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Speak to your Internships Administrator

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an internship?

An internship is a pre-professional, supervised work term that provides students and those seeking to change career paths with an opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge acquired in the classroom.

Internships are an excellent way to “try out” an industry/company/role of interest, to gain hands-on experience, and build transferable skills. They also present an invaluable opportunity to increase your understanding of the field, to speak with and observe professional colleagues, and to expand your network. This knowledge and experience can help you identify relevant next steps in your professional journey.

Find more definitions of terms in the Glossary.

When should I start applying for internships?

An ideal time to start applying for a Winter term internship is late Summer/early Fall and for Summer internships in November.

Where should I start to search for internships?

  1. Consult the EDGC Planning Documents for Students
  2. Consult the CaPS Guide to Student On-Campus and Summer Jobs
  3. Consult the ISA Internship Leads Database:
    • Filter Keywords to find organizations you might want to apply to
    • Explore organizations that are already offering internships developed in collaboration with the ISA office
  4. Consult myFuture, ƬƵ University's portal for promoting job opportunities locally, nationally and internationally
  5. Consult which lists paid on-campus student jobs

Can my internship be "anything"?

You can work anywhere in the private, public or non-profit sector, as long as some of the tasks or work assigned to you allow you to address learning competencies for your B.A.(Education) program. You will be asked to identify what learning competencies are being addressed in your placement in the Internship Proposal Form. The Internship Agreement & Learning Plan also asks you to identify learning competencies. Finally, the Student Self-Assessment Form, completed at the end of the internship, will ask students to evaluate the development of these competencies.

What are the B.A.(Education) Learning Competencies?

The following learning competencies are essential skills, knowledge, and behavioural areas designed to connect students’ coursework, internship, co-curricular activities, and other forms of learning. By focusing on these competencies, students will align their education with their long-term goals for and success in today's global educational contexts. As students navigate through their university experience, they are encouraged to use these competencies for self-assessment; goal setting; and collaborating with instructors, staff and advisors (e.g., academic and career), internship site supervisors, and any other support figures and mentors.

Area 1: Insights, Ideas, and Perspectives

  1. Research for Social and Educational Challenges- Engage in practical research to analyze and tackle social and educational challenges, focusing on sustainable solutions.
  2. Science of Learning in Non-Traditional Contexts- Understand and apply the science of learning in unique settings like organizations, individual interactions, and groups.
  3. Engagement with Multiple Knowledge Systems- Integrate diverse epistemologies and ways of being to promote responsive, well-rounded education, encompassing various cultural, historical, and ecological models.
  4. Social Justice, Decolonization, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion- Apply a comprehensive understanding of these principles to create inclusive and equitable learning spaces.
  5. Critical Analysis of Educational and Social Issues- Utilize analytical thinking to identify and address social problems through an educational lens, fostering understanding and effective resolution in various contexts.

Area 2: Enrichening Educational Experiences

  1. Leadership in Learning and Innovation- Embrace entrepreneurship, leadership, and social change principles to become innovative and transformative leaders in education.
  2. Learning Intervention Design and Implementation- Apply principles to create and foster positive changes in individuals, groups, and organizations through targeted interventions.
  3. Facilitation of Learning in Diverse Contexts- Organize and oversee rich learning experiences in various environments, demonstrating proficiency in design, development, and management.
  4. Learning Assessment and Growth- Utilize assessment tools to understand learning processes, identify growth areas, and promote justice-oriented change.

Area 3: Relational Care

  1. Effective Communication- Foster positive work and learning communities through strong oral, written, and technological communication skills.
  2. Effective Feedback- Utilize effective feedback principles to cultivate and sustain positive change across various learning environments.
  3. Introspective Growth Mindset- Focus on reflection and self-assessment through an introspective lens to recognize and foster personal growth and interactions with others.

Do I still complete the Internship Proposal Form if I got the internship through an ISA referral?

Yes. The completed Internship Proposal Form is a minimum requirement for the EDGC 398 course. Even though curated internship opportunities are co-designed by the Internship Administrator and the host organization, students are expected to demonstrate their that their internship opportunity will address their choice of B.A.(Education) Learning Competencies.

Are there certain "positions" or "titles" I should look for or apply to?

ճB.A.(Education) Flyer for Employerslists several roles students can take on or support existing staff:

  • Aid Worker
  • Corporate Education Leader Aid
  • Business Development Liaison
  • Non-Profit Administration
  • Community Program Assistant
  • Youth Mentor
  • Student Advising Helper
  • Community Organization Assistant
  • Learning Consultant
  • Advocacy or Activism Work
  • Volunteer Coordinator
  • Curriculum Development Assistant
  • Training Coordinator

Unless you are applying for a job that is already posted, a student can also inquire about openings for a Summer internship. It can help to provide some information about the B.A.(Education) program so that organizations can understand the education scope of the internship. Use information found on theB.A.(Education) Flyer for Employers, and consider attaching this to your intro email.

Are internships paid or unpaid? What if I can't do an unpaid internship?

The ISA Office informs internship hosts that while payment/compensation for internships is not mandatory, they understand that those who are able to pay interns typically are more successful in recruiting students. In addition, we have provided hosts with information about wage subsidy programs.

If students are facing financial challenges at any time during their degree or internship, the first step is applying for government assistance, which is typically available to students from North America and for semesters of full-time study. Students shoulddiscuss their financial needs with a Financial Advisor at the ƬƵ Scholarships and Student Aid Office (SSAO). For example, the SSAOoffers an In-Course Financial Aid Program of bursaries and interest-free loans to supplement existing financial resources including government aid and/or band funding, parental resources, and part-time work.

Do students get a ƬƵ-appointed supervisor?How are students evaluated?

There is no ƬƵ-appointed supervisor. Your Site Supervisor is the sole person who will evaluate your performance using the Employer Evaluation Form. The Internships and Student Affairs Office (ISA) is responsible for final evaluation and pass/grade determination for EDGC 398.

What happens if I don't find an internship after several attempts/applications/interviews?

Don't panic! Revisit your Internship Planning Worksheetand use your Job Search Trackerto ensure you have followed up with all your leads. Book an appointment with yourand/or your Education Career Advisorand bring your Job Search Tracker to work through the steps you have taken and develop new strategies.

If I am not satisfied with my internship can I choose another one?

In general, not liking the internship environment is not considered a sufficient reason to end the internship and choose another one. However, it is possible to change internships if the learning conditions provided for or if the Internship Agreement are not respected. Also, although it is possible to end it, it can be complex to leave an internship setting, given the commitment made with the organization, the resources involved when it comes to an internship abroad, etc.


ƬƵ University is on land which long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst Indigenous peoples, including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinabeg nations. We acknowledge and thank the diverse Indigenous people whose footsteps have marked this territory on which peoples of the world now gather. Learn more.

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