Design your own experience

Through Mount Allison, students can access funding that would allow them to offer their services to a host organization of their choice over the summer for free.

Students can work as volunteers, interns, or research assistants, depending on the funding.

Students may use the funds to cover or supplement the costs of transportation, subsistence, accommodation, supplies, and expenses associated with their experience.

Funding opportunities are available for both national and international experiences.

Both the student and the host organization must meet a certain criteria. The wide variety of funding sources available means that the application criteria will vary slightly — see the list of opportunities for details.

Before applying for funding, students must find a partner willing to host and supervise them for the duration of their experience.

Start planning early!

Recommended timeline:

NOVEMBER

• Get thinking about your potential experience, write down your thoughts, let it be broad and consider your passion. Use our 4Cs worksheet: Community, Culture, Cause, Career.
• Meet with advisors and support people (faculty, EXPL office, family and friends) to talk through your plan and potential learning outcomes — what do you want to get from it?

DECEMBER

• Start narrowing down your options, prioritize and rank the possibilities. Remember to have a strong back up option in case your top choice falls through.
• Update and finalize a professional resume. Visit career services if necessary for a list of resources.
• Budget — using the template, consider the work you want to do, and the cost associated, start drafting out what you’ll need
• Reach out to potential hosts with a well written ask of support, attach your resume. “How-to” provided!

JANUARY

• Follow up with your host, if necessary — or reach out to your back-up host
• Attend a resume session offered in early January
• Seek out last minute review/support from faculty advisor and/or EXPL Office

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION — DEADLINE: January 31

• Applications are located in the Experience MtA portal
• Double check requirements

For help, see helpful resources below. Or contact careers@mta.ca.

1. Students must provide a description of their project or internship plan. In no more than 1,000 words, please include:

• A description of the organization and the work/project that you hope to accomplish while there.
• How this internship relates to your academic program of study and your future goals
• An outline of how you will track your learning throughout the summer

2. Students must also provide a draft budget that details the cost of the project or internship (i.e. travel cost, accommodations, living expenses, etc.)

3. Attach an up-to-date copy of your resume.

4. Finally, please provide a letter from the host organization confirming their willingness to host you through the duration of your internship. Applications will be collected through the online experiential learning platform: experience.mta.ca.

Application collection will go live in mid-late January. In the meantime, you can start assembling the materials listed above.

Please note that students cannot hold other Mount Allison awards that provide a stipend and also expect a full-time commitment at the same time. Students may be eligible to concurrently hold certain awards of limited duration and scope (eg. Travel awards) pending consultation with the Office of Experiential Learning and Career Development. These awards must be disclosed at the time of award acceptance to be considered eligible.

If you have any questions, or would like help approaching an organization, or drafting a budget, please email us at careers@mta.ca.

Value: A minimum grant of $5,000

Available for students who aim to make a positive impact in a community by conducting research or doing an internship with an organization or by collaborating on a special project.  The grant will cover travel costs (flights and insurance) and living expenses (accommodation, meals and in-country travel) to support the work being completed. 

Eligibility:

• open to students who are or will be beyond their first year of academic studies at time of implementing or completing the internship
• must be returning to study at Mount Allison following their experience
• must have a minimum GPA of 3.2
• open to students from all disciplines
• *the experience must be a minimum of 4 weeks 

ABOUT THE BOMBARDIER INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL GRANT

Visionary, inventor, and entrepreneur, Joseph-Armand Bombardier (1907-1964) was a highly committed and internationally recognized philanthropist with a strong sense of community and corporate responsibility. In his memory, the J. Armand Bombardier Foundation has generously established the Bombardier International Travel Grant.

This grant is designed to provide Mount Allison students with an opportunity to develop their own sense of social responsibility and leadership.  Each year this grant will provide support for travel costs to a returning Mount Allison student(s) whose goal is to make a positive impact in a country in the Global South by conducting research with a non-governmental organization, a research institute or by collaborating with the non-profit sector on an internship or special project.

Choosing a partner organization

When applying for the Bombardier International Travel Grant, students must have already sought out a potential position on a project or within an organization. This position can be as a volunteer, intern, or research assistant.

When choosing to work with a project or within a partner organization, it is important that the organization has a vision, mission, goals and values that promote equality and encourage participation by individuals of any race, ethnicity, nation or origin, first language, socio-economic status, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, and/or ability.

Partner organizations and/or projects should:

• facilitate opportunities for the student to engage actively with the local community 
• provide formal/informal support and mentorship for the student
• ensure that the cross-cultural interaction is an enriching experience for the student
• provide opportunity for students to enrich their leadership capabilities

Past recipients

2012 — Yuki Noritake attended a Challenge of Balance program, a course offered by the Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi

2013 — Margaret Kromminga worked for the Church of Central Africa in Zambia

2014 — Morgan McGinn did a field school in Brazil

2015 — Gillian Schmid spent six weeks in Mysore, India researching with the Swami Vivekanada Youth Movement

2016 — Cassidy Phillips did observational research in China exploring the contemporary religious landscape

2018 — Bob Hicks spent eight weeks in Mumbai, India observing and shadowing psychiatrists, psychologists and hospital staff in the psychiatric ward of the MGM Kamothe hospital

2018 — Matthew Roberts spent ten weeks interning at the Organization of American States (OAS)

2019 — Claire Genest spent twelve week interning at the International Presentation Association (IPA) in New York City at the UN Headquarters

2020 - Sam Paquette spent the summer working for Right to Play, an international non-profit organization whose mission is to use play to empower vulnerable children to overcome the effects of war, poverty, and disease.  

Value: Varies

About the internship

Thanks to a generous donation from the Bourne family, students are invited to design, develop, plan, and implement an internship working in museums, galleries, symphonies, theatres, or festivals.

You must find a partner willing to host and supervise you for the duration of your internship. This is a unique opportunity to explore options that may not be available through existing funding at Mount Allison, or to apply for internships that might be inaccessible otherwise (through financial barriers, travel, etc).

We would love to hear from you and support you in developing something special. Internships are defined full-time workplace experiences that tie into your academic and career goals, typically a minimum of 12 weeks, though the duration may vary.

Internships must take place off campus, but can be anywhere in Canada.

Funds may be used to cover or supplement the costs of transportation, subsistence, accommodation, supplies, and expenses associated with the internship placement.

Eligibility

• All students who want to work in the Arts may apply
• Preference will be given to students entering their final year of study
• You must be a returning student

We will be funding 3-5 students depending on the duration, cost, or travel involved.

Purpose

• Build on both the academic and extracurricular experience
• Be framed as a pre-professional experience
• Develop essential leadership skills and abilities
• Encourage and support leadership outside the intern’s normal experience

Value: $10,000

About the internship

$10,000 to create your own internship opportunity provided to a full-time student to cover travel costs, living expenses and stipend associated with working or researching with a domestic or international organization of the student's choosing. The organization and/or scope of work should be related to the student’s area of study.

Applicants must identify and secure the host employer and internship opportunity.

The opportunity must include travel outside of the Maritimes.

The Internship is meant to provide a Mount Allison student with a meaningful out-of-region professional employment experience, which fosters the pursuit of post-graduate study, competency development, and career-readiness.

Examples of host employers: Museums, professional associations, foundations, libraries, embassies, humanitarian agencies, and charities.

Eligibility

• Canadian Studies students in their second or third year of academic studies who will be returning to Mount Allison upon completion of the internship.
• A minimum SGPA of 3.2 is required.

Interns are responsible for all aspects of their internship, including working with the sponsoring organization to confirm all details of their experience. You must be reliable, passionate and driven. You must be able to think critically and develop a clear set of goals and outcomes from this internship.

Purpose

• Build on both the academic and extracurricular experience
• Be framed as a pre-professional experience
• Develop essential leadership skills and abilities
• Encourage and support travel to communities outside the intern’s normal experience

Value: $5,000

To support Canadian students in thinking beyond what they know, and reaching beyond their comfort level.

This award can be used to cover program fees, travel and living expenses for an experience that could include but is not limited to being a research assistant with an organization or institute, volunteering with a governmental or non-governmental organization, or participating in a field school or study abroad program.

The experience must be a minimum of 4 weeks in length.

Eligibility:

• must be Canadian and in good academic standing
• open to students have completed at least one full year of full time studies and will be returning to study at Mount Allison following their experience
• preference will be given to students traveling where Scotiabank has operations

Purpose:

Travel should relate to the students field of study.

• allows students to think beyond what they know and reach beyond their comfort level
• build on both the academic and extracurricular experience

Value: $10,000

About the internship

This exciting opportunity is an Innovation Grant which provides flexible funding for students to support their ambitious pursuit of education outside of the academic classroom. As examples: this grant can be used to fund a traditional internship with a small or start-up innovative business, working with a small business or not-for-profit organization on business development or social responsibility. It is possible that students could use this fund to undertake intensive educational course in AI or data analytics, or other cutting edge field. Students can also use this fund to aid in research and/or developing prototypes of new products, materials or technologies. It could also provide seed funding for a fully scoped businesses plan. Innovation in student experiential learning, and increasing a student’s understanding of modern challenges and innovative solutions is key. Student wishing to explore the possibilities of this grant are encouraged to reach out to the Office of Experiential Learning & Career Development for support. 

This grant can be used to fund a stipend, accommodation expenses, or travel costs.  

Eligibility

•    Preference goes to students entering their fourth year, but all returning students are welcome to apply.

Value: $10,000

About the internship

This exciting internship, valued at $10,000, will allow students to design their own internship in one of the following wide-ranging areas: democratic rights, conflict resolution, human rights, public health, mental health, and/or international development.

There are opportunities to explore your interests and make a difference!

Applicants will be responsible for developing, planning, and implementing an internship with a host organization. They must find a partner willing to host and supervise them for the duration of their internship.

Funds may be used to cover or supplement the costs of transportation, subsistence, accommodation, supplies, and expenses associated with the internship placement.

Eligibility

• All students may apply.
• Preference will be given to students who have been awarded an internship through The Carter Center; and then to students in their 2nd or 3rd year of study.

Purpose

• Build on both the academic and extracurricular experience
• Be framed as a pre-professional experience
• Develop essential leadership skills and abilities
• Encourage and support travel to communities outside the intern’s normal experience

Value: $10,000

About the internship

Do you want to make a real difference and you’re passionate about the environment? Have a dream job in mind with an amazing organization that promotes environmental advocacy, protection or conservation?

The ECHO Foundation promotes sustainable environmental practices and the protection of natural areas of ecological importance and they are offering an internship opportunity for you!

$10,000 provided to a full-time student to cover costs, living expenses and stipend associated with working or researching with a domestic or international organization of the student’s choosing on an environmental leadership or advocacy initiative.

The Internship is meant to provide Mount Allison students with a unique leadership opportunity, which fosters the attitudes, abilities and skills essential to actively participate in an increasingly environmentally conscious society.

Eligibility:

The internship is open to:

• students in their third year of academic studies who will be returning to Mount Allison upon completion of the internship
• a minimum SGPA of 3.2 is required, but students from any discipline are eligible
• preference will be given to a student with demonstrated leadership in environmental or social justice advocacy

Interns are responsible for all aspects of their internship, including working with the sponsoring organization to confirm all details of their experience. You must be reliable, passionate and driven. You must be able to think critically and develop a clear set of goals and outcomes from this internship.

Purpose

• Build on both the academic and extracurricular experience
• Be framed as a pre-professional experience
• Develop essential leadership skills and abilities
• Encourage and support leadership outside the intern’s normal experience

Value: $10,000

The L.R. Wilson Internships provide students in Mount Allison's Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE) Program with an opportunity to gain valuable experience working as a summer intern in an organization with a public policy or public service focus.

Each year up to three students are selected through a competitive process.

Students who are in their third year at the time of the application will be given priority in the selection process.

About the internship

The value of the L.R. Wilson Internship is $10,000. The award can be used to defray the costs of transportation and subsistence for internships held in distant locations, and for supplies and expenses. This income is not employment income and is not subject to deductions. Students will be issued a T4A for income tax purposes.

Eligibility:

• Grade Point Average: In order to qualify for the L.R. Wilson Internship, an applicant's SGPA for the previous academic year must be, at minimum, 3.2, and the applicant’s TGPA for the term prior to the application must be, at minimum, 3.2.
• The program gives preference to students with third year standing who will be entering fourth year at the conclusion of the internship. These students are best positioned to benefit from the internship experience. Nevertheless, other qualified students may be considered by the adjudication committee.

How to apply

The application process involves identifying an internship opportunity. Students interested in the L.R. Wilson Internships are advised to consult with faculty in the PPE program regarding potential internship opportunities.

The requirement is that internships be within organizations with a public policy or public service orientation and/or mission. Once an internship opportunity is identified, the student, in consultation with faculty mentors and the host organization, is expected to establish a learning assessment plan for the internship and the budget for the internship.

The learning assessment plan (which should be approximately 5 pages in length) should include:

• a set of learning objectives for the internship and an explanation of what steps students will take to achieve them (e.g., identify the knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, or behaviours that will be acquired through the internship);
• a statement on expected learning outcomes(e.g., what should one know and be able to do by the end of the internship);
• an explanation of the student will track his/her learning (e.g., writing weekly reflections on the progress of the internship –which may be incorporated in the final report –that allow students to adjust their learning goals and outcomes where necessary or to reflect on the challenges they encounter); and
• an explanation on how the student will integrate and apply the knowledge acquired. A budget related to travel, subsistence, supplies and expenses should be appended to the application (2 page maximum).

Budget items should be justified.

Letters of support: students applying for the Wilson Internship should arrange to have two letters of support from faculty members sent directly to the Career Services Office (careers@mta.ca).

One letter should be from the student’s faculty mentor in the PPE program, and one letter should be from a faculty member in one of the remaining two departments in the PPE program.

Finally, a letter confirming an organization’s willingness to host the L.R. Wilson Intern should be included with the application.

For further information regarding the PPE program and/or the L.R. Wilson Internships, please contact Dr. David Thomas (dthomas@mta.ca).

Applications should be submitted via the Experience MtA platform.

Supporting letters should be sent to: Career Services Office at careers@mta.ca.

Value: $10,000

Provided to the Mansbridge intern to cover travel costs, living expenses and a work stipend that is associated with working or researching abroad with an organization of the student's choosing.

Eligibility

• The internship is open to students in their third year of academic studies who will be returning to Mount Allison for a final year upon completion of the internship
• A minimum GPA of 3.2 is required
• Students from all disciplines are eligible

Interns are responsible for all aspects of their experience, including researching and making initial contact with potential partner organizations and then working with the partner organization to confirm all details of their experience.

Areas to consider doing an internship in include:

• supporting immigrants and refugees
• supporting Indigenous people & Indigenous youth
• addressing poverty & homelessness
• addressing health care issues, education, mental health advocacy
• addressing human trafficking
• addressing climate change & working on environmental issues
• gender-based & intimate partner violence, anti-bullying

ABOUT THE MANSBRIDGE INTERNSHIP

The Mansbridge Internship was established by Peter Mansbridge, Mount Allison's former University Chancellor, honorary degree holder, and retired CBC News chief correspondent. The internship is meant to provide Mount Allison students with a unique leadership opportunity, which fosters the attitudes, abilities, and skills essential to actively participate in an increasingly globalized and interconnected society.

Choosing a partner organization

When applying for the Mansbridge internship, students must have already sought out a potential position within an organization or institute and have received preliminary support from them at the time of application.

This process can take time and require significant planning, so it is important to start early and do plenty of research.

This position can be as a volunteer, intern, or research assistant.

When choosing a partner organization, it is important that the organization has a vision, mission, goals and values that promote equality and encourage participation by individuals of any race, ethnicity, nation or origin, first language, socio-economic status, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, and/or ability.

Partner organizations/institutes should: 

• facilitate opportunities for the intern to engage actively with the local community
• provide formal/informal support and mentorship for the student
• provide a safe workplace free of harassment and discrimination
• provide an orientation and arrival information
• ensure that intercultural interactions are an enriching experience for the intern
• provide opportunity for students to enrich their leadership capabilities

Upon completion of the internship

 The student must give a public lecture to share the results of their experience. The lecture should be delivered during International Education Month (October). 

Purpose

• build on both the academic and extracurricular experience  
• be framed as a pre-professional experience 
• develop essential leadership skills and abilities  
• encourage and support travel to communities outside the intern’s normal experience

Past recipients

Previous recipients of the Mansbridge internship have used the funding to pursue a variety of opportunities from volunteering with international non-profits, to conducting research with organizations abroad at world-renowned facilities. 

2022: Paniz Moradi worked at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health in Barcelona, Spain 

2021: Mia Tran worked at Community Forests International, Sackville, New Brunswick (due to COVID-19 global travel advisories) 

2019: Sage Shaheen worked at the Scalabrini Centre in Cape Town, South Africa

2018: Rebecca Zuk worked in Semarang, Indonesia with EQWIP Hubs

2017: Myfanwy Jensen-Fellows works as an intern at the Women's Foundation of Nepal

2016: Willa McCaffrey-Noviss volunteered at a hospital's palliative care unit in Mysore, India

2015: Hannah Fazio works as an intern at the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration

2014: Graham May traveled to Canada and Greenland's arctic to study resource management, development, and practices

2013: Sarah McNeil worked with the Dejavato Foundation helping to provide social services in Indonesia

2013: Margaret Kromminga volunteered in Zambia to promote education on HIV/AIDS and practical skills training for youth

2012: Lia D'Abate carried out stem cell research at Stanford University

2011: Monica Jepsen travelled to Kenya with the organization Medics to Africa

Deadline: January 31

Mount Allison has a growing portfolio of opportunities available to fund students' entrepreneurial ideas.

With entrepreneurship funding, you could:

• Start a new business
• Pivot or expand an existing business
• Create a social initiative
• Pursue a cultural project

For more information, visit funding for entrepreneurship.

Value: Varies

Design-Your-Own Internships through Future NB

What is Future NB?

Thanks to the dedicated work by representatives from each of New Brunswick’s four universities, a collaborative program called Future NB is helping support experiential education for all university students in New Brunswick.

Thanks to Future NB funding, you can design your own full-time summer or part-time academic year internship and get professional experience in your field of interest!

What kinds of work experiences are eligible for funding? 

To qualify for Future NB funding, your work experience must:

• Enhance your educational experience
• Be offered off campus
• Be located in New Brunswick
• Be with a host organization that is either a non-profit or a small-to-medium-sized business

Am I eligible for Future NB funding?

• You must be registered as full-time student, or have exceptional circumstances
• For summer funding, you must be returning to Mount Allison as a full-time student in the Fall

What does the funding cover?

Part or all of your wages. Design-your-own internships through Future NB are paid as a grant.

Summer:

• funding for a 15-week internship  
• maximum grant available for summer internships is $7,400
• If you are working with a small-to-medium sized business, we ask that your employer contribute 50% of your grant (=$3,700). If you are working with a non-profit, we can fund up to 100% of your grant.

Fall or Winter:

• funding for a 12-week internship
• the maximum grant available for part-time academic-year internships is $1,700
• If you are working with a small-to-medium sized business, we ask that your employer contribute 50% of your grant. If you are working with a non-profit, we can fund up to 100% of your grant.

How to apply

Applications are submitted in Experience MTA. In the portal, join the Summer Internship Program under 'Design your own internship', find the FutureNB Funding opportunity, and follow the instructions to apply. You will need to submit an application form, which you can find in Experience MTA.

If you have any questions, contact the Office of Experiential Learning and Career Development at careers@mta.ca

How will my application be evaluated?

Based on the following criteria:

1. Your description of meaningful work
2. How well your meaningful learning experience connects classroom learning to life
3. How well your experience encourages the development of core competencies articulated and supported by ELCD (e.g., communication, digital literacy, etc.)
4. How well your employer demonstrates a commitment to student success by providing coaching and mentoring            
5. Whether your employer contributes to intern wages (at least 50% for businesses)
6. Whether your employer provides opportunities for equity-seeking groups
7. Provide opportunities in areas of study that are not usually supported (e.g., arts and social sciences)
8. Whether this experience provides a gateway to postgraduate employment
9. Is this a new project?
10. Does this provide us with a new partnership?

 

Questions to ask yourself:

• What kind of work do I want to do?
• What do I want to learn/how will the experience connect to my studies?
• What kind of organization do I want to work for?
• Where in the world do I want to live and work?

Use your network of friends, family friends, the experiential learning office, the International Centre, and faculty members to source recommendations on good programs and ask questions.

Searching for a host organization

You will need certain information to fill out your application and your budget. It's also important to get a feel for what to expect from your host.

Here are a few things to investigate when searching online for organizations:

1. The organization has a clear mandate of what they do and who they are.
2. The organization has a safety policy in place for volunteers, which includes having staff on the ground in-country at all locations they are working.
3. The organization is clear about what fees they charge for an internship placement, if any, and what these fees contribute toward. Find out about fee deadlines.
4. The organization provides accommodation for interns and volunteers and the accommodation is described in detail as part of the application process (or earlier) or they will agree to assist you with finding appropriate accommodation.
5. The organization provides pre-departure training for all interns/volunteers.
6. The organization provides arrival assistance for all interns/volunteers that includes cultural immersion training.
7. Read reviews from previous interns/volunteers online. If you can't find any reviews, ask the organization to put you in touch with a previous participant.

Partner/host will be asked to:

• Provide a clear description and a set of guidelines for the internship/volunteer opportunity
• Facilitate opportunities for you to engage actively with the local community
• Provide formal/informal support and mentorship for you
• Provide a safe workplace free of harassment and discrimination
• Provide an orientation and arrival information
• Ensure that intercultural interactions are an enriching experience for you
• Provide opportunity for you to enrich your leadership capabilities

Questions? We're happy to help! Contact:

• International Centre — intpa@mta.ca
• Experiential Learning and Career Development office — careers@mta.ca

How do you approach a potential host organization to pitch yourself as a summer intern?

Make sure your email includes the following information:

Who you are	Dear Juan, I'm a third-year English major studying at Mount Allison University...
Why you're writing	I’ve been an environmental activist since the sixth grade, when I started the first elementary school recycling program in my home town of Minto, New Brunswick. I’m now looking for opportunities to use my writing skills to help persuade more Canadians to embrace a sustainable lifestyle.
Offer of free/discounted help for the summer	Through Mount Allison, I may be able to access funding that would allow me to offer you my writing skills over the summer for free. I am in the process of applying for an internship grant and would be interested to speak with you about the possibility of working at the Sustainable Living Network from the beginning of May to the middle or end of August.
Reference to your resume	You’ll find attached my resume, which shows the different environmental and community projects I’ve been involved with over the past three years, including the Mount Allison Green Investment Group, the Sackville Community Garden, and the Minto Tool Library. You’ll also notice that I’ve taken a couple of courses that have strengthened my practical writing skills: Technical Writing and Composition and Rhetoric in the Digital Age.
Timeline	The funding application I’m submitting is due on January 3, and it needs to include the name of a confirmed host organization and a few other details.
Request for a conversation	Would you be willing to speak with me by phone sometime next week to explore the possibility of my contributing to SLN as your summer intern?
How to reach you	I’m normally free after 2 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday and after 4 during the rest of the week. Please let me know a time that suits you, or feel free to give me a call on my cell at 506-788-9004.
Thank you and closing	Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Winnie Hebert