Overview

A key element of the Bridge Program, for masters and doctoral fellows, is an internship at a site outside UBC. The goal is to select locations which are apropos to the research program of the student, but which bring a perspective beyond that offered within the academic setting and an experience different from that available in the student’s home department.

The internship supervisor should be a Bridge mentor other than the student's thesis supervisor or committee members. Prior to finalizing the agreement with the agency supervisor, a draft copy of the agreement must be submitted to the Bridge Program Manager for review and approval by the Program Director.

We expect the internship experiences of Bridge students to vary. For example, the internship may be before the start of thesis research - and thus may be a catalyst for the research. It may be at the end of the research period - and serve as an opportunity to incorporate the results into policy. Students are required to complete their internship placement prior to graduating from UBC in order to be assigned a grade for the internship component.

The companies, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations that have offered internship positions in previous years are listed in the following webpage: Internship positions.

Before the internship begins, a formal Internship Agreement about remuneration, period of employment, and other terms should be signed by all parties involved: the employing agency supervisor, the student, the faculty supervisor (see form below). The student should register for BRDG 590/690. Please check UBC's travel safety policy.

At the end of the internship, the student makes a presentation to Bridge fellows and faculty members about their internship experience at a BRDG 500/600 class. The student completes an Internship Report and Evaluation, and the agency supervisor completes a Performance Evaluation (see forms below).

Remuneration

We expect internship employers to pay students as employees. Salaries are typically in the range of $3,000 to $3,500 per month for full time employment or an equivalent. Occasionally students have made other salary arrangements for non-profit organizations. Employers should also pay for approved employment-related expenses incurred during the internship. Many employers outside the greater Vancouver area cover reasonable expenses for a student to relocate on a temporary basis.

The student is responsible for living costs during the internship.

Fellows may choose to defer any Bridge stipend payments until after the internship. To do so, please inform the Program Manager in writing that you wish to defer payment, indicating all relevant dates.

MITACS Internship Program

The MITACS internship-funding program is open to graduate students or post-doctoral fellows from all discplines. This program faciliates research projects involving the student, academic advisor and a non-academic partner. MITACS and the participating organization will contribute $7,500 each to the successful applicant. Internship placements are for 4 months, with the student spending 50% of their time at the partner organization and 50% at the research institution under the guidance of their supervisor.

International Student Info

International Bridge students are permitted to work off campus for the internship, because it is an integral part of the Program.

You will need a Work Permit from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) in order to work off-campus in Canada. Applications are available at UBC International House and the CIC website. You will be required to include evidence showing that the employment is mandatory for the completion of the course (the Bridge Program Manager will supply a letter on request). No application fee is required. Send the application to the Case Processing Centre in Vegreville, Alberta; processing can take up to four weeks.

Internship Forms for Students

Internship Forms for Employers

NSERC Industrial Post-graduate Scholarship

An NSERC IPGS cannot be used to fulfil an internship requirement.

An NSERC IPGS is intended for research at an industry location, whereas a Bridge internship placement is intended to provide an employment opportunity outside of a student's research program at UBC. The Tri-Councils, UBC and Revenue Canada all consider the entire amount of an NSERC IPS as a scholarship. Students holding an NSERC IPGS are ineligible to receive any other scholarship funding from SSHRC, CIHR or NSERC. Therefore the Bridge Program also considers an NSERC IPGS to be a scholarship and not an internship.