Course syllabus Internship 30 credits, Systems Science for Defence and Security
Swedish name: Praktik 30 hp, försvarssystem
Course code:
2FS044
Valid from semester:
Autumn Term 2026
Education cycle:
Second cycle
Scope:
30.0 credits
Progression:
A1F
Grading scale:
Two-grade scale
Main field of study:
Systems Science for Defence and Security
Department:
Department of Systems Science for Defence and Security
Subject:
Systems Science for Defence and Security
Language of instruction:
The teaching is conducted in English.
Decided by:
Forsknings och utbildningsnämndens kursplaneutskott (KUS)
Decision date:
2025-10-21
Entry requirements
Completed courses covering a minimum of 60 credits in the Master’s Programme in Innovation, Defence and Security.
Course content and structure
The course entails a work placement with a public authority, non-governmental organization (NGO) or company in Sweden or abroad operating in the field of defence or security. The student is responsible for obtaining their own work placement. The work placement must receive the prior approval of the examiner before an agreement can be entered into between the student, the workplace and the university. The workplace shall provide the student with support in the form of qualified supervision and a designated contact person.
During the work placement, the student shall participate in the daily working life of the workplace and be offered qualified tasks related to the study programmes main field of study, Defence Systems; for example, in the form of technical management, technical and systems development or authoring project documentation or reports.
Teaching consists of practical supervision, an independent written work placement report and an introductory seminar, as well as a concluding seminar that takes the student’s written report as a point of departure for reflection on the studies and their connection to working life.
Work placement
Work placement report
Seminar
During the work placement, the student shall participate in the daily working life of the workplace and be offered qualified tasks related to the study programmes main field of study, Defence Systems; for example, in the form of technical management, technical and systems development or authoring project documentation or reports.
Teaching consists of practical supervision, an independent written work placement report and an introductory seminar, as well as a concluding seminar that takes the student’s written report as a point of departure for reflection on the studies and their connection to working life.
Type of instruction
Work placement
Work placement report
Seminar
Objectives
Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:
Competence and skills
Judgement and approach
Competence and skills
- analyse the workplace’s societal role, responsibilities and tasks, current development work in the field of study and the demands placed on employees in the sector in which the organisation operates
- taking experiences gained in the workplace as a point of departure, independently and critically reflect on the relationship between the work placement and the knowledge dealt with in the Master’s programme
Judgement and approach
- report on what assessments have been made in the workplace with regard to scientific, social and ethical aspects
- taking experiences gained in the workplace as a point of departure, independently and critically reflect on the possibilities and limitations of science, its societal role and the responsibility of the individual for how it is utilised.
Examination formats
Knowledge will be assessed through following up the student’s work placement, the submission of an individual written work placement report, and participation in two compulsory seminars.
The follow-up will be conducted through the course director checking on the student’s progress twice during the work placement, both with the student themselves and the designated supervisor at the workplace.
In order to achieve a pass, the student shall have attended the workplace and complied with the regulations and undertakings agreed in writing between the student, workplace and university prior to the commencement of the work placement.
Attendance and active participation at seminars is compulsory and cannot be replaced. Students who fail to attend may participate in the seminars the next time the course is held.
The examiner may decide to request supplementary assignments in order for the student to achieve a passing grade on the course. A supplementary assignment (kompletteringsuppgift) shall be submitted no later than five working days after the result and the supplementary assignment for the examination in question have been notified. Examination papers submitted late will not be graded unless special circumstances exist that are acceptable to the examiner.
The student is graded on a two-point grading scale: Pass (G) and Fail (U). Grading criteria are stated in the course description.
A pass (G) requires active participation in the work conducted at the workplace, a pass (G) for the written work placement report and active participation in seminars.
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities.
The follow-up will be conducted through the course director checking on the student’s progress twice during the work placement, both with the student themselves and the designated supervisor at the workplace.
In order to achieve a pass, the student shall have attended the workplace and complied with the regulations and undertakings agreed in writing between the student, workplace and university prior to the commencement of the work placement.
Attendance and active participation at seminars is compulsory and cannot be replaced. Students who fail to attend may participate in the seminars the next time the course is held.
The examiner may decide to request supplementary assignments in order for the student to achieve a passing grade on the course. A supplementary assignment (kompletteringsuppgift) shall be submitted no later than five working days after the result and the supplementary assignment for the examination in question have been notified. Examination papers submitted late will not be graded unless special circumstances exist that are acceptable to the examiner.
Grading
The student is graded on a two-point grading scale: Pass (G) and Fail (U). Grading criteria are stated in the course description.
A pass (G) requires active participation in the work conducted at the workplace, a pass (G) for the written work placement report and active participation in seminars.
Restrictions in number of examinations
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities.
Transitional provisions
When the course is no longer offered or when the course content has changed substantially, the student has the right to be examined once per semester during a three-term period in accordance with this syllabus.
Other regulations
The course cannot be included in a degree with another course whose content fully or partially corresponds to the content of this course.
If the Swedish Defence University has formally decided that the student is entitled to receive special educational support due to a disability, the examiner may decide on alternative examination forms for the student.
Upon completion of the course, the course director will conduct an evaluation, which informs any changes to the course.
Costs incurred as a result of a work placement in a part of Sweden other than the study location (Stockholm) or another country shall be met by the student.
The Swedish Defence University reserves the right to withhold approval of proposed work placements should the organisation in question, or the contact person, be deemed unsuitable. The operations conducted at the workplace shall not be in conflict with the professional ethical foundations that govern the actions of all state employees in Sweden. As the Swedish Defence University is responsible for assessing the suitability of work placements, a proposed workplace may be refused with consideration for the excessive resources required to make such an assessment.
If the Swedish Defence University has formally decided that the student is entitled to receive special educational support due to a disability, the examiner may decide on alternative examination forms for the student.
Upon completion of the course, the course director will conduct an evaluation, which informs any changes to the course.
Costs incurred as a result of a work placement in a part of Sweden other than the study location (Stockholm) or another country shall be met by the student.
The Swedish Defence University reserves the right to withhold approval of proposed work placements should the organisation in question, or the contact person, be deemed unsuitable. The operations conducted at the workplace shall not be in conflict with the professional ethical foundations that govern the actions of all state employees in Sweden. As the Swedish Defence University is responsible for assessing the suitability of work placements, a proposed workplace may be refused with consideration for the excessive resources required to make such an assessment.