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Co-ops, Field Placements, and Internships

Experience with employers and potential employers is a highly-valued part of all of the programs offered by the Department of Politics and Public Administration.

Internal Opportunities

POG 391: MP/MPP Office Placement

The Department of Politics and Public Administration offers a field placement opportunity for those students who wish to gain experience working with an elected official. Through this course, senior students in the Politics and Governance program gain hands-on experience by assisting either MPPs or MPs in their constituency offices and earn a credit at the same time (POG391).

Each student will be assigned to an office and work eight hours a week over an 10 week period. Though timing may change from year to year, the placement normally runs from the second week of January until the end of March. Students must write a 20-page report on a particular theme relating to constituency office work and deliver a verbal account to an all-day symposium that takes place in April.

The purpose of this project is to provide students invaluable experience in understanding the applied aspects of what is involved in representing constituents, delivering front-line customer service, and helping the public navigate through government departments. Working alongside constituency office staff, students get an immediate feel for the connection between the theoretical discussions they have studied and the work undertaken by elected representatives. The student could assist in a wide range of tasks, including but not limited to: strategic communications; stakeholder relations; media relations; community outreach; event planning; office administration and budgeting; data management; correspondence; and case work. The work would be done on a voluntary basis. Students will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement with the constituency office and a professional behaviour agreement with Ryerson University.

This opportunity is open to any student who has completed 25 credits by January 1, and who is enrolled in the Politics and Governance program. Students will have the option of working for either an MP or an MPP and to request particular ridings (e.g. close to home or somewhere else, or in light of partisan preference). Every effort will be made to find convenient matches that align with student preferences. There may be limited travel involved to get to the office.

Applications to register will normally be sent in October every year and due in November (specific dates will be announced as the time nears). 

This course is only available to senior students in their 3rd or 4th year and who have completed the necessary requirements. This course is a TABLE II-300 level Professional elective.

POG499: Field Experience

The Politics and Governance program includes an optional opportunity to get one 400-level Table II credit by participating in a field experience project that you design yourself, in consultation with a faculty advisor and a field supervisor.

Co-operative Program

Beginning in 2021/22 academic year, Politics and Governance students may applyto enrol in a Co-operative program. In it, students will spend 3 or 4 semesters in a Co-op placement. See the "Full-Time, Five-Year Co-op Program" in the current Calendar (opens in new window)  for curricular details.  For details on co-operative education more generally, see the "co-operative education (opens in new window) " section of the current Calendar or the Ryerson Career and Co-op Centre (opens in new window) .

External Opportunities

  • Coady International Institute (external link, opens in new window)  offers, through its "Youth in Partnership Program," a series of international internships. The program is open to:
    • recent university/college graduates or about to graduate
    • currently unemployed or under-employed
    • between 19 and 30 years of age;
    • Canadian citizens or have permanent residents eligibility to work in Canada;
    • first time participants in the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy (YES)
  • Council of the Federation Youth Internship Program (external link, opens in new window) 
    Aimed at encouraging young Canadians to participate more actively in public policy development, public service, government and political life
  • Émigré Memorial German Internship Program (EMGIP)
    • EMGIP – Bundestag Internship (external link, opens in new window)  offers internship opportunities for US and Canadian students in the German parliament, the Bundestag. The internships are two months long in positions matching the student’s interest and experience. Interns will be placed with their preferred Fraktion, Ausschuss, with individual members of the Bundestag and their offices. In addition to contributing to the respective offices, interns have the opportunity to study legislative and administrative procedures in the German parliament.
    • EMGIP – German State Parliaments (external link, opens in new window)  is a fellowship program that provides American and Canadian students the opportunity to intern at the Landtage - German State Parliaments. This is a great opportunity for individuals hoping to pursue careers at a regional level of government in the US or Canada, or who are interested in specific policy issues such as the environment, education and/or healthcare. Participants on the program gain practical work experience with a state parliament, utilize their German skills and experience German culture firsthand.
  • Hansard Scholars Programme (external link, opens in new window)   Live, work and study in the heart of London, at the centre of British politics.
  • The International Youth Internship Program (IYIP) (external link, opens in new window)  is a Government of Canada employment program for young Canadians between the ages of 19-30. Post-secondary graduates may be eligible to work in a developing country and contribute to Canada’s international development goals. Not only will this experience contribute to personal and professional growth, your sponsor organization will lend a helping hand in your search for employment once your internship ends.
  • Study British politics at the London School of Economics (external link, opens in new window)  and do an internship (external link, opens in new window)  in Parliament, Government or with a lobbying group, media organization or charity.
  • MASS LBP Internship Program (external link, opens in new window)  is open to undergraduate students and recent graduates each season. Internships typically last from 4 to 8 weeks and are full-time, although part-time placements will be considered in exceptional circumstances. Interns can expect to gain valuable insight on effective public consultation techniques and develop their research and project design and management skills.
  • NATO Association of Canada (external link, opens in new window) 
    The NATO Association of Canada provides a forum for Canadians to learn about and discuss Canada’s role in NATO and our contribution to international trade, peace and security. The Association offers unpaid internship opportunities for young Canadians between the ages of 18 and 30.
  • Ontario Legislative Internship Program (OLIP) (external link, opens in new window) 
    Jointly organised by the Speaker of the Ontario Legislature and the Canadian Political Science Association (CPSA), OLIP is a paid 10-month non-partisan programme providing backbench Members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario with qualified intern assistants.
  • Parliamentary Internship Program (PIP-PSP) (external link, opens in new window) 
    The Parliamentary Internship Programme was established in 1969 through a Motion, passed in the House of Commons with all-party support, as a non-partisan program that would, in collaboration with the Canadian Political Science Association (CPSA) provide:
    • An outstanding work-study experience for Canadian university graduates in all disciplines 
    • Highly qualified assistants to be shared equally by Members of Parliament on both sides of the House of Commons
    • A means to build public knowledge of Parliament by conducting and disseminating research on Parliament and Canadian politics
  • Rooftops Canada (Abri International) (external link, opens in new window) 
    Rooftops Canada is the international development program of co-operative and social housing organizations in Canada. Rooftops Canada works with partner organizations to improve housing conditions, build sustainable communities and develop a shared vision of equitable global development. Rooftops Canada's focus is on disadvantaged communities in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe.
  • Washington Centre Internship Program (external link, opens in new window) 
    Whether you are looking for a summer internship or for more information on how to get your foot in the door at a major corporation, this program helps recent graduates find interesting internships at major companies. We also specialize in connecting talented internship seekers with very successful people in specific industries and verticals.