Finding an internship

When embarking on an independent internship search, remember that persistence and patience are essential. Many organizations may lack the time or capacity to respond, regardless of the quality of your outreach. Don’t take it personally—keep trying! It only takes one positive reply to open doors.

Start your search with realistic goals, targeting a diverse range of organizations, not just the largest names in your field. While response rates may be low, success is achievable. Stay focused and committed, and you will find opportunities that align with your aspirations!

Steps to an Effective Internship Search

This checklist is meant as a general guideline for internships. We recommend that students begin the process early in the school year.

Faculty of Arts Internship Awards

After securing your summer internship, you can consider applying for funding. Review the eligibility and selection criteria on this page. The Arts Internship Awards have been established through the generous support of McGill alumni and the Arts Undergraduate Society to help students gain practical experience through internships. They are designed to provide partial funding to assist students with travel and other expenses related to their internship. You can find out more about our previously successful interns on the award recipients page.

Applying to Internships as a First Year

First-year students frequently ask whether they can apply for internships - and the answer is yes! A variety of internships are available at different levels, and it’s never too early to begin the application process. Your prior experiences and early involvement at McGill can be framed in a competitive manner by getting your CV reviewed by CaPS advisors and attending workshops. We encourage you to carefully review the requirements for AIO postings and consult with our advisors to identify which opportunities align best with your skills and interests. Additionally, consider taking the initiative to reach out to organizations directly to create your own internship tailored to your current experience level. If you're eager to build your resume and gain practical experience before applying for traditional internships, check out the Micro-ExP program. 

Faculty of Arts Internship Mentorship Initiative (AMI) 

The Faculty of Arts Internship Mentorship Initiative (AMI) was created in collaboration with the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) to form a student network of past and future interns. Students who have completed internships in the past (AMI Mentors) will guide students (AMI Mentees) who want to apply for an internship or internship funding through the Arts Internship Office. The goal is to foster a more in-depth, personalized mentor-mentee relationship between students.  

Career Planning Service (CaPS) Resources

CaPS, McGill’s Central Career Services, supports student career and leadership development through career counselling and advising, skills development workshops, experiential learning and career exploration programs, mentoring, and career and networking events. CaPS provides and oversees a wide variety of resources and tools to help students search for part-time / summer jobs, internships and post-graduation opportunities, including the myFuture platform and the Student Experience Record, with the goal of helping students become career-ready now and for their future.   

CaPS CV and Cover Letter Guides

The following comprehensive guides have been developed by CaPS to help you during the internship search process. You are encouraged to consult them as you write your CV or cover letter, prepare for an interview, job fairs.

Career Advising Appointments

To have your CV and cover letter reviewed by a CaPS advisor, go to CaPS drop-in hours or book an appointment through the CaPS website.

Future Interns Club (offered by CaPS)

Looking for your first internship? The Future Interns Club is a 6-week program designed for undergraduate students ready to kick-start their internship search. Register by October 16 

Micro-ExP (offered by CaPS)

Micro-ExP is a work-integrated learning program that offers McGill students from all faculties and levels of study the chance to gain meaningful work experience through micro-internships. The program is specifically designed for students who might not yet have work experience, addressing the common challenge of “no experience, no job.”

Research Internships

Arts Undergraduate Research Internship Award

The purpose of the Arts Undergraduate Research Internship Awards (ARIA) is to support undergraduate students who undertake research during the summer under the direct supervision of a faculty member. The Faculty of Arts will provide Undergraduate Research Internship Awards, each with a value $2,500. These awards are matched by individual faculty members (in the amount of $2,500) to provide a total award of $5,000 to the student.