips students with practical job application skills, such as the skills for resume writing, aptitude tests, interviews, group discussions, etc. Experiential learning opportunities and individual feedback will be provided to actively engage students in the learning process. Graded DI, PA or F.

This is a prerequisite for UPOP 2920.

Co-offered by the School of Humanities and Social Science and the Career Center of the Dean of Students' Office, this course helps students in exploring careers within the arena of Humanities and Social Science and beyond. To achieve this, it guides students to develop basic knowledge of the career planning process, the current job market and employers' expectation in different fields. This course also equips students with practical job application skills, such as the skills of resume writing, aptitude tests, interviews, group discussions, etc. Experiential learning opportunities and individual feedback will be provided to actively engage students in the learning process. Instructor's approval is required for enrolling in the course. Graded DI, PA or F.

This is a prerequisite for UPOP 2920.

UPOP 1920 is a 1-credit free elective preparatory training course, and the prerequisite for UPOP 2920.

Syllabus (Spring 2024-25)

UPOP 2920 is a 2-credit Common Core course. 
Once you complete this together with UPOP 1920, you will earn 3 credits counting towards UPOP credit requirement. 

Syllabus (Summer 2024-25)