Interest in learning through work experience as a part of higher education has increased during the last decades. In this dissertation the focus is on internships, because they are the most influential form of learning through work experience organized by Finnish universities of applied sciences. A connective model has been used to examine how learning at school and work has been combined. This study explores how teachers, graduates and employers have experienced the internships. However, the purpose of the study is not only to explore the connective model but also to redefine it in the light of the study results.