Student experiences

How SUBE students grew through their internships

An internship is more than just a requirement — it’s a bridge between the classroom and the real world.

Our students reflect on how their internship helped them grow both professionally and personally, and how the Master in Sustainable Urban Bioscience Engineering (SUBE) prepared them for the challenge. 

💡 From classroom to practice

“Whether it was about permeability of paving materials, flood mitigation techniques, or even stakeholder participation, I was constantly reminded of how much relevant content we had already been exposed to during the programme. This back-and-forth between academic theory and real-life application was not only satisfying, but also gave me confidence in the value of what we’ve been learning.”

SUBE student, 2025

“The assignments from the Master’s programme were a valuable preparation for my internship. They equipped me with experience in both targeted and broad-scale problem-solving and critical thinking.”

SUBE student, 2025

🚀 Entering the professional world

“Thanks to this internship, I now have a much clearer understanding of what the professional world looks like, especially the field of consultancy.”

SUBE student, 2025

“The internship shaped my career aspirations significantly. Exposure to large-scale projects enthralled me with the prospects of contributing to and learning from sophisticated urban planning and ecological endeavours.”

SUBE student, 2025

“This experience has not only enriched my academic and professional journey but has also instilled in me a renewed sense of purpose and motivation for the path ahead.”

SUBE student, 2025

🔄Systems thinking & Interdisciplinary collaboration

“The integration of various disciplines […] provided valuable insights into how professionals from diverse fields collaborate to address complex sustainability challenges. Similarly, the SUBE programme prepares students to tackle urban and environmental issues by combining principles of bioscience, engineering, and sustainability.”

SUBE student, 2025

“The master provided a strong foundation in systems thinking, which helped me understand the interconnectedness of biodiversity, climate risk, and urban resilience.”

SUBE student, 2025

🏙️ Understanding the Professional Landscape

“Despite the stress and occasional time crunch, I strongly believe that the internship component is a crucial part of the programme. […] It gave me exposure to challenges that are rarely addressed in the classroom, such as economic feasibility and political dimensions.”

SUBE student, 2025

“Having the internship as a mandatory part of the programme is an excellent idea. I feel like it gives students the opportunity to discover the ‘real world’.”

SUBE student, 2025

🚀 Personal and professional growth

“This internship was an indispensable experience, both as part of the SUBE Master’s programme and for the enrichment of my technical skill set and personal development.”

SUBE student, 2025

“This internship has been an invaluable opportunity for self-reflection and growth. It has prepared me to face future challenges with greater confidence and competence.”

SUBE student, 2025

“While the comfort zone may feel safest, real progress rarely happens there.”

SUBE student, 2025

Interested in a real-life example? Check out Louis’s internship at The Ecological Entrepreneur here.

Want to know more about what internships look like?