Directed Research Placements

The Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) offers its graduate students the opportunity to enhance their resume with valuable, research-intensive placements in the private, public and non-profit sectors. Please find below general information and procedures related to these placements.

The Directed Research Placement is open to full-time MA students in public and international affairs or security and defense studies who are not participating in cooperative education programs (co-op). By securing research internships in non-academic settings, this experiential learning opportunity enables students to acquire core professional competencies and skills to support careers across multiple pathways.

Settings will vary including startups, small and large corporations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. The placements allow students to expand their technical expertise and to acquire experiences related to working with collaborative teams and diverse individuals but also to build skillsets and knowledge in communication, innovation, leadership, and more.

The GSPIA does not guarantee internships for students due to variations in availability and external partnerships. The GSPIA encourages students to seek their own opportunities.

Conditions

All full-time MA students in public and international affairs or security and defense studies who are not participating in co-op programs can be selected for the placement opportunity. This includes Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international students.

The placement should take place over 120 hours of research and research-related work. This timeframe equates to the equivalent number of hours completed across one course.

This can be done a flexible basis – either full-time or part-time as agreed with the host organization. Work should be conducted either on-site at the workplace or in a hybrid arrangement, but not entirely remotely.

Procedure

The Directed Research Placement (API 6911) is equivalent to a three-credit advanced seminar.

Submission requirements will vary according to the needs of the participating host organizations; however, students will probably need to prepare a resume, a cover letter, and possibly also a statement of interest or proposal. The selection process may involve interviews led by the host organization.

As part of the placement, each student is required to prepare a report evaluating how the knowledge and skills gained from their academic program were applied during their internship.

The placement will be graded as S (Satisfactory) or NS (Non-Satisfactory) by a faculty member from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, based on both the student's report and the feedback from the internship supervisor.