The student experience at the GSPIA
Gain real-world experience on a global scale.
Overview
Our three MA programs will equip you with the skills and knowledge to build a career in your chosen field, whether it is in public and international affairs, security and defence, or environmental sustainability.
Reflecting the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs’ approach to fostering a deeper understanding of a field of study through practical hands-on experience, we encourage students to pursue experiential learning opportunities during their studies. The GSPIA acknowledges that while many internships are paid, there are valuable unpaid opportunities which often provide significant exposure to policy-making, research, and international diplomacy.
Explore the options listed below and find meaningful ways to build a professional network, strengthen your professional skillset and gain real-world experience that align with your career goals.
Want to speak with current students or recent graduates?
To find out more about their experience at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, drop us a line at: [email protected].
Opportunities offered by the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
Internship in Canada and beyond
Build a meaningful career for yourself and gain practical knowledge of public and international affairs in the workplace by undertaking a short-term work experience. Complete a three-month, full-time internship within the sector of the economy of your choosing – from private companies to non-profit organizations and government departments, to help you build valuable industry-relevant skills and expertise. The internship will consist of 12 weeks of full-time work and three university credits will be awarded upon successful completion.
*Only available for full-time students in the MA in Public and International Affairs and in the MA in Security and Defence Studies who are not enrolled in the co-op program.
Directed Research Placement
Make sure nothing holds you back from achieving your professional goals. Apply your theoretical knowledge to real-world research problems in public and international affairs by undertaking a Directed Research Placement consisting of 120 hours of research and research-related work carried out for an outside organization on a flexible, part-time basis.
The GSPIA will endeavour to ensure that the research placements are a valuable complement to the School’s coursework and research interests. The quality of the research experience will be a key factor, along with the value brought to students by enabling them to build connections with practitioners, academics, and policymakers, which can be instrumental in advancing careers in public and international affairs. Three university credits will be awarded upon successful completion.
* Only available for full-time students in the MA in Public and International Affairs and MA in Security and Defence Studies in the co-op program.
Internships in Canadian Embassies abroad
The School offers its students the possibility of undertaking an internship of several months in certain Canadian embassies abroad. Provided they meet the program's conditions, students are matched with embassies according to their interests and skill sets. The Faculty of Social Sciences offers financial support to offset a part of the costs of the stay.
*Only available for the MA in Public and International Affairs.
Teaching and research assistantships
A month before the start of the semester, the Operations Coordinator or the Academic Assistant will inform students of the posting dates for teaching assistantships. Students must consult the postings on the University of Ottawa Human Resources' website. Postings will be up for 10 working days. The research assistantships positions are posted at any time on the University of Ottawa Human Resources' website.
Please note that if you are an internal candidate you need to apply for current Research Assistant (RA) and Teaching Assistant (TA) opportunities through Workday. Be sure to use your VPN connection. All others should apply here as external candidates for RA and TA opportunities.
Please note that students who receive an admission's scholarship must complete an electronic application since they are guaranteed a TA or RA position by their unit. We assume that scholarship holders who do not submit an electronic application for a Teaching assistantship are declining any position for that semester.
Explore available teaching and research assistantship opportunities.
GSPIA Student Association
Hone your leadership skills, equip yourself with transferable skills that are highly valued in any professional setting, and contribute positively to campus life by running for the student union.
The Public and International Affairs Association (PIAA) consists of seven members representing the students of GSPIA. Its mandate is to make sure that people have opportunities to meet each other, to have fun with their peers, and to rally with professors and Senior Fellows to discuss similar interests. The student association also addresses the academic needs and rights of GSPIA students through relationships at the program administration level. The PIAA created a one-of-its-kind scholarship program, built by students for students.
Opportunities offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences
International Internships
Go abroad and get valuable work experience while learning about another country and culture.
*Only available for the MA in Public and International Affairs.
Centre for International Policy Studies
The Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) holds dozens of events, roundtables, lectures and conferences that are free for GSPIA students to attend and participate in. CIPS also sponsors Potentia, a graduate student journal. Consider volunteering.
Opportunities offered by the University of Ottawa
CO-OP Program
Apply concepts you learn in class through paid work terms. You won’t just get a degree showing that you participated in the GSPIA’s CO-OP program but also approximately 16 months of experience in your field of study and a network of valuable contacts.
*Only available for the MA in Public and International Affairs.
External opportunities available to GSPIA students
U.S. Commercial Service Canada
U.S. Commercial Service Canada offers internship opportunities throughout the year at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa as well as the U.S. Consulate General’s in Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary. The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. Our office analyzes information on the Canadian market, facilitates contacts with Canadian businesses, promotes U.S. products in the Canadian marketplace, and advocates for U.S. business interests. For more information, see the U.S. Commercial Service Canada - Internships in Canada page.
Young Canada Works Internship Programs
Youth aged between 16 and 30 can access two programs via the Young Canada Works Internship Program. Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage is a Canadian and abroad internship program for college or university graduates allowing them to begin a career in the heritage, arts and cultural sectors. Young Canada Works at Building Careers in English and French is an internship program that offers domestic internships to college or university graduates giving them the opportunity to work with organizations that run activities in both official languages or in one of the language in an official-language minority situation.
*Only available for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or those who have refugee status.
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Head-quartered in Geneva, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration. IOM's internship program provides students with the opportunity to learn about its activities, to gain initial work experience, and/or to prepare for a degree dissertation. The internships are voluntary assignments and can range from 8 weeks to 6 months in duration. Most interns receive a monthly subsistence allowance (MSA).
Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
Established as one of the UN's five regional commissions, ECA's mandate is to promote the economic and social development of its member States, foster intra-regional integration, and promote international cooperation for Africa's development. ECA offers an internship program for students enrolled in a degree program in a graduate school at the time of application.
Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) accepts interns on an ad hoc basis. The internships are open to graduate or post-graduate students and recent graduates, who have specialized in a field related to UNECE programs of work, namely: environment, transport, statistics, sustainable energy, trade, timber and forests, housing and land management, population, economic cooperation and integration and gender. Internships are offered without financial remuneration. For more information, see the ECE internship page.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
A United Nations regional commission to encourage economic cooperation across Latin America and the Caribbean, the ECLAC offers an Internship Program that offers successful candidates an opportunity to experience doing research on issues of relevance to the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean. For more information, see ECLAC internship page.
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is the regional arm of the United Nations for the Asia-Pacific region. The Commission provides opportunities for students who are enrolled in graduate programs to undertake an internship with one of its diverse range of divisions and agencies, most of them located at its Bangkok headquarters. For more information, see the ESCAP internship page.
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) Internship Program offers graduate students the opportunity to gain practical work assignments in the economic, social and administrative fields and to expose them to the work of a United Nations regional commission. The duration of an ESCWA internship is normally two months on a full-time basis. In exceptional circumstances, this may be extended for a maximum of six months. It is awarded on the recommendation of the Director of the respective Division. Interns are not paid and are responsible for all expenses related to the internship.
United Nations International Internship Programme For Students (IIPS)
The International Internship Programme for Students (IIPS) is funded through partnerships with Canadian universities and institutions – including the University of Ottawa and represents an avenue for qualified and motivated youth to gain valuable work experience within the United Nations system as Junior Professional Consultants (JPC). These internship opportunities are open to both national and international students, coming from undergraduate and graduate programs. The usually last between 4 to 6 months.
UNA-Canada negotiates meaningful, SDG-focused positions with United Nations Agencies, providing applicants with valuable, demanding, and meaningful work experience in a field relevant to their studies and/or career aspirations. JPCs are recruited, trained, and supported through their internships.
The Conference of Defence Associations (CDA) Young Professionals Programme
The CDA Institute’s Young Professionals Programme provides young people (ages 30 and under) with opportunities that will help accelerate their professional growth. These include internships with the CDA Institute, mentorships with seasoned career professionals, and the annual CDA Graduate Student Conference. This event is complimentary for all participants, including audience members. Travel stipends are available and are awarded on a first come first serve basis. Participants will be given the opportunity to present their research and receive constructive feedback from a panel of high-profile judges who are active decision-makers in industry, government, academia, and think tanks across Canada.
The Conference of Defence Associations was founded in 1932 and today serves as an umbrella group for 40 member associations who represent over 400,000 active and retired members of the Canadian Armed Forces. In 1987, the CDA founded a separate Institute as a charitable organization with the mission to advance informed debate on national security issues, particularly those that pertain to national defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. It aims to foster a fact-based and rational approach to dialogue regarding Canadian defence, security, and foreign policy.
NATO Association of Canada - Volunteer Internship Program
The NATO Association’s Volunteer Internship Program offers a unique opportunity for young Canadians to cultivate new skills and develop professional competency in a variety of areas within and outside of international relations. Interns may join us at the NATO Association’s office in Toronto or remotely. The goal of the four-month Volunteer Internship Program is to help students and recent graduates transition from post-secondary education to a rewarding career in fields such as defence, security, international affairs, and business.
There are three Internship Sessions per year: January to the end of April (Winter Session); May to the end of August (Summer Session); and September to the end of December (Fall Session). The internship lasts for a duration of four months on a part-time basis and is an unpaid position.
