Frequently Asked Questions

017.pngOur Science Internship Program students are an essential part of the day to day operations of many companies across Canada. As part of their placement, SIP students can help a company to meet project deadlines, complete tasks during busy work periods, and provide new insights with a fresh perspective. Our students are knowledgeable, qualified, enthusiastic and driven.

Learn more about posting a job, interviewing students and hiring a Science Internship Program student below.

When should job postings be posted and what are the start dates for internships?

Jobs should be posted 4-6 months in advance, in order to give the SIP students enough time to apply for the position and go through the hiring process. We recommend that each job remains open on the job board for at least 2 weeks. If your post expires, it is possible to have the post extended. You can simply log into CampusBRIDGE and extend the deadline. For more information or assistance please contact: sciiip@ualberta.ca

In order to be aligned with the academic cycle, the best time for internships to start is in January, May and September. Position start dates should be in the first week of January, May or September.

Position Start Date Peak Recruitment Period Continuous Recruitment
January September - October November - December
May January - February March - April
September April - June July - August
How can an employer post a job?

The Science Internship Program is housed within a system called CampusBRIDGE. This is an internal job board only accessible for SIP undergraduate students and employers. The employer can sign up with CampusBRIDGE, create a profile and fill in the simple job posting template. It is important to pay attention to the term you want to post in.

Which term to choose?

Start month Term
January Winter
May, July Spring/Summer
September Fall

After submitting the job posting online, the SIP staff will check the posting and approve it once all information is complete. Approving a position can take up to 48 hours. Subsequently, the position is available to all SIP students. Applications can be received through email, the employer's website recruitment channels or through CampusBRIDGE. The latter option collects all the applications which can be retrieved as an application package after the deadline of the position has passed. The application method is the employer's choice. For any assistance please contact: sciiip@ualberta.ca.

What are the employer's requirements and responsibilities when hiring a student?

If the submitted job posting fulfills the following requirements, the company is eligible for SIP:

  • Offer a full time position
  • Offer competitive wages
  • Provide a supervisor for the mid and final evaluation of the student
  • Meet with a SIP Coordinator for a site visit or a Zoom meeting

When a student is hired, an employer is responsible to provide the student with science related work and should help the student to be well integrated into the team. Each employer is asked to assign a supervisor to the student to act as a mentor and to provide regular and constructive feedback. Throughout the internship the employer is required to provide a probationary and final evaluation of the intern. The respective evaluation forms will be sent to the employer by the responsible SIP contact.

Is it possible to extend the duration of an internship?
Absolutely, the duration can be extended if both the student and employer agree upon it. The total length a student can go out is 16 months. If the employer wants to extend the duration or to get more information please contact sciiip@ualberta.ca.
What is the role of the SIP team throughout the internship?
The SIP team is the main point of contact should any questions or concerns arise. In general, any changes should be shared with the SIP team. We will send out the probation and final evaluation forms half way through and at the end of the internship as well as conduct a site visit 3 - 4 months into the internship. If the employer is located outside of Edmonton, a Zoom call will usually be arranged. If issues ever arise throughout the internship, a SIP coordinator will set up a meeting with the employer or the student to discuss the issue and possible resolutions. SIP coordinators are always available to both the employer and the student throughout the course of the student’s internship.
Can international students be hired for internships?
Absolutely! International students at the University of Alberta are eligible to be admitted to the Science Internship Program if they meet the program criteria. When they are approved for the program, they receive a letter of support which allows them to apply for a work permit. For the most up to date information on work permits and study visas, please visit the University of Alberta International webpage Working in Canada.