192.11 Industrial Internship Program

The Industrial Internship program (IIP) offers undergraduate students extended work experience in industry in addition to their academic courses. The work experience is normally undertaken after completion of a minimum of 75, and not more than 105, units of course weight of an Honors or Specialization degree program. Students who have maintained good academic standing in an Honors or Specialization program are eligible for the program. Department IIP Advisors will provide approved position descriptions from companies wishing to employ IIP students. Companies are responsible for interviewing and selecting students for the positions. The internship may begin in May, September or January and must be of at least 8 months duration, but may extend to up to 16 months; a 16-month internship normally includes a four-month probationary period. Work during the internship period is full time, for which the student is paid by the employer at competitive rates. The student, employer and the department must agree to terms of the internship. Following completion of the work experience, students return to the university to complete their degree program of studies. It is not possible to guarantee that all students wishing to obtain an internship will be able to do so.

During the period of the internship, the student registers in a work experience (WKEXP) course each term and is considered a full-time student at the University of Alberta. Work experience courses are assigned no units of course weight and are graded credit/no credit. All students must register in a minimum of two WKEXP courses that have associated fees. These fees are used to cover Department costs of job recruitment, supervision and site visits during the internship period, and program administration costs.

During the first term following completion of the internship and return to the university, students must complete the academic requirements of the Industrial Internship. This normally takes the form of a report to the appropriate Advisor and/or Committee as well as to other students as part of a graded seminar course.

Detailed information about the Industrial Internship is available from the IIP Advisor in each Department in the Faculty of Science.