Canadian Students: Undergraduate and Graduate Internships

The internships represent a unique opportunity for experiential learning, the development of cross-cultural understanding and communication skills, and first-hand experience of grassroots community engagement.

Participants in the program will also be expected to contribute to the growing Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee “Community of Scholars” through disseminating findings, networking, making presentations, organizing or participating in national and local events, mentoring other Scholars, and actively and creatively supporting the success of the BRiCC Program.

COVID-19 Update

VIU will follow the Government of Canada Travel Advisories when determining host country eligibility for QES internship. 

Government of Canada Covid-19 Regulations

In order to be eligible to participate in these internships, you must:

  • Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
  • Be 35 years or under at the time of application
  • Be a full time VIU student and registered in a third or fourth year undergraduate academic program or masters program at the time of my proposed internship
  • Hold a GPA of 3.0 or above, OR a GPA consistent with the class/program average or above
  • Intend to undertake an internship that is directly related to the BRiCC themes
  • Commit to completing all requirements and activities related to the Building Resilience in Coastal Communities Program

Learn more about Terms and Conditions.

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Financial Contribution from the QE Scholarship

The QE Scholarships for Canadian students undertaking internships in a eligible country for a minimum of 90 days receive total funding of $7,500, including:

  • $500 VIU tuition credit
  • $6,000 towards internship-related travel and living expenses *
  • $1,000 Global Citizen Network Engagement (eligible for 2 x $500 Global Citizens Network Stipends upon completion of all community engagement and reporting requirements

* Related travel and living expenses may include international airfare, ground transportation, living expenses/accommodations, visa application fees and related expenses, mandatory outbound medical insurance, and other internship-related costs.

Scholars are responsible for their personal expenses including:

  • Cellular telephone, Internet, telephone or television services and charges
  • Personal items, including clothing
  • Cosmetics, medications, prescriptions, medical expenses not covered by their Travel medical insurance and the BC Medical Services Plan
  • Ground transportation costs while abroad
  • Recreational or social activities
  • Memberships, including associations, groups or clubs
  • Vacation and additional international trips

Any costs that exceed the scholarship amount are also the responsibility of the Scholar.

Learn more about Terms and Conditions.

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An internship is broadly defined as an opportunity for Canadian outbound students to gain practical or professional skills, also often referred to as experiential learning. This does not include study abroad nor does it include conducting research for the student’s Canadian university degree. N.B. internships may include research undertaken for the host institution/organization.

Internships do not need to be fully developed at the time of application although applicants should be able to clearly identify a country of focus, articulate specific topics of interest and relation to the BRiCC themes, and how an internship in this sector would contribute to the BRiCC project and the individual student’s academic and career goals. Applicants should demonstrate that they have conducted research on the BRiCC themes in the potential host country, and have considered potential host partners based on their particular topics interests and individual skills and knowledge.

All internships will be subject to rigorous risk assessment and COVID-19 assessment of risks for both participants and host communities. 

Undergraduate & Graduate students have the flexibility of developing an internship in the following ways:

1. By pursuing an internship through a third party volunteer / internship placement organization, such as:

  • Connect 123: Eligible QES/Commonwealth/coastal countries: South Africa, Australia
  • Intern Abroad HQ, Eligible QES/Commonwealth/coastal Countries: New Zealand, South Africa, Tanzania, Morocco
  • WUSC IGN+TE volunteer cooperation initiative, Eligible QES/Commonwealth/coastal: Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Kenya, Ghana, Suriname, Guyana, St. Lucia, Uganda, Vietnam (please note, short-term student focused volunteer placements aren’t usually listed until February)

2. By developing an internship independently in a Commonwealth country based on personal or professional networks.

We are not accepting applications at this time.

Criteria

  • Demonstration of linkages between the applicant's academic and career goals, the BRiCC themes and a QES scholarship
  • Demonstration of cross-cultural sensitivity and preparedness
  • Relevance of the proposed topic(s) of interest, activities in the proposed eligible country working on one or more of the 5 BRiCC themes
  • Applicant's demonstrated past leadership or community involvement in activities related to the 5 BRiCC themes
  • Academic Grades

Total

*Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships are not awarded on the basis of financial need.