Are the internships paid positions?

YES.  Students in an internship position will receive approximately $10, 000 over the course of the internship. This includes approximately $5,000 in the form of a graduate teaching assistantship in the fall semester of their internship. In addition, students will also receive a graduate teaching assistantship in the two semesters prior to beginning the internship valued at approximately $10,000 and are also eligible for entrance scholarships. In total, then, a student in the internship stream will receive at least $20,000 and perhaps considerably more over the course of their degree.
 

Where are the internships?

The exact positions will vary each year. Currently, however, the university has partnerships with local and regional governments, non-government agencies, the charitable sector, and politicians. The available positions for the coming year will be publicized each December.
 

How long are the internships and how long is the entire degree?

The internship placement will be full-time for approximately six months. In total the degree will take 16 months. Students will start in September and will complete their degree by the following December. The internship component runs from May to November in the second year of study.
 

Am I guaranteed an internship?

No. The internships are designed as an elite option. All students accepted full-time into the M.A. program in September are eligible to apply for an internship. The successful candidates will be chosen based on their academic performance in the first semester and interviews with the department and employers.
 

What if I do not get accepted into an internship?

All students are accepted into the M.A. program in Political Science. Those who do not get into an internship will complete the M.A. through one of the other two streams – the major paper or thesis streams.
 

Do I have to do an internship?

No. Students can complete the M.A. degree by one of the other two streams; the coursework plus major paper stream or the coursework plus thesis stream. These streams can be completed in 12 months.
 

What if I do not like the internship once I have started?

This is not expected to occur but in the event that a student feels that this is not the best option for them, they can resign from the internship and complete the M.A. through the major paper stream.