- Steps to Getting Approval for Internship Credit
- What Qualifies as an Internship for Credit?
- Departmental Internship Course Available
- Post-Secondary Co-op/Internship Program
- Human Research Subject
Steps to Getting Approval to Register for an Internship Course
Please note: All steps should be completed well in advance of the start of your internship. No approval will be granted after you have started your internship.
The internship course cannot be taken at the same time as the internship; it must be completed in the following academic term (e.g., Fall for a summer internship). Department-specific requirements may apply.
- The student obtains a written confirmation of the internship from the host organization, including number of hours (per week and total) and learning goals and outcomes.
- If done in letter format it must be signed by your host organization.
- If done by screenshot of email conversation it must clearly show the sender, the recipient, and the date the email was sent.
- The student confirms that their department offers an internship course and familiarize themselves with the requirements for receiving internship course credit in their department (on the left-hand menu of this page/section menu on mobile).
- It is recommended to meet your departmental advisor before submitting the forms to AIO to confirm that you are eligible to take the course.
- It is recommended to meet your departmental advisor before submitting the forms to AIO to confirm that you are eligible to take the course.
- If the student is travelling outside of Canada for the internship, they are required to complete the mandatory* the Pre-Departure Orientation 3-6 months prior to the start of internship. The certificate of completion needs to be submitted with the rest of the credit application request.
* Students travelling to their country of citizenship are exempted from completing the orientation.
- Well before the start of the internship, the internship must first be vetted and approved by the Arts Internship Office (AIO) by submitting the documents listed below. The documents must be submitted via this Microsoft Forms (not via email): AIO Internship Credit Application
- Faculty of Arts Internship for Academic Credit Form filled and signed by the student
- A copy of the written confirmation from the student’s internship host organization
- Unofficial transcript (download from Minerva)
- Pre-Departure certificate of completion (for student travelling outside of Canada)
- McGill Travel Registry (for students travelling outside of Montreal) - screenshot of the app
- If the internship is approved by AIO, the student should find a McGill professor in their department who will agree to supervise the academic component of the internship course credit [except for ARTH 490]. * Tip: Discuss possible research topics related to your internship. It can be beneficial to get to know the research and teaching interests of the professors in the program. Professors' interests are often listed on departmental websites.
- The supervising professor then need to fill the Departmental Internship Course Information section of the Internship for Academic Credit Form and sign to confirm their approval of the internship course.
- The signed Academic Credit form must be sent to aio [at] mcgill.ca, who will transfer your signed form over to the department to get the final signature from the departmental program coordinator or advisor.
- Once the form has all the signatures, the student will get a permit override to register for the internship course for credit from their departmental advisor. Once a permit override for the course is granted, the student must register themselves for the internship course in Minerva (for the semester following the internship).
- The student must read the Handbook for Faculty of Arts Interns to familiarize themselves with the responsibilities as an intern. * For summer internships, students must attend the events and workshops. For internships done outside of the summer, the student must meet with the AIO.
- If the student is travelling outside of Montreal for the internship, they are required to register on the mandatory McGill Student Travel Registry - prior to start of internship.
- If the Internship Course research will involve human subject research, please discuss this with the supervisor and review McGill's Research Ethics Requirements.
- Student conducts the internship (over one semester, minimum 150 hours).
- Within two weeks of the completion of the internship, the student emails a completion letter from their internship supervisor attesting to the successful completion of their internship to the Arts Internship Office. The letter must include the duration of the internship as well as the tasks performed. Email to aio [at] mcgill.ca.
- The letter can be emailed directly from your internship supervisor or if sent via the student, it must be signed by the host organization. If done by email, the conversation must clearly show the sender, the recipient, and the date the email was sent.
- The letter can be emailed directly from your internship supervisor or if sent via the student, it must be signed by the host organization. If done by email, the conversation must clearly show the sender, the recipient, and the date the email was sent.
- The following semester (after the internship is complete), the student ensures that they are registered for the internship course and completes the work under the supervision of a professor.
*Students should contact their academic supervisor about any academic related questions.
Introduction
Please note: All steps should be completed well in advance of the start of your internship. No approval will be granted after you have started your internship.
What is an internship?
An internship is a short-term, hands-on, supervised work experience with a professional organization. It provides the student with an invaluable opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge acquired in the classroom to real world problems and enables the student to broaden his or her understanding of the field.
An internship is more than a part-time job or volunteer experience; it includes:
- Specific learning goals and outcomes designed to increase the student’s knowledge
- Training to hone existing skills and develop additional ones
- Supervision from the host organization to guide and mentor the intern
Can a student obtain credits for an internship?
Students who pursue approved internships may also gain up to 3 credits towards their degree upon the completion of a major topical paper.
Arts internships require a minimum of 150 hours of work with an approved host institution or organization and are generally 8-12 weeks in duration. Upon completion of the internship, the student who wishes to gain academic credit must submit a major topical paper that discusses an aspect of their internship from an academic perspective.
Normally, the internship takes place in the summer and the internship course takes place in the following fall semester. Students who choose to do an internship during fall/winter semester, are encouraged to meet with an Arts Internship Office Advisor prior to start of internship. Please note that in a case of internships not taken place during the summer, one would expect that internship hours during the fall and winter semester would normally be 150 hours, 10-15 hours per week (maximum of 20 hours).
Please note: the academic requirements may vary between departments and programs. Please note that some departments have different or additional requirements, and these courses may not always fulfill program requirements for seminar or 400-level courses. Some departments may only recognize the internship course in terms of credits towards electives, rather than towards program requirements. Please consult the specific guidelines listed on our website.
For ARTH 490, see the instructions on the credit page.
Students may gain 3 credits (per internship/per organization) upon the completion of an internship course. Students may not take more than 6 credits of internship courses toward the completion of their B.A or B.A & B. Sc. Degree requirements.
Internship course credit is available for students in a number of departments in the Faculty of Arts. Please refer to the list in the left hand menu to see if your department offers the internship course and to review the requirements.
For BA students majoring in Computer Science, Geography, Mathematics, Psychology, Environment, or Software Engineering.
The Science Industrial Practicum is available to BA students majoring in Computer Science, Geography, Mathematics, Psychology, Environment, or Software Engineering. Please make sure to visit the Field Studies and Internship office website to find specific information and eligibility criteria for the program.
Please note that the students in the Faculty of Arts do not have access to the Internship Year in Science nor the Science Internship Program Designation. The Industrial Practicum option (FSCI 200/300) is available during the fall, winter, and summer terms.
Information for International Students:
Arts international students are not eligible to complete a full-time internship in Canada during the fall or winter terms. Eligible Arts international students majoring in the above-mentioned disciplines can apply for the Industrial Practicum (FSCI 200/300) only in the Summer term. Students must maintain full-time registration status (12 or more credits) during the previous winter term and the following fall term after the completion of the summer internship. For further information on the eligibility requirements to work in Canada as an international student, please consult the International Student Services website.
For any questions, please reach out to ifso.science [at] mcgill.ca.
Post-Secondary Co-op/Internship Program
What is a Post-Secondary Co-op or Internship Program? The Co-operative Education and Internship Program (Co-op/Internship) is the primary vehicle through which federal organizations can recruit post-secondary students for a work term. An internship is a supervised, on-the-job training assignment designed to give students the skills and knowledge required for entry into a trade or profession.
Eligibility:
- Must be a McGill full-time undergraduate or graduate student, returning to their current registered faculty in the semester following the internship
- Must receive academic credit for the internship
- Must meet all eligibility of the host organization
- Must be paid
For more information regarding student eligibility, visit the Post-Secondary Co-op/Internship Program page.
Students must receive approval to participate in a PSC-approved internship. For questions regarding specific student eligibility, email the Arts Internship Office.
Human Subject Research
Course-based research projects that require students to conduct human subject research must receive ethics review and approval. These projects differ from research in that the intent is for the student to become more knowledgeable about the research process, rather than to contribute to generalizable knowledge. The results of the data are not intended for publication or presentation outside the classroom.
Note: No research project, including student research, may begin before approval has been obtained from the REB. No research project will be granted retroactive approval.
Please meet with your academic supervisor to discuss well in advance of the start date of your project. Please review the submission deadline dates.
The review of these applications may be delegated to the Research Ethics Board (REB) departmental representative and do not normally have to go to the regular REB. This review may not be used for projects carried out as part of a faculty member’s own research. Course projects that involve more than minimal risk, or involve minors or other vulnerable populations, must be reviewed by the REB.
To view the "Policy on the Ethical Conduct of Research Involving Human Subjects" and to complete the necessary paperwork please visit the Human Subject Research website.
