Internship Program

What is the SCARP Internship Program?

Our Master of Community and Regional Planning (MCRP) program uses internship placements as an essential part of its curriculum, allowing them to gain valuable hands-on experience and apply academic knowledge and analytic techniques to "real world" planning problems.

Why hire a planning intern?

SCARP students, even before graduation, are sought after by many professionals. 

• Gain a skilled, motivated and dynamic team member to support your organization’s work
• Receive support for special projects, research, events or bridge short-term staffing needs
• Benefit from a fresh perspective, knowledge about the latest planning theories, trends and research and innovative new ideas
• SCARP students are dynamic additions to public agencies, businesses, profit and non-profit organizations.
• Offer students the opportunity to explore the connection between planning theory and practice and define the fundamental roles of a planner
• Many students go on to work in the organizations they intern with after graduation.

Our highly diverse student community, with contexts and lenses from throughout the world, and with experience in industries with insights that may be new to Canadian industry, is often a substantial boon in a professional environment in the planning field. Those of our students who are international will have learned about the Canadian context at SCARP in the courses they complete before starting their internship, such as courses on BC planning law, reconciliation, and working with First Nations. 

The program structure

The primary goal of the Internship Program is to assist students to develop professional skills and capabilities through guided "hands on" experience in a workplace environment while gaining academic credit.

• The students can complete their internship in any field related to planning in a variety of public, private, non-profit and academic organizations.
• Most students complete their internship in the summer between the first- and second-year of their master program.
• Internships may be paid or volunteer work experiences on a full-time or part-time basis
• The minimum length of the internship is a total of 80 hours with a previously agreed start and end date
• Students earn academic credits for the internship program and should have completed one term (4 months) in the master's program before starting an internship 

Program components:

Learning Objectives

Within the first 20 hours of the internship, students are required to create and reflect on their learning objectives for the internship and to review them with the supervisor.

Mid-Point Check-In

The Student Management Coordinator will check-in with the supervisor midway through the student’s internship. During this call the coordinator and the supervisor will touch base on the student’s performance, preparedness for the internship and any feedback, problems or concerns the supervisor might have.

Supervisor Evaluation

This form evaluates the student’s performance over the period of the internship and 50% of the pass/fail grade is based on this evaluation. The internship supervisor evaluation also provides valuable feedback on the student’s performance and assists with the student’s future career development. This evaluation is confidential and will only be shared with the student’s faculty supervisor for the purposes of determining the final course grade.

What we're looking for

Professional environments for budding professionals

Internships undertaken as part of SCARP’s MCRP program help students understand:

1. Planning Practice Fundamentals
   (real-life knowledge, operations/culture of a planning workplace, implications of action)

2. Skills and collaboration
   (assessing/applying appropriate action, interacting w/various roles, managing tasks accountably)

3. Professional development
   (Understanding ethics involved, engaging critically)

Rumuneration

SCARP strongly supports paid internships and encourages internship providers to provide remuneration for student interns. It is not economically feasible for many students to undertake unpaid work.

We recognize that there may be situations where payment may not be possible. Several funding programs, including Canada Summer Jobs and Mitacs, are available to not-for-profit employers who may not otherwise be able to employ an intern.

Still have a question? Or want to let us know of an opportunity? Let us know below:

What is the MCRP Internship Program?

The MCRP Internship Program is an essential and integral component of the two-year Master of Community and Regional Planning (MCRP) program offered by the School of Community and Regional Planning (SCARP) at UBC.

You will be given tools, resources, and guidance to seek out, obtain, and then undertake a professional position, allowing you to gain valuable hands-on experience and apply academic knowledge and analytic techniques to "real world" planning problems.

The Program Structure

The primary goal of the Internship Program is to help you develop professional skills and capabilities through guided, hands-on experience in a workplace environment, while gaining academic credit. You may complete your internship in any field or position related to planning (broadly defined), in a variety of public, private, non-profit, and academic organizations.

For more information, the Internship Handbook is your primary information resource when securing and finalizing internships, as well as the administrative tasks entailed to complete the internship component in the program. You are expected to review this outline in preparation for starting your internship. 

Please note:

• Most students complete their internship in the summer between the first- and second-year of their master program.
• Internships may be paid or volunteer work experiences on a full-time or part-time basis
• The minimum length of the internship is a total of 80 hours with a previously agreed start and end date
• You must first complete one term (i.e., 4 months) in the MCRP program before starting an internship

Relevant Links

• SCARP INTERNSHIP PORTAL
• MCRP INTERNSHIP HANDBOOK (under review, please contact scarpprograms@scarp.ubc.ca for questions)

Still have a question? Or want to let us know of an opportunity?