Science Internship Program FAQ

Find all the answers to your SIP questions!

General SIP Questions

The Science Internship Program portal accepts applications each year in January, May and September. It remains open for 3 to 4 weeks. For the exact dates please visit the website. Each job posting has its own deadline. See the different job postings for the individual deadlines.

You can do an internship for 4, 8, 12 or 16 months. You also have the possibility to extend your internship duration, depending on the original duration. Please contact the SIP team if you wish to extend your internship.

It is possible to go out on an internship multiple times. If your first internship was 4 or 8 months long, you are allowed to go out again for a maximum duration of 16 months. If your first internship(s) have a total duration of 12 months you are no longer eligible to gain access to the Science Internship Program.

No. Everyone with or without work experience is welcome to participate in the Science Internship Program (if you fulfill the necessary requirements). The goal of the internship program is to give you the chance to gain hands-on work experience to have an advantage when graduating.

Benefits of Participating in SIP

SIP provides you with the chance to gain work experience throughout your studies. It allows you to take time off from university for up to 16 months. In addition, a lot of internship/ co-op positions require you to be enrolled in an official internship / co-op program to be eligible. You will also have the chance to participate in numerous workshops on resume and cover letters, interview skills and employer information sessions. The SIP team offers drop-in consultation as well as appointments for mock interviews or resume help.
For scheduling an appointment please use our booking platform.

Requirements for SIP

You need to have a minimum GPA of 2.3 in the previous Fall/ Winter term to join SIP and to be eligible for going out on an internship. If your GPA falls below 2.3 your profile will be automatically removed from campusBRIDGE.

You need to have a minimum of *24 credits completed to apply to the Science Internship Program. To go out on an internship you must have completed a minimum of *48 credits but no more than *105 credits.

Job Postings and Applications

We encourage you to apply to more than one internship to enhance your chances of finding an internship. Try to apply for positions on campusBRIDGE as well as for positions you can find on public job boards.

For most applications you need an updated resume, cover letter and recent unofficial transcripts. Your resume and cover letter must be tailored to each position. Don't apply with a general resume or cover letter. Employers are interested in learning more about you, your skills and why you are a fit for the particular position. Check out the blog for more information on cover letters and resumes.

There are two different ways to send your application to the employers.

  1. You can upload it on campusBRIDGE.
  2. You have to go through the application system on the company's website.
The posting will always indicate the employer's preferred application mode, please adhere to it.

If the position requires you to apply through campusBRIDGE, you will have to click on "Apply for this position" and upload each document individually as a PDF file.

It is suggested that documents be named with your full name and an identifying feature about the position you are applying to.

For example: Firstname_Lastname_CompanyName or Firstname_Lastname_PositionTitle.

Yes absolutely. The SIP team is offering various workshops on resume and cover letter as well as on interviewing skills. They are usually offered in the beginning of the Fall and Winter term. In addition to that, you can always schedule an appointment here.

You can also email us at science.internship@ualberta.ca if you have any questions.

It is strongly recommended to participate in one of the interview skills workshops. In addition to that, you can always schedule an appointment for a mock interview.  

Finding my Own Internship

The following aspects are important to keep in mind when looking for your own internship:

  • At least 30 hours per week
  • Paid position (at least minimum wage)
  • Company must provide a supervisor who is knowledgeable in the field of the internship
  • Tasks need to be related to your degree

Receiving a Job Offer

Congratulations! You will have to create your work-term record in campusBRIDGE for the internship, fill in all the information, upload your offer letter and email sciiip@ualberta.ca that you got an internship and completed the above mentioned steps on campusBRIDGE. We will then contact you regarding next steps. It is important to notify us about your internship, so we can enroll you in the work experience course as you cannot enroll yourself.

Please make sure you have clearly understood the terms and conditions when you first got accepted into campusBRIDGE. In case you have received an offer, yet don't think it is the right internship for you, you have to contact the SIP team sciiip@ualberta.ca and explain your reasons for declining the position.

Again, please make sure you have clearly understood the terms and conditions when you first got accepted into the Science Internship Program. If offered a position you have to accept or decline this position within 24 hours. You will have to speak with the SIP team if you have multiple pending offers and a 24 hour deadline is not possible to maintain. You may not decline more than one position obtained through SIP in a term. If you decline a second position without a justifiable reason, you might not be eligible to apply to postings on the campusBRIDGE and would need to locate your own internship placement.

Paid Internships

Yes, all of the SIP internships are paid positions. It is one of the requirements for employers to participate in the Science Internship Program.

Absolutely not! All of the work placements are paid positions. This just means that at the time of posting the employer might have a reason for keeping the salary off. Could be certain funding that needs to be confirmed or it may be negotiated during the interview and the employer has chosen not to show the amount.

All SIP positions are PAID positions. If you find your own internship without pay, SIP will not support the internship. You cannot solely use scholarship money or bursaries to pay for the internship.

Depending on the budget of the company there are different funding opportunities. In any case the company always has to pay a certain percentage of the salary in order to qualify for funding opportunities. A combination of funding from wage subsidy programs such as the NSERC award, the Canada Summer Job or the SWPP and the budget of the employer is acceptable.

Problems in the Workplace

In case your internship is not going the way you expected it, or you have issues with your supervisor or colleagues, it is strongly recommended that you contact your SIP coordinator. The SIP team will try to help you solve the issue and find a solution. Do not simply quit your internship. In any case, first consult with your SIP coordinator.

Should you get terminated from your internship you must contact your SIP coordinator. Best would be to discuss reasons of concern with your supervisor when they arise. You will have to discuss the details with your SIP coordinator, who will decide if you get a pass or no-pass for your internship.

First of all, it is important to analyze whether the negative feedback is justified. Have you been spending lots of time on social media platforms while working? Did you often come late to the office or meetings? Are you not completing your tasks satisfactorily or on time? Have there been any other negative events? Listen to the concerns of your supervisor and make an effort to act upon them. It also helps to involve your SIP coordinator. If you are unable to improve the situation, definitely involve your SIP coordinator.