INTERN WITH US

we WELCOME university STUDENTS & GRADUATES, Young professionals seeking career experience, and Anyone aged 18+ with passion for conservation to submit your internship APPLICATION with us

JOIN us for your student work placement for 2026

We provide paid internships to students from local universities as part of their degree programme. Malaysian students from related studies are highly encouraged to apply.

Conservation internship program is available for international applicants, 18 years old and above.

Students will work with the TIC Team of staff and interns on all of our projects, gaining valuable practical conservation skills in the field. They will also assist with community awareness and education activities!

get practical hands-on experience & make a difference

WHAT projects will you be helping with?

During your internship, you may expect to participate on the following projects depending on the team that you are applying for:

Internship with Tengah Team @ TAJCC, Pulau Tengah

Daily nesting surveys to collect, safely transfer and incubate the nest at Tengah Island Hatchery via daily boat patrol (7am) to the 7 islands of Besar Clusters and also night patrol at Tengah Island for conservation of the marine turtles in Johor Marine Park. The interns will work in a rotational working shift.

Assist Marine Conservation at our Tengah Island Hatchery maintenance, daily cleanup and nest hatching checks.
Assist Marine Conservation officers:

to conduct hatchling release program and nest excavations with visitors at Tunku Abdul Jalil Conservation Centre and guests of Batu Batu Resort
in conduction marine debris clean-ups and (if have diving license) and underwater clean-ups
in doing coral nursery replanting & monitoring
in doing underwater seagrass monitoring and boat surveys for the Dugong sighting project
to conduct beach profile via drone UAV monitoring and marine debris hotspot surveys across the islands in Johor Marine Park
to conduct educational activities and talks with visitors, guests and resort staff of Batu Batu Resort at Tunku Abdul Jalil Conservation Centre
to conduct outreach program with local communities
in collecting data, data analysis and report writing

Assist Social Media Coordinator in producing social media and content creation for Tengah Island project basis
Assist in other TIC marine conservation projects (willing to be transferred to the needs on a project-by-project basis and programs conducted within TIC)
To greet, respect, and cooperate with other TIC team members across project sites and Batu Batu Resort staffs to foster collaboration and synergy among team members

Internship with Besar Team @ Rumah Eko, Pulau Besar

Assist Project Coordinator for daily operation of Rumah Eko as a sustainable tourism model and eco-learning center for integrated island waste management, sustainable tourism, community engagement and marine life awareness.

This include as below:

assist Project Coordinator on daily rotation of the RIDAN Food Composting system that turns food waste into organic fertilizer
organizing sustainable programs and workshops at Rumah Eko along with Project Coordinator including proper waste management, sustainable practices and upcycling such as the precious plastic machine, glass crushing machine, and making scented candle from used cooking oil
assist in maintaining agro forestry concept garden that can be shared with local communities
assist in supporting Project Coordinator during stakeholders engagement for integrated island waste management especially on recycling and upcycling project
educational activities and talks with Rumah Eko visitors, and upskilling program with resort staffs

Assist Social Media Coordinator in producing social media and content creation for the Rumah Eko project.
Assist in other TIC marine conservation projects (willing to be transferred to the needs on a project-by-project basis and programs conducted within TIC).
To greet, respect, and cooperate with other TIC team members across project sites and Batu Batu Resort staffs to foster collaboration and synergy among team members.

Internship with Mersing Team @ TIC Hub, Mersing Mainland

Facilitate interactive workshops, discussions, and presentations with diverse communities
Supporting in planning and organizing marine awareness roadshows and local events
Coordinate roadshow logistics, including materials, equipment, and travel arrangements
Develop engaging lesson plans and activities tailored for students of various age groups
Deliver interactive and educational sessions about marine conservation in schools
Document events with photos, videos, and reports for future use
Social media and content creation
Assist in other TIC marine conservation projects (willing to be transferred to the needs on a project-by-project basis and programs conducted within TIC).
To greet, respect, and cooperate with other TIC team members across project sites and Batu Batu Resort staffs to foster collaboration and synergy among team members.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

who can be an intern?

Our internship programme is open to Malaysian students who are carrying out a work placement as part of their university studies.

This program is also suitable for:

University students & graduates
Young professionals seeking career experience
Anyone aged 18+ with passion for conservation

age requirements - 18+

We are only able to offer positions to students who are 18 years of age or above. The project involves remote and physically demanding work, as well as solo and night working, with the team living in a shared house.

Where will I be Living?

Depending on the project you applied for, you will be based at one of our project sites on Pulau Tengah, Pulau Besar, or the Mersing mainland, Johor, Malaysia. While some of our projects extend to other islands and locations in Mersing, your primary residence will be at your assigned project site. Interns also subject to being transferred to other TIC marine conservation projects (willing to be transferred to the needs on a project-by-project basis and programs conducted within TIC).

How long is the internship?

The internship programme lasts for:

A minimum of 6 months*, March to August | Tengah Team
A minimum of 6 months*, starting March | Besar Team
A minimum of 3 months*, anytime of the year | Mersing Team

*with the possibility of extension.

You’ll be living and working with our team and receiving training on various conservation skills from sea turtle monitoring, hatchery management, and reef surveys to giving presentations and raising awareness of conservation issues.

how do i apply?

To apply you can send over your application form, cover letter, and CV to:

workwithus@tengahislandconservation.org

with the subject title:

INTERNSHIP APPLICATION 2026 (please state your preferred base TENGAH / BESAR / MERSING / GENERAL)

and tell us a little bit about yourself and why you’d like to intern with TIC.

INTERNSHIP APPLICATION FORM

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

Meals/groceries included (be prepared to cook your own food)

Basic shared accommodation
Transfers between Mersing and designated bases on our scheduled passenger / chartered boat
Uniform T-shirts x 4
Accommodation on the mainland at our TIC Hub for one night before your arrival and during any supply trips during your stay
All project-related costs and equipment
Monthly stipend (amount varies with bases)
Basic dive gears for temporary use (for Tengah Team)

What’s not included:

Travel to and from Mersing
Snacks and personal items
Personal medication (if needed)
Travel insurance

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

Open-minded, outgoing, friendly, and a team player
Passionate about nature and conservation
Assist in other TIC marine conservation projects (willing to be transferred to the needs on a project-by-project basis and programs conducted within TIC)
To greet, respect, and cooperate with other TIC team members across project sites and Batu Batu Resort staffs to foster collaboration and synergy among team members
Confident Open Water Diver (for work involved Tengah Team)
Currently studying conservation, biology, environment or any related field
Very comfortable and confident swimmer (for work involved Tengah Team)
Physically fit and able to walk long distances on sand and in the jungle
Comfortable working at night
Willing to get your hands dirty with fieldwork, beach cleanups, trash sorting, and general chores
Able to communicate in English & Bahasa Melayu (written & spoken)
Willing to obtain travel medical insurance
Comfortable to live in a shared accommodation which is very close to nature
Demonstrate the right purpose and mindset for applying, aligning with the goals and values of the internship
Able to demonstrate professionalism, a positive attitude, and the ability to balance work and enjoyment while respecting team dynamics and boundaries